Fred J. Lanari
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Fred J. Lanari of Virginia, Minnesota, was inducted into the Army on July 30, 1944 at Fort Snelling, Minn.
He was a Private First Class and a rifleman with Company F in the 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division in Rhineland and Central Europe.
"Landed in La Havre, France, rode 40&8''s to replacement depot and after a week went up to front lines and joined Company F, 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. We were in combat until May of 1945. Closest I came to getting killed was when a mortar shell landed 10 feet away. It was a dud."
Mr. Lanari received the: Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with two bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged on March 14, 1946 at Camp McCoy, Wis.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 166.
