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| PFC Harry Faustino was wounded four times and earned the Silver Start with the 3rd Infantry Division. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91957882/harry-j-faustino https://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/3rdinfantry/index.html |
Harry J. Faustino never had a chance to reach 100 years old. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
I began this project on January 1, 2017. It will conclude on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2. During the intervening time, a different fallen serviceman was profiled every day on his 100th birthday. I have decided to round out the project by profiling one of the fallen born between December 7, 1916 and December 31, 1916. This will result in one of the fallen being profiled for every day America was engaged in World War 2. The total will be 1,366 men and women. That's enough for only 13 stars out of the 4,048 on the Freedom Wall of the World War II Memorial.
Harry was born on December 23, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents Ralph and Rose were both born in Italy. His father worked as a teamster and later as a peddler. Still later he worked as a taproom proprietor. Harry had one younger sister. By 1940 Harry had completed six years of schooling and was living with his wife, the former Helen Sholey. He worked as a bartender and later managed a cafe.
He was drafted into the army on January 13, 1944. He became a private first class in Company A, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. The 3rd ID was in action in North Africa and Italy (including Anzio). PFC Faustino was a replacement who arrived in Italy in June 1944. That fall his unit was sent to France and by late winter it was fighting the Germans in the Colmar region. During the course of his service, he was wounded four different times.
The 3rd ID was pulled off the line in February 1945 for some much needed rest and refitting. It was sent to Etting to get in position for an assault on the Siegfried Line on March 15. PFC Faustino was killed in action on that day.
One source indicates that PFC Faustino earned the Silver Star. I was not able to find the citation.
His grave is at Holly Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. His widow did not remarry and died in 2002.
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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