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| Sgt. Leon Aliano served with the 27th Infantry Division in Saipan https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133173656/leon-aliano https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/pacific/saipan/27th-infantry-division-us-army-troops-march-to-front-lines-on-saipan/ |
Leon Aliano never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on February 2, 1919 in New York. His parents Vincent and Clara were both born in Italy. They came to America in 1905 and 1914, respectively. His father worked as a banana peddler. Leon had an older brother and sister. He married Clara Petrino in May 1936.
By 1940 his parents were separated and Leon and his wife were living with his older brother who worked as coffee operator and supported their mother. Leon had completed two years of high school and worked as a truck driver.
He was drafted into the army on February 3, 1940. He rose to the rank of sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. The 27th ID was deployed in defensive positions in California right after the Pearl Harbor attack. In May 1942 it was sent to Hawaii to defend that location. It first saw action when it captured the Makin Atoll in November 1943.
The 27th ID played a major role in the attack on Saipan, landing on D+1, June 16, 1944. It was tough fighting taking on the center section of the attack and the 27th suffered more than 1,800 casualties in two weeks. There was no rest at night when the Japanese were most active with suicidal night patrols. Sgt. Aliano was killed in action on June 30, 1944 when the 27th ID finally burst through Death Valley and captured Purple Heart Ridge.
His grave is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. His widow never remarried and died in 2006. His brother lived to be 100 years old and died in 2015.
Last year on this date I profiled Everett Thacker, 84th Infantry Division, and his brother John. You can read about the Thacker brothers here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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