Joseph A. Ruggiero

12 February 1918 – July 9, 1999

Hometown
Queens, New York
Service number
32324879
Rank
Corporal
Unit
Company M, 16th Infantry Regiment
Award(s)
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart

Biography

Joseph A. Ruggiero was born in Queens, New York, the son of Italian immigrants. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 25, 1942. Ruggiero was assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He sailed to England on the Queen Mary in June of 1942 as part of the first American soldiers entering the war against the Germans, and went on to fight for three and a half years as part of the infantry on the front lines of World War II.

Ruggiero made three amphibious landings during the war. The first in North Africa in Operation Torch, where he received his first Bronze Star during the Battle of Kasserine Pass. The citation for the Bronze Star described Ruggiero’s courage and devotion to duty: “Although painfully injured during his company’s advance upon an objective, Private Ruggiero, refusing to accept medical attention, continued to press forward, carrying burdensome ammunition for his mortar platoon.”

The next amphibious landing was in Sicily in Operation Husky in 1943, where Ruggiero’s unit landed at the beach in Gela and marched through the entire island, fighting the Germans.

Ruggiero’s third amphibious landing was in France on D-Day in Operation Overlord, where he was part of the first assault wave on Omaha Beach. For their heroic efforts in Normandy, Ruggiero’s 16th Infantry was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation by the President. Ruggiero was recognized individually as well, with another Bronze Star, awarded for his courageous effort in Normandy. As the citation detailed, Ruggiero “courageously wad[ed] through densely mined sea under heavy enemy fire” and “assisted in salvage of valuable equipment from a disabled landing craft.” The citation further expressed that “Ruggiero’s heroic acts contributed materially to the success of the invasion.”

Ruggiero also fought in most of the major battles of World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge, breaching the Siegfried Line, and crossing the Rhine River into Germany. He fought throughout North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, Germany and into Czechoslovakia, where his regiment liberated the Falkenau Concentration Camp.

He was an expert marksman and a mortar specialist. By the end of his tour, he had amassed eight battle stars, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and countless other awards and recognitions. Ruggiero, as further evidence of his determination, courage, and fortitude, never left the battlefield, despite being injured twice.

Honorably discharged on August 13, 1945, Ruggiero moved to South Florida after the war and became a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office . He retired in 1977 and died on July 9, 1999.

He is survived by his three sons, Joey, Pat, and Willy.

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Bronze Star Medal

Citation: Under the provisions of AR 600-45, 22 September 1943, as amended, and in accordance with authority contained in paragraph 4, Section I, Circular 66, Headquarters First U.S. Army, 18 May 1944, Joseph A. Ruggiero, 32324870, Private First Class (then Private), Company M, 16th Infantry, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, 25 February 1943. Courageously wading ashore through densely mined sea under heavy enemy fire, Corporal Ruggiero assisted in salvage of valuable equipment from a disabled landing craft. Corporal Ruggiero’s heroic acts contributed materially to the success of the invasion. Residence at enlistment: Richmond Hill, New York.

Bronze Star Medal

Citation: Under the provisions of AR 600-45, 22 September 1943, as amended, and in accordance with authority contained in paragraph 4, Section I, Circular 2, Headquarters First U.S. Army, 4 January 1945, as amended, in addition to the Bronze Star Medal previously awarded, a bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944, is awarded to Joseph A. Ruggiero, 32324870, Corporal (then Private First Class), Company M, 16th Infantry. Courageously wading ashore through densely mined sea under heavy enemy fire, Corporal Ruggiero assisted in salvage of valuable equipment from a disabled landing craft. Corporal Ruggiero’s heroic acts contributed materially to the success of the invasion. Residence at enlistment: Richmond Hill, New York.

Purple Heart

Citation: Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, dated 22 September 1943, as amended, the Purple Heart is awarded to Joseph A. Ruggiero, 32324879, Corporal, Company M, 16th Infantry, for wounds received in action against the enemy in Germany, 8 March 1945.

Army Good Conduct Medal

Citation: Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-68, the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to Joseph A. Ruggiero, 32324879, Company M, 16th Infantry, for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active federal military service.

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