Angelo Carl Azzarello (”Andy”)

Military Branch:  Army

Unit:  398th Infantry Regiment

Years Enlisted:  1944-1946

Honors: European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Bronze Service Star; Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Official Military Commendation for Rescue Service (1946)

Angelo Carl Azzarello (“Andy”), born August 19, 1922, in Montemaggiore Belsito, Sicily, Italy, was the first of seven children of Francesco (Frank) Azzarello and Concetta (Zizzo) Azzarello. Shortly after his birth, his family immigrated, first arriving at Ellis Island, before continuing on to build their life in the United States.

At the age of 21, Angelo enlisted in the Army’s 398th Infantry Regiment as a Private First Class (Pfc.) on March 27, 1944, during World War II, serving in the European African Middle Eastern Campaign (EAME). He was present with his unit during the Bronze Service Star campaign in battles in Central Europe, the Rhineland (France, Belgium, and the Netherlands), and in Italy. During boot camp, Angelo was offered the opportunity to train and serve as an officer due to his written test scores, but he chose to remain Pfc. Azzarello. Throughout his service, he received decorations, citations, and commendations including the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. As most of his service was in the infantry, he later attended school for Military Police for two weeks in 1945, and it is assumed that he served as a Military Police Officer until his separation from the military. Angelo was honorably discharged as a Pfc. from the U.S. Army on June 1, 1946, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He returned home on a Liberty ship.

Just prior to his discharge, Angelo received a Commendation on April 9, 1946. In Brigadier General William H. Draper Jr.’s commendation request letter dated March 31, 1946, to Major General R. W. Barker (Berlin District), the following is stated:

“On Sunday, 24 March 1946, approximately 3 PM, the undersigned and Captain E. Barzynski, while canoeing on Wannsee Lake were in serious danger of drowning when the canoe turned over. Pfc A. C. Azzarello of the Harbour Master’s Office was in charge of a rescue boat, and had German civilian, Walter Raetsch, as his assistant. They fortunately saw the accident, and in a most efficient manner came to the rescue and saved the lives of both the undersigned and Captain Barzynski. This was done under very considerable difficulty and required expert handling of the little sail boat.”

When Angelo later told this story, he recalled how unhappy he had been that the sail boat was being operated in such dangerous waters and under the threat of possible enemy fire.

After the war, Angelo attended the State University of New York, Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences at Buffalo (an early division of the University of New York at Buffalo, College of Arts and Sciences) and obtained his Diploma in Mechanical Technology on September 29, 1949. While continuing his higher education at night, it is believed that Angelo worked as a welder during the day. He married Josephine Pusateri from Buffalo, New York, on May 6, 1950, at Holy Angels Church in Buffalo. Angelo was a member of the first graduating class of Erie County Technical Institute under the State University of New York, now Erie Community College (ECC), receiving his Associate Degree in Applied Science with a major in Mechanical Technology on August 3, 1955.

Angelo and Josephine had three children: JoAnn in the mid‑50s, a second child, Frank, in the early 60s, and Michael in the mid‑60s. Also in the mid‑60s, Angelo engineered and accomplished the relocation of the family home from Transit Road in Williamsville to where it currently resides at 4324 Roxbury Drive in Clarence (Williamsville), New York. Angelo served as a Civil Engineer with New York State’s Department of Transportation. He also served as a resident Civil Engineer working on the design and construction of bridges and highways as the Engineer in Charge, and supervised welding. Simultaneously and for a short time, Angelo owned and operated a home appliance sales and service business on Transit Road in Williamsville, New York, called “Azar Co.” In the early 70s, he continued his higher education with courses at ECC in Statistics, Reading Development, and Report Writing for Supervisory Personnel. He continued to work for New York State until his retirement in 1978 condluding his oversight of numerous road projects.

In retirement, Angelo served as a consultant for Migliore Construction and the Ciminelli Construction Company. He was an usher at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary R.C. Church in Harris Hill and a member of the American Legion Post 838 also in Clarence, New York. Angelo passed away near his home at the age of 74 on September 18, 1996, and is interred with his wife Josephine at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga, New York.