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PVT JOSEPH W. MANFREDI
Joseph Manfredi
Killed In France

   Pvt Joseph W. Manfredi 20 years old, a paratrooper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Manfredi of 116 Washington avenue, was killed in action on June 14 according to word received from the War Department by his parents
   Private Manfredi was sent overseas early in January and was stationed in Africa, later taking part in action at Anzio beachhead.  From there he was returned to England where he received additional training before taking part in the invasion at Normandy.
   He entered the service in March 1943, and received his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga and Camp Meade, Maryland,
   Born in Elizabeth, he attended St Mary's Parochial school and Roosevelt Junior High School where he was a member of the football team.
   Before entering the service Private Manfredi was employed by the (Simmons?) Company.
   Besides his parents he leaves abothe4r brother, Ernest and a sister Dorothy.  He was a nephew of Armond Manfredi, member of the Board of Recreation Commissioners.

[published August 15, 1944, unknown newspaper]

Pvt. J. W. Manfredi Rites
To Be Held Saturday
   A solemn high mass of requiem will be offered Saturday in  St. Mary's Church for Pvt. Joseph W. Manfredi, of 226 Washington avenue, World War II hero who was shot by the Germans when he parachuted into a tree in France.  His body was to be brought today to the Meekins Funeral Hone, 43 South Broad street, from the Brooklyn Army Base.
   Private Manfredi was the son of former Detective Sgt. Ernest Manfredi and Mrs. Lena Manfredi.
   Te soldier was 20 yeas old when he lost his life June 14, 1944.  The German snipers who killed the youth were slain by two fellow paratroopers who had landed safely.
   Pvt Manfredi, born here, entered the service in March, 1943.  He arrived overseas in January, 1944.
   In addition to his parents, he lees a brother, Ernest, and a sis, Miss Dorothy Manfredi, of this city.  The paratrooper was a nephew of Recreation Commissioner Armond Manfredi.
   The requiem mass will be sung at 9 A.M. Saturday.  Burial will be in Mr. Olivet Cemetery.

[published May 19, 1948, unknown newspaper]

 
[courtesy of "Roibeard"]

Grave markers for Joseph W. Manfredi in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Newark (Essex county, New ,Jersey.

Joseph registered for the draft in Union county, NJ on 12 December 1942 and was inducted into the Army on 15 February 1944.

On 27 May 1944 Pvt Manfredi was attached from Hq 82nd Airborne Division to Hq 2nd, 508th PIR.

He was listed in the Hq/2nd morning report as "killed in action as of 14 June 44 (attached from 504th Prcht Inf)" but that fact had not been initially clear.

His remains had been interred at 1500 hrs, 15 June 1944 in the Blosville Temporary Cemetery in Plot A, Row 2, Grave 24 as "Unknown X-2."

A report submitted on 14 May 1945 states that his remains, originally designated as Unknown X-2, was finally verified to Pvt Manfredi through fingerprints forwarded to the FBI by the Quartermasters Corps (Graves Registration).

a second point of confusion is that the Hq 2nd morning report of 22 July 1944 had lilted him as KIA while the official reports contained in his IDPF (Individual Deceased Personnel File) did not confirm his fingerprints until a year later.

On 21 July 1945, Pvt Manfredi was awarded posthumously the Combat Infantryman Badge for the Normandy, France Campaign, 6 June 1944 to 9 July 1944.

On 10 February 1948 his remains were disinterred disinterred from the Blosville cemetery and prepared for transit to the United State.