Thomas and Florence Gianangeli married on Could 7, 1942, and remained united till Thomas’s dying in 2002. Florence died in 2006. (Photograph Offered)
MARTINS FERRY — Thomas Gianangeli fought in World Conflict II, however he by no means talked about himself as a hero.
A member of The Biggest Technology, he enlisted Jan. 23, 1941, at age 22 and was honorably discharged Sept. 25, 1945.
Throughout his time within the U.S. Military, he fought in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe within the 987th subject artillery battalion.
“Due to his bravery throughout World Conflict II, he acquired 5 Bronze Stars. It was an American Protection Service Medal — the European, African, Center Jap ribbon with 5 bronze stars, a star for every of his 5 battles,” Thomas’s son Vince Gianangeli mentioned.
Vince added that his father virtually by no means spoke about his time within the Military.
“He went to warfare and got here dwelling and by no means spoke about it once more,” he mentioned.
Whereas on go away, Thomas married his spouse Florence on Could 7, 1942. The couple ultimately had 4 sons – Tom, born in 1946; John, born in 1949; Anthony, born in 1953; and Vince, born in 1960.
Thomas Gianangeli’s 4 sons Vince, from left, Tom, John and Anthony honor their father by including his title to the Tri-State Navy Veterans Museum’s Hero’s Wall to make sure that his legacy will dwell ceaselessly. (Photograph Offered)
Three out of the 4 sons additionally went on to serve within the army with Tom serving in Vietnam, John serving within the Military Reserves, and Anthony serving within the Military.
Vince mentioned his household would at all times say that God should’ve wished his mother and father to have 4 sons as a result of Thomas’s battalion was purported to arrive in Normandy on June 6, however due to the tough sea he reached Normandy on June 7.
On June 6, 1944, greater than 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy’s fiercely defended seashores in northern France, which may have very simply led to Gianangeli’s dying.
“On D-Day, heavy seas prevented the touchdown as scheduled on the second tide of the assault, and it was not till the next day, after an evening of intense aerial fireworks, that the battalion landed and it went immediately into firing place to assist the British fiftieth division,” Vince mentioned. “Everybody hears about Normandy. I used to be simply shocked that I by no means knew this as a child, and didn’t learn about it till he was gone. I do bear in mind being at a younger age and asking him, , ‘Hey, Dad, did you ever shoot anybody?’ All he ever mentioned was that he rode on the again of a tank, and the man on the opposite facet of the tank obtained shot within the butt. That’s it, he by no means as soon as mentioned, ‘I fought in 5 battles.’”
Vince mentioned that resulting from his father by no means talking about his time within the army, he’s solely conscious of Thomas’s intensive historical past within the army by his warfare report. Thomas died in 2002, and his spouse Florence died in 2006.
Vince mentioned the one motive he even is aware of about any of Thomas’s army historical past is as a result of he was getting ready his mother and father’ outdated home to be bought after his mom’s dying and located a tied-closed leather-based trifold folder beneath a pile of blankets in a closet.
Vince opened the folder to search out varied paperwork describing Thomas’s time within the Military in addition to a letter from then-Military 5-star Gen. and Supreme Allied Commander, Allied Expeditionary Forces Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later turned the thirty fourth president of the USA, that Thomas acquired in 1944 informing new troopers in regards to the activity they’re about to embark on. Eisenhower orchestrated the D-Day offensive.
“Your activity is not going to be a simple one, your enemy is properly skilled, properly geared up and battle-hardened. He’ll combat savagely,” Eisenhower’s letter states. “I’ve full confidence in your braveness, devotion to obligation and ability in battle. We are going to settle for nothing lower than full Victory! Good luck! And allow us to all beseech the blessing of almighty God upon this nice and noble endeavor.”
Vince then recalled a saying by his oldest brother Tom, who served in Vietnam for 430 days and flew 12- and 13-hour missions in a single day. He would discuss when the airplane would land. “He mentioned there’d be bullet holes up and down the facet of the airplane or the helicopter. He mentioned he would put sheet steel on it and fly again, so he credit my mom Florence for bringing him again, as a result of she went to church for 430 days straight whereas he was in Vietnam,” Vince mentioned as tears stuffed his eyes whereas reminiscing on the loving nature of his mom.
Following Thomas’s army profession, he started working at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Metal and retired in 1981.
As soon as he returned stateside, he additionally joined the Sons of Italy and the Italian American Membership however by no means confirmed curiosity in becoming a member of any kind of veterans group.
Vince mentioned he clearly won’t ever know for positive, however he at all times assumed that his father simply put the previous behind him as soon as coming back from the army.
In 2020, Thomas’s 4 sons bought a spot on the Tri-State Navy Veterans Museum’s Hero’s Wall in Belmont to honor him and be certain that his legacy will dwell ceaselessly.
