PVT Vito De Luigi 106th 423rd regiment

[smoothbore26]

hello all i am new to the site thank you all for helping others as you do.
my grandmother has recently began asking more about her brother Pvt Vito De luigi from connecticut ,106th infantry 423rd regiment , he was buried at henri-Chapelle american cemetary plot H row 5 grave 50 that is all the info we have and would like to know if anyone here can help us more. we have already senta request to the archives.gov and a still waiting on that . thank you all

[connie]

Glad your search brought you here. With a Great Uncle who was with the 106th, you are now among family. Others on the site may be able to contribute more helpful information. But, I'll make a stab at sharing the quick link I know.

The American Battle Monuments Site has listings of those buried in overseas cemeteries. I looked for your uncle and found the listing. It included his serial number, which could be useful if you don't already have this. Just click on WWII in the sidebar under "Search Database." Then type your great uncle's last name in the available space. You'll see an initial short form of the listing. You can click to the left of this for a full listing which includes all the info you gave plus a bit more.

www.abmc.gov/

The sidebar on the same home page also lists the word "cemeteries." If you click on this you'll find a list of cemeteries. Clicking on Henri-Chapelle will take you to a page with information on the cemetery and photographs. If your grandmother hasn't seen these, she might find it comforting.

I'll get back to you if I think of more. But, this might be a start...

Connie

P.S. I just noted that your Uncle's date of death was listed as 10 December 1944. This would have been around the time that the 423rd Regiment was moving into line on the relatively "quiet front." There was some enemy fire. But, this was six days before the massive German Offensive began. An accidental death at this time a real possibility. Do you have any information on the circumstances of your uncle's death?

Please extend caring thoughts from us to your grandmother as she undertakes this search.

[Carl W.]

I have sent a mail to the staff at the Henri-Chapelle Cemetery to ask if someone has adopted the grave of your relative. This is a custom which was started since the war's end when people from the area visit the cemetery to honor the brave soldiers who fought and died for our freedom.

Have you tried sending an Individual Deceased Personnel File to the Department of the Army? These documents usually contain a great deal of information that can be valuable to you.

For more on how to file such a request:
106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=research&action=display&thread=99

I'm glad you found your way to this board in your search for information on your relative. You will find that everyone here is in a way connected with the extraordinary group of men that was known as the 106th Infantry Division.

Do you have any idea what company your great-uncle was in of the 423rd?

Best regards
Carl

[Jim West - Indiana Military Or]

I believe your relative is listed in the 106th Roster, but with limited information. I have a "Delugia, unknown", 423/HQ. This name was found in a 06/16/1944 issue of the Camp Atterbury CAMP CRIER newsletter, and the person was indicated to be in the local boxing tournaments. If you will let me know if you think this is your relative, I will be glad to add the additional information to his page. If not, I will make a new page for him.

Because of the way the software alphabetizes, I have to eliminate the space in the last name.

If you will send me your email address to [e-mail], I will try to locate that newsletter article and email you a copy.

Thanks for writing and thanks to your Grandmother for her Brother's sacrifice.

Jim West

[smoothbore26]

I cant thank you all enough for your help and research. i printed all the information on the cemetery with pictures and shared it with my grandma and grandpa and wow was it a touching moment to be a part of. As we talked more about the date of his death she can remember something about the man that came to the house to relay that Vito has been KIA said something about he was killed by a sniper. that would explain the dec 10th date of death. i wish she told me and the family about her brothers long ago but never ever spoke about it. i say brothers because her oldest brother Henry was also KIA in ww2 however he was in the navy and his ship went down in the pacific . i will start another thread about him after i do some research to start. thank you all again.

[daphardy1919]

I know how appreciative your grandmother must be to have you helping her in her search for more information about her brother.

Knowing what company he was in might help you find more information. My father was in the 106th, 423rd, M company. He is also buried in Henri-Chapelle, F-13-13. The cemetery has a wonderful web site, in-honored-glory, and includes stories about soldiers buried there, as well as a lot of other information and photos. You can submit a story about your great uncle, if you wish. Peter, the web master of the site is very helpful.

[connie]

Visited this very touching thread again on the birthday of the thread's author. Will check listing in Site Soldier index to make sure it is there.

Reading of this loss now takes my mind to Henri Chapelle Cemetery. I have, since this posting, been there. Carl mentioned that local people adopt the graves of men buried there. With Carl and others (including Floyd from this site) I attended a grave adoption ceremony there. It was beautiful and deeply touching. While sometimes it seems like those lost so long ago have been forgotten here at home, that is definitely not the case "over there."

Connie