Joseph A. DE SANTIS

Source : Andy

 CEMETERY TEMPORARY of St André N°3572

Story of Cemetery Temporary

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

Enlisted in the Army. Served during World War II. De Santis had the rank of Technician Fifth Class. Service number was 31302204. Served with 392nd Port Battalion.

De Santis experienced a critical situation which resulted in loss of life on December 17, 1944. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "DNB - Died Non-battle".

Tec 5 Joseph A DeSantis, born 19 Jul 1919, was the son of Alesio "Alexander" and Angelina (Ciampa) DeSantis of Readville, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. A Tec 5 is a Corporal with a specialty (electrician, etc.). Readville, named after mill owner James Read, is part of the Hyde Park neighborhood on the far SSW side of Boston. His parents were both born in Italy.
In the 1930 census 10-year-old Joseph is living with his parents and siblings Ida 14, William 12, Tulio 8, and Joanna 1, at 144 Readville Street in Readville. His father is a laborer in a blower (think industrial fan units) factory.
Joseph graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1937.
In the 1940 census 20-year-old Joseph is living with his parents and siblings William 22, Tulio 18, and Joanna 11, still on Readville Street. Joseph is a machinist in a paper box factory.
On his Oct 1940 draft registration 21-year-old Joseph is still living at home at 144 Readville Street and working at Allied Container Corporation at 1715 Hyde Park Avenue. His "Person who will always know your address" is his mother, Angelina.
Joseph enlisted 9 Mar 1943 in Boston, He'd had four years so f high school and was single without dependents, His civil occupation was listed under Skilled occupations in the manufacture of miscellaneous products. He was assigned to the 392nd Port Battalion.
In Jan 1944 the 392nd PB was working the docks in Gourock, Scotland (not far from Glasgow). The men received training in dockwork, firefighting, bomb disposal, chemical warfare, and combat.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Massachusetts show DeSantis, Joseph A, Tec 5 from Suffolk County as DNB (Died Non-Battle) so he died in the line of duty from some illness or accident on 17 Dec 1944.
Since he died in December 1944 and is buried in Normandy we might assume that the 392nd PB was working the major ports of Cherbourg or LeHavre by that time.

The Boston Globe  (Boston, Massachusetts)
11 Feb 1945, Sun • Page 28

Source : Amy (AJ) Bowen

Source : Amy (AJ) Bowen

Source : Andy

Source : Andy