Rome, NY WWII Fallen

SSGT. ANTHONY GRECO

U.S. Army #32042364

7th Army, 63rd Infantry Division, 254th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company K

Anthony Greco was born August 5, 1919, in Rome, Oneida County, New York, to Pasquale “Patsy” (1894-1988) and Pauline Perri (1901-1978) Greco. Pasquale and Pauline were born in Crotone, Province of Catanzaro, Italy. Pauline came to America in 1912. Pasquale immigrated from Italy via Naples aboard the Stampalia, arriving in New York on December 16, 1913. Pasquale and Pauline were married in St. John the Baptist Church in Rome, New York, on January 23, 1916. Pasquale worked in the rolling mill of Revere Copper and Brass. On November 1, 1927, Pasqual and Pauline filed a Declaration of Intent for U.S. citizenship. On March 7, 1930, Pasquale filed a petition for final citizenship papers, with formal naturalization to be granted in June 1930.

Anthony was the second of two children born to Pasquale and Pauline. His only sibling was an older sister, Mary Terzini (1917-2009).

Pasquale and Pauline were active members of Giuseppe Garibaldi Society with Pasquale being elected president at least seven times. Pasquale and Pauline were long-time members of St. John the Baptist Church, St. Gregory Society, and Galliano Club.

Anthony registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, in Rome, New York. He was 5’ 7 ½” tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had black hair and brown eyes. He was living with his parents at 121 Stanwix Street in Rome, New York, and employed by Revere Copper and Brass of Rome, New York, in the bare copper wire department. Anthony was better known, however, for his second job as a waiter at Candyland.

Candyland was a local restaurant and gathering place for businessmen at lunch time and for young people for after-school and evening treats. Besides candy, Candyland had a full menu of food including the Candyland Club, a chicken, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise sandwich which sold for 35 cents. Owners Gus and George Surlas had a well-run business and treated workers like family. Many high school graduates worked there part-time. As the employees began leaving home for military service during World War II, the Surlas family gave each a send-off by going to the train station, and giving them hugs, kisses, and wishes for good luck before waving goodbye.

Anthony was a member of the second draft contingent from Rome, New York. He left on February 12, 1941, for basic training at Camp Cullen, Texas. He was assigned to the Searchlight Battalion of the Coast Artillery and stationed at San Diego, California, for two years. He transferred to infantry and received training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, and was posted to Fort Bliss, Texas, before going overseas on November 25, 1944, as a member of 7th Army.

While on a 15-day furlough, Anthony married Genevieve Cattat on May 27, 1944, at St. Mary’s Church in Frankfort, New York. The Grecos took a wedding trip to Maine. Anthony was sent overseas November 25, 1944.

Pasquale and Pauline received a last letter from Anthony on January 12, 1945, in which he partially described a major engagement in which he was involved. His unit had just captured another German (held) town in France. In late January 1945, the 254th Infantry Regiment was involved in the Battle for Hill 216 near the junction of the Weiss and Fecht Rivers near Bennwihr in northeastern France, in what became known as the Colmar Pocket.

SSgt. Anthony Greco was killed in action on January 24, 1945, in France, according to the War Department telegram received by Genevieve. She notified his parents of his death.

SSgt. Anthony Greco was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome Medal of Honor (Rome, New York). He was the 56th citizen of Rome, New York, to give his life in World War II. A memorial requiem high mass for SSgt Greco was held on June 30, 1945, at St. John the Baptist Church, Rome, New York.

On December 20, 1947, Genevieve Greco married Harry Tennent of Indianapolis, Indiana, in Frankfort, New York. They were later divorced. Genevieve married Alexander Bianchi on June 26, 1949. Genevieve died at age 26 on December 8, 1949, in the Ilion, New York, hospital after a brief illness. Burial was in the Oakview Cemetery of Frankfort, New York.

The body of SSgt Greco was returned to the United States in August 1948. His body, and those of nine other Rome area men, arrived at the New York Port of Embarkation aboard the Army transport ship, Victory. The bodies of SSgt Greco, PFC Fred Tritsch, and Pvt Norman Campbell were sent by train to Rome, New York, accompanied by a representative of the U.S. Military Escort Detachment. Representatives of Rome veterans’ organizations and Griffiss Air Force Base met the train at the New York Central Station and formed honor ranks as the caskets were removed from the train. The veterans groups included the VFW, American Legion, Polish-American Veterans, Rome Army-Navy Garrison, Marine Corps League, St. John the Baptist Post of Catholic War Veterans, Oneida County Voiture 40 et 8 Society, Richard P. Abbott Post of Legion of Guardsmen, Order of the Purple Heart, Rocco Racco Post of Italian-American Veterans, Ukranian-American Veterans, and Combined Committee for Return of the War Dead.

On September 15, 1948, funeral services were held at the home of Anthony’s parents, Pasquale and Pauline Greco, at 9 a.m., and a half hour later at St. John the Baptist Church. SSgt. Anthony Greco was buried with full military honors at Saint Johns Cemetery, Rome, Oneida County, New York, with a color guard and firing squad from Griffiss Air Force Base. The firing squad fired three volleys at the gravesite and presented to his mother the American Flag which had draped his coffin. Taps were sounded by a member of Company C, 108th Infantry, New York National Guard. Floral tributes came from family, friends, neighbors, local veteran and business groups, and from his former employers, Revere Copper and Brass.

Pauline Greco died October 17, 1978, at age 77. Pasquale died November 23, 1988, at age 94. Both are buried at Saint Johns Cemetery, Rome, New York, alongside their son, Anthony.

A memorial atop Hill 216 in France recognizes the sacrifice of those fallen during that battle of World War II. WorldWarTwoVeterans.com lists the members of Company K, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division, who served in World War II. SSgt Anthony Greco is among those listed as killed in action. He is also remembered on the Honor List of Dead and Missing Personnel, World War II, Oneida County, New York, on the Honor Roll of the 63rd Infantry Division website, and on the roster of the 254th Infantry Regimental Deaths in Europe, 1943-1945.

End notes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.

Sources

FindAGrave.com:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21262216/anthony-greco

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21262217/pasquale_greco

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21262218/pauline_greco

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46308968/mary_terzini

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46308964/anthony_terzini

Fold3.com:

https://www.fold3.com/record/85944678/anthony-greco-us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946

https://www.fold3.com/record/702067052/greco-anthony-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

https://www.fold3.com/sub-image/641638392/greco-anthony-us-rosters-of-world-war-ii-dead-1939-1945

https://www.fold3.com/image/671870250/greco-anthony-page-1-us-wwii-draft-registration-cards-1940