PVT John L. Curitti
Source: Fold 3
Private (PVT) John Laurence Curitti of Able Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Buckeye, Muskingum County, Ohio, to Gaetano “Guy” and Anna (Tedeschi) Curitti on February 28, 1919. His parents immigrated to the U.S. His father left Naples, Italy, and arrived on the Moltke in New York Harbor on November 13, 1913. John had four brothers, Mario H., Lenee J., Hugo J., and Wido R. Curitti, and one sister, Theressa Curitti.
His brothers Lenee, Hugo, and Wido also served during WWII.
Lenee served as a Technician Fifth Grade with the 81st Armored Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Armored Division in Italy, taking part in the landing at Anzio Beach. Hugo fought as a Private First Class with Baker Company, 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division, landing in Normandy, France in July 1944. Wido served as a Seaman Second Class with the Air Ferry Service Squadron One in New York at the end of WWII.
John signed up for the draft in McMechen, Marshall County, West Virginia, on October 16, 1940. His family had moved from Ohio to West Virginia at an unknown date. For many mid-20th-century Americans, October 16, 1940, was R-Day—the date on which all men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to register for the draft. John was unemployed when he registered in October 1940.
He enlisted almost three years later in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 27, 1943. On October 18th, he travelled from the induction station in Baltimore to Ft George Meade, Maryland, where he was assigned to Company C of the 1302nd Records Replacement Center. Then on November 4, 1943, he travelled to the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Ft McClellan, Alabama.
After finishing his basic infantry training, he was transferred to the Parachute School at Ft Benning, Georgia, on March 6, 1944. Initially, he was assigned to Company G of the 1st Parachute Training Regiment, but was then transferred to Company D on March 24, 1944. In all probability, he finished his paratrooper training with Company D, Parachute Class #116, receiving his wings at the beginning of April 1944.
On April 17, he started with a demolition course at the Parachute School. In June 1944, he went AWOL for several days while serving with Company A, 5th Battalion of the 2nd Parachute Training Regiment at Ft Benning.
On July 16, 1944, he returned to Ft George Meade, just as he was about to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to England. After his arrival, he was assigned from the 11th Replacement Depot at Andover, Hampshire, to Able Company, 501st PIR on August 11, 1944.
PVT Curitti made his first combat jump at the start of Market Garden on September 17th. According to Able Company’s Morning Report of September 24, 1944, he was lightly wounded in action on September 19, during the defense of Veghel by 1st Battalion (less Charlie Company) that day.
PVT Curitti was wounded a second time on October 5, but this time it was much more seriously. The day before, his company was moved by truck from Veghel to Driel. Able Company experienced some of its worst combat in WWII that day, according to Lieutenant Sumpter Blackmon, in which PVT Curitti was mortally wounded. He would die of his sustained wounds two days later.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
Source: NARA
PVT John Curitti died at the age of 25 on October 7, 1944. He was first buried in the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Molenhoek, the Netherlands. In the fall of 1948, he was disinterred and, under “The Return of World War II Dead Program,” returned home, where he was reburied in the Upland Heights Cemetery, Warren Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. His family erected a cenotaph in his memory in the McMechen Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, John.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
Family Search
NARA
Story Behind the Stars