Pat Francisco POW at Cherbourg, France

Left for Dead by Germans

(1944) – Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Francisco, of Nutley, N.J., received word recently that their son, Pfc. Patsy Francisco, an infantryman who also participated in the Sicilian invasion, was wounded in Normandy on June 14.

The group was the spearhead of the attack on the Germans in the vicinity of Sedjenane Valley, Tunisia, on April 23, 1943. It also completed the capture of the northern end of the Cherbourg Peninsula. Pfc. Francisco was taken prisoner of war and released upon the capture of both territories. He had been left for dead by German soldiers.

The wounded man is now convalescing at an English hospital from a leg injury. He also received wounds in the thigh on April 7, 1943, during the African campaign, while administering first aid to a captain of his outfit as a German plane strafed overhead.

Mr. and Mrs. Francisco recently received award of the Purple Heart.

Pfc. Francisco, 25, entered service on Jan. 10, 1941, and received his basic training at Ft. Bragg, N.C., going overseas in Sept. 1942.

Born in Nutley, he attended Nutley High School. He was an employee of Lobsitz Mills prior to entering the armed forces.

In addition to his parents, Pfc. Francisco has four brothers: Joseph of 86 Bloomfield Ave., Valentine of 11 Newark Ave., Harry of West New York, and Gerald of Passaic. A sister, Mrs. Madeline Lofrano of 60 Union Ave.

An older brother Pasquale De Francesco died during WWI.

Source: Adapted from newspaper clipping, Blue Star Mothers Album, family sources.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll - Remembering the Men Who Paid For Our Freedom
by Anthony and Andrea Buccino

Biographies about the more than 130 Nutley sons who died while in service to our country. In the past century, 138 Nutley sons died while in service to our country. World War I took 17. World War II took 92 sons. The Korean War era took 12 sons. The Vietnam War took nine sons, and preserving the peace during the Cold War set its toll at eight Nutley sons. Here, in one source, beyond the names of the fallen, are their stories, and some veterans' stories.

Military history, biography

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Nutley Sons Honor Roll - Normandy Invasion Web Site

Read more: D-Day by Anthony Buccino

Military History

Cherry Blossom Press