Rome, NY WWII Fallen

PFC Joseph Genovese

U.S. Army #32943775

88th Infantry Division, 349th Infantry Regiment, Medical Detachment

Joseph Genovese was born May 17, 1925, in Rome, Oneida County, New York, to Peter (1897-1972) and Maria Carmella Slaier (1900-1985) Genovese. Joseph was the third of three children born to the Genovese family. Mrs. Rose Mary Wittig (1922-1996) and Mrs. Genevieve Gish (1923-?) were his sisters.

Peter was born in Filiano, Potenza, Italy, and immigrated to the United States. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States on July 2, 1921. Carmella was born in New York and grew up in Pennsylvania. Peter and Carmella married on November 2, 1921, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Peter worked as a machine operator at General Cable Corporation until he retired. The Genovese family was active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Rome, New York. Peter served as an elder and Carmella often sang at services and funerals.

In 1941, Joseph successfully completed both the standard and advanced certificate courses of the American Red Cross. Joseph attended the parochial school of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He was a member of its Missionary Volunteers group and their Sunday School.

Carmella, Rosemary and Joseph Genovese (undated)

Joseph registered for the draft on May 17, 1943, in Rome, New York. He was 5’11” tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. He listed his mother as the “person who will always know your address” and his parents’ home at 113 Caswell Street in Rome, New York, as his current address. His occupation was a student in high school.

Joseph graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1943. The class prophecy said that several classmates and “…. Joe Genovese never returned from Africa but remained there marrying Ubangis and settling in the bush.” Joseph was a member of Le Cercle Francais, the French language club. The 1943 De-O-Wain-Sta yearbook of Rome Free Academy stated that “In his homeroom he sells bonds but best of all “Joe” likes blondes!”

Joseph entered the U.S. Army on September 20, 1943. He completed basic training at Camp Barkeley, Texas, and then reported to Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California, the largest U.S. Army hospital during World War II. He graduated from the medical technician school there with two diplomas. He returned to Rome, NY, on furlough in February 1944, before reporting to Camp Reynolds, Pennsylvania, on February 22, 1944. His sister, Genevieve, came home from Atlantic Union College, South Lancaster, Massachusetts, during his furlough.

Joseph was sent overseas on April 17, 1944. On May 4, 1944, Joseph’s parents received word that he arrived safely somewhere in Italy. Joseph gave medical aid to wounded soldiers at the front lines of three battles in Italy. In August 1944, PFC Genovese was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for actual participation in combat with the enemy on the 5th Army front in Italy.

On October 28, 1944, PFC Joseph Genovese’s parents received word from the War Department that Joseph had been killed in action on October 7, 1944, near Bologna, Italy. He was the 34th citizen of Rome, New York, to give his life in service for his country. A member of the Medical Corps, PFC Genovese was giving aid to a wounded soldier on the battlefield when he was killed by a sniper’s bullet.

A memorial service for PFC Joseph Genovese was held Sunday, January 7, 1945, in the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Rome, New York. His picture was placed on a table and flanked by two baskets of flowers and two American flags.

The body of PFC Genovese arrived in Rome, New York, on November 22, 1948, and was taken to the home of his parents by Waldo Wiggins Prince of Prince-Boyd and Hyatt Home for Funerals. Prayer services were held November 24, 1948, at the home of his parents, Peter and Carmella Genovese. A funeral service was held later that day at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 321 W. Bloomfield Street, Rome, New York. Burial was in the Rome Cemetery with military rites by Rome Post 2246 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The firing squad and bugler were from Company C, 108th Infantry, New York National Guard. PFC Genovese was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome Medal of Honor.

Mrs. Carmella Genovese became a long-time active member of the Gold Star Mothers of World War II, and the Rocco Racco Post and Auxiliary of the Italian-American Veterans organization. Genevieve received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education from Washington Missionary College, Washington, D.C., in June 1953. Rosemary married a veteran, Gordon Wittig, who had served at the Rome Army Airfield during WWII.

Endnotes: 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/113026054/joseph-genovese

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113025648/peter_a_genovese

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113026336/maria_carmella_genovese

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167191291/rose_marie_wittig

Fold3.com:

https://www.fold3.com/image/673282886/genovese-joseph-page-1-us-wwii-draft-registration-cards-1940

https://www.fold3.com/record/86648187/joseph-genovese-us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946

https://www.fold3.com/record/704937932/genovese-joseph-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

https://www.fold3.com/sub-image/299532152/genovese-joseph-us-wwii-army-and-army-air-force-casualty-list-1946

https://www.fold3.com/sub-image/641629728/genovese-joseph-us-rosters-of-world-war-ii-dead-1939-1945