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Aiello, James Joseph

Date of birth:
August 27th, 1912 (Syracuse/New York, United States)
Date of death:
March 2nd, 1996
Service number:
32254597
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

James Joseph Aiello entered service at Fort Niagara, New York on March 20th, 1942. He left for the Pacific on March 25th, 1944 and served there from April 1st, 1944 until November 2nd, 1945. He returened in the United States on November 12th, 1945. James Aiello was honorably discharged on November 26th, 1945.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 18th, 1943

Awarded with "RIFLE" emblem.
Marksman Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 1st, 1944

General Orders No. 33, Headquarters 307th Infantry Regiment (1 September 1944).
Combat Infantryman Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Technical Sergeant
Unit:
Company G, 3rd Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division "Statue of Liberty", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
October 23rd, 1945
Citation:
"For meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy on Ie Shimam R.I., 21 April 1945, Company G, 3rd Infantry Battalion, from a position on top of Government Building Ridge, was savagely defending its left flank against a furious pre-dawn attack. Sergeant Aiello, a squad leader, was a member of the platoon bearing the brunt of the attack. Amid intense and accurate enemy small arms fire, and with mortar shells and granades falling all around him, he fearlessly directed his squad in repulsing the attack.
As the enemy closed in on his position with pole charges Sergeant Aiello countered with hand grenades until he was painfully wounded and temporarily blinded in the left eye by powder burns. In spite of this he continued to throw grenades, kept him supplied by passing some to him. This enabled the wounded man to hold his position. Sergeant Aiello demonstrated great courage and devotion to duty and was an inspiration to all who fought with him."

General Orders No. 362, Headquarters 77th Infantry Division (23 October 1945).
Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1945
Awarded with three campaign stars for "EASTERN MANDATES", "PHILIPPINES ISLANDS" and "RYUKYUS".

General Orders No. 33, War Department (1945).
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Technical Sergeant
Unit:
Company G, 3rd Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division "Statue of Liberty", U.S. Army
Awarded for:
Operation Iceberg
Awarded fro a wound (painfully wounded and temporarily blinded in the left eye by powder burns) received on April 21st, 1945 at Government House Hill, Ie Shima.
Purple Heart

Sources

  • Photo 1: John Aiello
  • - Bronze Star Medal Citation
    - Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge

Photo