Rome, NY WWII Fallen

PVT. ANTHONY J. ROMANO

U.S. Army 32947924

Anthony Joseph Romano was born July 11, 1912, in Maschito, Provence of Potenza, Italy, to Michael (1888-1967) and Lucia “Lucy” Orbisaglio (1894-1961) Romano. Anthony was the oldest of five children born to the couple, with four others born in Rome, Oneida County, New York, after Michael and Lucy immigrated to the United States. Anthony’s siblings were Minica Vescio (1914-2000), Joseph (1917-1982), Angeline Scaccia (1919-2006), and Rosemary Argenzia (1921-2008).

Michael and Lucy were married in Maschito, Italy, on February 6, 1910. Michael came to New York City on September 12, 1912, for permanent residence in Rome, New York. Lucy and Anthony sailed from Naples, Italy, on the S.S. Stampalia and arrived in New York City on October 25, 1913.

In the 1920 U.S. Census, the Romano family lived at 306 DePeyster Street in Rome, NY. Michael was a machine operator at General Cable in Rome. In the 1930 U.S. Census, the family lived at 209 Jasper Street in Rome. Michael continued work at General Cable, and Anthony was also employed there as a laborer. Minica worked at a knitting mill as a machine operator.

Anthony attended Rome public schools including Rome Free Academy. He was the star pitcher for the baseball team in 1932.

Anthony married Flora Marucci on June 19, 1937, at Saint John the Baptist Church in Rome, New York. Both attended Rome Free Academy and then worked at General Cable Corporation. After an extended honeymoon in New York City, the couple moved to 209 Jasper Street and lived with the Romano family.

In the 1940 U.S. Census, Anthony and Flora lived at 343 Mohawk Street in Rome, New York. Anthony worked as an inspector at General Cable Corporation.

Anthony registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, in Rome, New York. He was 5’8” tall, weighed 175 pounds, had brown hair and brown eyes, and wore eyeglasses. He lived at 343 Mohawk Street in Rome, NY, and listed his wife, Flora, as the person who would always know his address. His employer was General Cable Corporation in Rome.

Anthony was inducted into the U.S. Army in Utica, New York, on November 22, 1943, as a private. He was one of fifteen inductees who reported to Camp Upton, New York, on December 12, 1943. On behalf of the Catholic Women’s Club, all Catholic members of the group were given a rosary.

Pvt. Romano received basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, near Mineral Well, TX. He was assigned to Company A, 55th Infantry Training Battalion, in December 1943.

In June 1944 he was in Company B, 3rd BN, and then transferred to Company A, 3rd Platoon for “outgoing transport.” July 21, 1944, he was transferred to 394th X Replacement Company, 9th X Replacement Battalion, and sent to the European Theater of Operations.

Rome, Daily Sentinel, Nov. 13, 1944 pg. 2

Rome Daily Sentinel Nov. 14, pg 3

Pvt. Anthony J. Romano was killed in action somewhere in France on October 21, 1944, the 40th citizen of Rome, New York, officially listed as dead.

Pvt. Romano was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome Medal of Honor. He is remembered on Page 110, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from New York, 1946, and on Page 12692, US Rosters of WWII Dead.

Anthony’s brother, Joseph, served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Staff Sargeant. Joseph served in the invasion of Africa and Sicily and was stationed in England at the time of Anthony’s death. A brother-in-law, Salvatore Argenzia, served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 in the European Theater of Operations. He saw action in Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland, and France. Salvatore was seriously wounded in Germany in March 1945, and was awarded four bronze stars, the Purple Heart, and the Croix de Guerre with palm.

In February 1946, Flora Marucci Romano married Michael Mikulin in Rome, New York. She lived until 1995.

The Daily Sentinel of Rome, NY, reported on December 28, 1948, the body of Pvt. Romano was returning home on the Army transport, USAT Barney Kirschbaum. His body arrived at the New York Central Depot on Thursday, January 20, 1949. The Combined Veterans Council for the Return of the War Dead and representatives of veterans’ posts met the body. Pvt. Romano’s funeral was held Friday, January 21, 1949, with military honors. The funeral was at Thomas A. Cox Funeral Home at 8:45 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., a solemn requiem high mass was celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church in Rome. His body was placed in the receiving vault at St. John’s Cemetery until spring when interment took place with full military honors.

Lucy Romano died November 24, 1961, after suffering a heart attack. She is buried in Saint Johns Cemetery, Rome, New York. Michael Romano died August 15, 1967, after a brief illness, and is buried alongside Lucy. Both were communicants of Saint John the Baptist Church in Rome.

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/46174897/anthony-j-romano

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46174906/michael-romano

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46174905/lucy-romano

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46309237/minica-vescio

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46309231/carl_f-vescio

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28256361/joseph-a-romano

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27033391/angeline_g-scaccia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27033361/alfred-j-scaccia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/214037207/rosemary-argenzia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213202621/salvatore_anthony-argenzia