Date of birth:

October 27th, 1920 (Gloversville/New York, United States)

Date of death:

April 24th, 2002

Service number:

294351

Nationality:

American

Frank saved the life of Captain Nikolai Stevenson during the Battle of Tenaru and was cited for bravery by Admiral Halsey.

Admiral William Halsey's citation states:

"On August 21, 1942, you were attached in a platoon in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Tenaru River, Guadalcanal Island.
With complete disregard for your own personal safety, you threw hand grenades against the direct fire of a hostile automatic weapon until it was silenced. This action permitted a flanking movement which cut off the withdrawal of an enemy detachment of thirty-seven men, resulting in its complete annihilation.
The Commander of the South Pacific Arewa and South Pacific wishes to express his commendation and congratulations to you for a job well done."

Major General Alexander Vandergrift, Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, Colonel Clifton B. Cates, and Lt. Colonel Walker A. Reaves supported and recommended Corporal D'Errico for this citation. D'Errico was the first Gloversville soldier to be cited for bravery under fire.

Colonel Stevenson provided greater detail of Corporal D'Errico's heroism:

"because of the conspicuous heroism [D'Errico] displayed as a squad leader of riflemen [he] engaged in a ferocious and successful bayonet attack on the enemy Japanese rear guard of the Ichiki battalion at the battle of the Tenaru River, 21, August 1942. Without regard for his personal safety, Corporal D'Errico cried a warning to his comrades that a Japanese Lieutenant, feigning death, had instead thrown a hand grenade at the advancing Marines. It detonated in our midst, but, because of his unselfish bravery, lives were saved."

Colonel Stevenson recommended to the Honorable Representative from North Carolina that Corporal D'Errico be submitted and awarded the Navy Cross for his selfless bravery on that day. Corporal D'Errico's name never went further than Representative Jone's in-box.

In a separate letter to D'Errico, Colonel Stevenson shared his intimate recollection of the events on that grisly August 1942 day. Stevenson wrote:

"always indelible in my own memory is that tense moment after the bayonet attack on August 21, 1942 when you saved my life when you called out "Look out; he's got a grenade!", and the nthe explosion a few seconds after we hit the deck. Thanks (sic) over gain, Frank, for doing your bit to tilt the lottery of war just a vital few seconds in my favor."

[then] Staff Sergeant USMC Frank was wounded in action in Korea in 1950. He had two brothers who also served the U.S. Armed Forces: Anthony D'Errico, Thomas D'Errico and Joseph D'Errico.

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• Photo 1: News clipping
• - Frank Anthony D'Errico (1920-2002) - Find a Grave
  - Four Months On The Front Line | AMERICAN HERITAGE
  - Personal documents and news clippings

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