The Abruzzio family @ 1925 (Lucie was born in 1926)

Louis was the sixth child and second son. His sisters were Rosetta (1912-1986), Barbara (1913-2016), Concepta (1915-1976), Nickolena (1916-1991), Judith (1920-2002), Kathleen (1923-2012), and Lucie (1926-1997). Peter Anthony (1918-2000) was his only brother. Peter served 31 ½ years in the military beginning with the Coast Artillery in Hawaii, then Army Air Corps, and in the US Air Force. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Louis attended Barringer School for elementary grades. In 1930, he received a diploma from the Jervis Library Vacation Reading Club, having read and written a book report on at least the required ten books.

In 1937, in 7th grade, his class listened to weekly educational radio programs. In 1938, Louis was the Vice President of the Boys’ Cooking Club at his junior high school. In May 1939, he was promoted from junior high to the Rome Free Academy for high school. It was reported that Louis was active in baseball while in high school. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Rome, NY.

Louis, middle row, far right

Louis on left in white shirt

Louis was employed by the Revere Copper and Brass Company in Rome, NY, when he registered for the draft (no date given). He was 5’7” tall, 149 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

He enlisted in the US Navy in October 1942. Louis completed boot camp at Sampson Naval Base (now Sampson State Park) at Romulus, New York. After boot camp, a sailor can request to join the submarine force. The men are evaluated to see if they can handle the difficult task of being on a submarine. The conditions include tight quarters, days without sunlight, and extremely dangerous circumstances. Once approved, they move on to “A” school where they begin work in their specialized field. Louis met the qualifications and reported to the New London, Connecticut, Naval Bases for Submarine School. Louis completed his six-week basic submarine training in September 1943.

From Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/united-states-submarine-losses/dorado-ss-248.html)

“She did not arrive at Panama nor was she heard from at any time after sailing. The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, in his comments concerning the Court of Inquiry covering the case, lists three possible causes for the loss of Dorado: operational casualties, enemy action, and attack by friendly forces.

The standard practice of imposing bombing restrictions within an area of fifteen miles on each side of the course of an unescorted submarine making passage in friendly waters and fifty miles ahead and one hundred miles astern of her scheduled position was carried out and all concerned were notified. A convoy was so routed as to pass through the bombing and attack restriction area surrounding Dorado on the evening of 12 October 1943, assuming correct navigation and adherence to schedule by both.

A patrol plane which was assigned by Commandant, Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo (Cuba), to furnish air coverage on the evening of 12 October, received faulty instructions as to the location of the bombing and attack restriction area surrounding Dorado and at 2049, local time, the plane delivered a surprise attack of three depth charges on an unidentified submarine. About two hours later, the plane sighted another submarine with which it attempted to exchange recognition signals without success. This submarine fired upon the plane. A German submarine was known to be operating near the scene of these two contacts.

Because of the lack of evidence, the Court of Inquiry was unable to reach definite conclusions as to the cause of the loss of Dorado.”

In late October, 1943, F3c Louis Abruzzio was listed as Missing in Action.

Sources

Wreaths Across America Official Page on Facebook: https://scontent-den2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/121147759_10157205975852610_8255731264555239382_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=9b3078&_nc_ohc=6HewcEUPxGMAX_JcRww&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.xx&oh=00_AfAFOL26YT-8L0lrNReBeKqSahxKMmG_rOxfqMUHLmpCeA&oe=6603000C

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56662372/louis_james-abruzzio: accessed February 25, 2024), memorial page for F2 Louis James Abruzzio (11 Oct 1922–12 Oct 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56662372, citing East Coast Memorial, Manhattan, New York County, New York, USA; Maintained by Russ Pickett (contributor 46575736).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29426399/louis_james-abruzzio: accessed February 25, 2024), memorial page for Louis James Abruzzio (11 Oct 1922–23 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 29426399, citing Saint Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Rome, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Susan Moors (contributor 47987781).

HonorStates.org https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/95173/

American Battle Monuments Commission: https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/abruzzio%3Dlouis

https://api.abmc.gov/print/certificate/454640

New York State Military Museum: http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=ZDkxMzVjMzEtZjM3Mi00MDg2LWJkYWUtMDgxYzE4MjQ4ZjI5&rID=MTU0NDM1&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=QWJydXp6aW8=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==

FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7SS8-MS3Z

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4RH-9PJ

The United States Navy Memorial in Washington DC: https://navylog.navymemorial.org/abruzzio-louis

Naval History and Heritage Command: https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-80000/NH-80761.html

https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/organization-and-administration/installations/sub-base-new-london.html

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/united-states-submarine-losses/dorado-ss-248.html

Uboat.net: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship3108.html

Submarine Force Library and Museum Association: https://ussnautilus.org/submarine-school/

On Eternal Patrol: https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-dorado-248.htm

The Historical Marker Database: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=56635

FultonHistory.com https://fultonhistory.com/

Fold3.com https://www.fold3.com/memorial/530009509/louis-j-abruzzio/facts

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.           

Date: 2/25/2024