John T. DiMauro (#42132279) was born on January 23, 1926 and joined the Army on April 26, 1944 at Camp Upton (Yaphank), New York where he took some of his basic training before going to the European Theatre of Operations (ETO). John was a Pfc. in the 83rd Infantry Division, 331st Infantry Regiment, Company E, 2nd Platoon.
John's niece Teresa DiMauro found these long lost photos of here uncle John DiMauro and his friend Orlando Gasperini, enclosed in a letter home to her grandmother.
On the back they were dated December 18, 1944, in London. They shipped out to Belgium around 2 weeks later. (courtesy Teresa DiMauro)
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After Action Reports from February 1945 lists John T. DiMauro as Missed in Action (MIA) on January 13, 1945 while his unit was fighting in the Battle of the Bulge in the Petit Langlir area. Finally he was Killed in Action (KIA) in Bihain on January 13, 1945 after a mere 11 days in combat. The Morning Reports of Co. E, 331st Infantry Regiment from January 2, 1945 listed DiMauro John T. Pfc. as assigned and joined this unit from the 92nd Replacement Battalion.
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Pfc. John DiMauro was first buried at the US Military Cemetery No.1 in Foy, Belgium, four miles north of Bastogne in Plot G, Row 3, Grave 71. He was buried there on March 2, 1945, at 10.10 Hours. On July 16, 1946, John DiMauro's mother was informed about her son's burial location. In a letter from July 23, 1946, his mother asked Major General Larkin to leave her "Dear son John" in Belgium. On August 15, 1946, a letter was sent from the War Department to Pfc. DiMauro's mother saying:
"A notation has been made on the official records of this office that it is your desire to have the remains of your son rest in a United States Military Cemetery overseas". |
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Fresh graves at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Foy, Belgium mark the end of the Battle of the Bulge - February 1945. (U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo, Courtesy National Archives)
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An African-American burial detail from the 3201 Quartermaster Company looks on as Captain Cleetie Clemens, chaplain of the 90th Infantry Division, conducts services for the recently interred at the U.S. Military Cemetery Number 1, Foy, Belgium, February 26, 1945. (U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo, Courtesy National Archives)
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In a letter dated January 5, 1948 to his mother, Josephine DiMauro she gets notified her son will be disinterred for his final burial. A few days after his disinterment on September 30, 1948, John DiMauro was taken to the American Military Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium where he was buried on November 28, 1948 together with his fallen brothers in arms as his mother requested.
His mother was notified of this by a final letter on January 18, 1949, from the War Department telling her: "This is to inform you that the remains of your loved one have been permanently interred, as recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of the burial." ….. "You may rest assured that this final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government."
Private John T. DiMauro's final resting place is, together with 7989 brothers in arms, the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium, Plot H, Row 3, Grave 21.
Source:
Teresa DiMauro, niece of John T. DiMauro
IDPF information by Thijs Hodiamont
National Archives
An additional story about John T. DiMauro may be found on Thijs Hodiamont's website
