Albert John Pitoscia
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
PITOSCIA Sr., Albert John
Albert John Pitoscia Sr. was born on May 13th 1924 to Vincent Antonio & Sandale M. [Leone] Pitoscia in Duluth, Minnesota
Mr. Pitoscia enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 8th 1942. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Yeoman 2nd Class (Y2/c) aboard the destroyer USS Frankford (DD 497), serving in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. His ship escorted Atlantic convoys via Ireland, Casablanca, Oran and Suez Canal. It also escorted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.
Yeoman Pitoscia participated in the Normandy invasion and the Frankford captured a German submarine on the night of invasion. It then went to Cuba, back to U.S. and through the Panama Canal to San Francisco, then to Hawaii to join task force for the invasion of Japan. He disembarked from the ship at Okinawa to return to the United States.
He earned the following medals for his service:
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal,
- European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with two bronze battle stars,
- American Campaign Service Medal, -and-
- the World War II Victory Medal.
Yeoman Pitoscia was honorably discharged on November 6th 1945, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After the war he married Blanche Lois in 1954 and started a family.
Mr. Pitoscia died on August 22nd 2016 in Esko, Minnesota at the age of 92. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 253.
The following source is cited from the Duluth News Tribune obit:
ALBERT "AL" J. PITOSCIA
ALBERT "AL" J. PITOSCIA SR.
Albert "Al" J. Pitoscia Sr., 92, of Duluth died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 in the Barnes Care, Esko.
Al was born May 13, 1924 in Duluth to Vincent and Sandale Pitoscia.
He was a graduate from Central High School. He joined the Navy and served on the destroyer USS Frankford. The Frankford was the destroyer that broke ranks and moved closer to the beaches of Normandy to shell German gun placements. It was a major turning point of the invasion. After the war, he returned to Duluth. He married Blanche Havron in 1954. Al retired from the Duluth School district as a printer.
He was a member of the former St. Peter's Church, the Italian American Club and the independent Order of Foresters. He enjoyed Bowling, Bocce Ball; he coached Little League and was an umpire for many years. Al was an excellent dancer, especially the Jitter Bug and Swing Dancing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Sandale; his wife, Blanche in 2008; brothers, Vincent and John and his sister, Florence Sullivan.
Al is survived by his children, Sharon (Joseph) Thayer and their children, Cory (Jay) Coons, Scott and Bill Thayer; Gary (Jennifer) Pitoscia and their son Sean; Al (Pattie) Pitoscia Jr. and their children, Stephen (Jenae), Eric (Tanya) and Michel Pitoscia; Mary (Ron) Gittings and their children, Nicolas (Jessica) Gittings and Leanne (Dustin) Gamache; Patricia Scheffler and her children, Christina, Maryanne, Joel (Jessica) and John (Danelle) Scheffler; brother, Frank (Orma) Pitoscia; 24 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson and one on the way.
VISITATION: 10 a.m. Friday with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Lawrence church, 2404 Morris Thomas Rd., Duluth. Burial with Military honors accorded by the Duluth Honor Guard at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, MN, (218) 727-3555.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 14 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3
Albert J “Al” Pitoscia Sr. (1924-2016) - Find a Grave Memorial
