PVT Dale A. Pearo
Source: Honor States
Private Dale Antwine Pearo of Able Battery, 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (PFAB), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan, to Earl L. and Mary (Vallier) Pearo on December 16, 1919. Dale had three brothers—Earl W., Marshall, and Leo B. Pearo—and four sisters, Virginia M., Betty J., Barbara L., and Lorraine Pearo. Two sisters and one brother had died in infancy, before reaching their first birthday. His brother Earl Pearo also served in the U.S. Army during WWII.
Dale married Jean Lucille Lubert at an unknown date. Like his parents, Dale faced hardships when his first child, Louis, died nearly four months after birth, on December 27, 1940. After this sad time, Dale and Jean’s marriage was blessed with two daughters, Carol Jean (born January 25, 1942) and Phyllis Marie (born February 8, 1944).
Dale signed up for the draft in his hometown on July 1, 1941, while working for Love Construction Co. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 27, 1943. A month later, on September 29, PVT Pearo was transferred from Fort Custer, Michigan, to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he began his paratrooper training with the 515th PIR at the parachute school.
When PVT Pearo finished his stateside training, he was first sent to Ft. George Meade at the end of April 1944, then boarded a troop carrier at Camp Henry, Virginia, on May 19, 1944. After arriving in Italy, he was temporarily assigned to the 434th Replacement Company of the 31st Replacement Battalion. On August 6, 1944, he reached his final destination: Able Battery of the 463rd PFAB.
PVT Pearo arrived just in time to take part in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France. A large airborne assault was planned in the center of the landing zone on the French coast to quickly seize the high ground overlooking the beaches.
On August 11, the men of the 463rd were transported by truck to the military airport at Grosseto, about 100 miles north of Rome near the Ligurian Sea coastline. There, they boarded the C-47 planes alongside the paratroopers of the 509th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 463rd was assigned to provide artillery fire for the 509th.
On August 15, 1944, at 04:25 hours, the men of Able Battery jumped near Le Muy, France, leading the attack. The airborne artillerymen not only provided artillery support after assembling their guns but also fought as infantry, with small units attacking the German hilltop garrison and coastal batteries, causing heavy casualties and capturing many prisoners.
With all its units reassembled, the 463rd advanced along the southern France coast toward Nice, engaging larger, better-equipped enemy forces that were either defeated, captured, or scattered. Their next mission took them to the Maritime Alps, where the artillerymen fought the enemy under cold and heavy snow as mountain troops for several months. This experience proved to be excellent preparation for their next assignment.
On December 12, 1944, the 463rd PFAB arrived by truck and a “forty-and-eight” boxcar in Mourmelon, France. There, the battalion was quartered with the 101st Airborne Division. The 463rd was only administratively attached to the 101st for quarters and rations, as it was designated to be assigned to the 17th Airborne Division.
That all changed with the German offensive in the Belgian and Luxembourg Ardennes, dubbed “The Battle of the Bulge.”
With the 17th still in England and the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR) lacking direct artillery support, the 463rd PFAB was in the right place at the right time.
Around 21:00 hours on December 17, the 463rd PFAB, attached to the 101st Airborne Division, was alerted to move from its bivouac area in Mourmelon, France, to near Bastogne, Belgium. (On March 1, 1945, the 463rd PFAB was reactivated as a full-fledged unit of the 101st Airborne Division.)
The 463rd PFAB positioned itself near Hemroulle to provide artillery support for the 327th GIR, which was fighting the Germans west and south of Bastogne.
On December 26, the enemy attempted once again to take control of Marvie. PVT Pearo was part of a small observer team led by LT John C. Gill. While calling in artillery fire on an attacking tank column, the team came under enemy fire, resulting in the death of LT Gill, PVT Hickenlooper, and PVT Pearo, who died from a gunshot wound in the neck.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
Source: NARA
PVT Dale Pearo died at the age of 25 during the Battle of the Bulge on December 26, 1944. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
Dale was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery Grand Failly #1 in Plot D, Row 11, Grave 268, on December 30, 1944. On July 28, 1948, he was disinterred and prepared for a final reburial, which took place on February 11, 1949. Dale rests eternally at the Luxembourg American War Cemetery, in Plot I, Row 8, Grave 3.
May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Dale.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
Family Search
IDPF