Rome, NY WWII Fallen

Pvt. Peter A. De Vito

U.S. Army #42121608

9th Infantry Division, 60th Infantry Regiment

To The Utmost Extent of Our Power

Peter Allie De Vito was born January 6, 1915, in Rome, New York, to Michael (1883-1934) and Ermelinda “Lena” Manieri (1889-1975) De Vito. Michael and Ermelinda were born in Venosa, Province of Potenza, Italy, and were married in Venosa in 1909. They settled in Rome, New York, shortly after their marriage.

Peter was the second of six children born to Michael and Lena. His siblings were Angeline (1913-1990), Joseph (1916-1994), Anthony (1918-1998), Henry (1921-1962), and Maria Teresa Patane. SSgt. Joseph De Vito served in the Pacific during WWII and earned a Purple Heart. Tec5 Henry De Vito served with the 732nd Army Engineers during WWII.

Peter attended Rome, New York, schools and was employed with Rome City Bus Lines prior to entering the U.S. Army. Peter registered for the draft in Rome, New York, on October 16, 1940. He was 5’9 ½” inches tall and weighed 150 pounds, and had black hair and brown eyes. His address was 335 Henry and his wife was Florence (Kozlowski) De Vito.

His Draft Registration Card (front)

On October 7, 1943, Peter received an award from the bus company for driving at least three months without an accident. He is drafted into the U.S. Army on March 22, 1944, at Camp Upton, New York. His basic training was at Camp Blanding, Florida, and he was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland. He had a 14-day furlough prior to being shipped overseas in August, 1944.

By October 1944 he is in France with the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Divison. By the time Peter joined the 60th they were engaged in ferce fighting along the border of Germany. The practice of individual replacements during WWII is well documented. Some replacements, like Peter, quickly became casualties.

On October 13, 1944, after only days on the front, Peter was wounded in the thigh by an artillery shell and received the Purple Heart. On January 3, 1945, Peter was again wounded slightly while serving in Belgium. Pvt. Peter De Vito was killed in action on March 6, 1945, in Germany. He was the 63rd Roman to give his life in World War II. Peter was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome Medal of Honor.

Headstone Application Card

On November 24, 1947, Peter’s body was returned from Europe aboard the USAT Robert Burns. His body, along with those of six other servicemen from the Rome, NY, area, were first taken to the Schnectady Distribution Center, and then by train to Rome, NY. Peter was buried in St. John the Baptist Cemtery on December 7, 1947. The Veterans Committee for the Return of the War Dead met the body and served as pall bearers at the brief commital service. At the request of the family, no military service was held.

On May 1, 1946, Peter’s widow, Florence (Kozlowski) De Vito married Peter’s brother, Anthony De Vito. Ermelinda De Vito, a Gold Star Mother, lived to become a Great Grandmother, and passed away in 1975, after a long illness.

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21252441/peter-a-devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89632259/florence_devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21252437/anthony-devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21252440/michael_devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21252438/ermelinda-devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21252439/henry-a-devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31758875/joseph-michael-devito

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21252433/angeline-devito

Constantino Primo Funeral Home: https://www.costantinoprimofh.com/obituaries/Michael-DeVito?obId=8380445

Fold3:

https://www.fold3.com/record/706829938/de-vito-peter-a-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954