Certificate of gratitude

Identified to Salvatore Triano #32769643

T/4 Salvatore Triano bought this special folder to store his 1945 certificate 'The City of Antwerp' and the insignia he wore, a pair of T/4 rank insignia, and a patch from the Army Amphibian Units. Also in the folder are his Good Conduct Medal and ribbon, and a ribbon from his WWII Victory Medal.

At the end of World War Two the City of Antwerp's board of the Burgomaster and Aldermen presented all the individual soldiers serving in Antwerp a certificate of gratitude. This was in appreciation of the danger they risked from falling V-1 and V-2 rockets. Produced on September 4, 1945, these documents were highly valued by the recipients.

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T/4 Salvatore Triano

Salvatore Triano was born on December 20, 1921 in NY City, New York.

He enlisted (#32769643) on February 1, 1943. The MR from March 1943 listed him with the 496th Port Battalion Transportation Corps. On August 12, 1943 he was with Hq Company, 1311th SU TC while in Indiantown. On October 14, 1943 he was transfered to 519th Port Battalion and on January 3, 1944 assigned to the 303rd Port Company, 519th Port Battalion, Transportation Corps. On January 13, 1944 he promoted from Private to Technician 5th Grade and on May 5, 1944 to T/4 while his MOS changed from 271 (Longshoreman, loads and unloads military supplies and equipment from ships by hand) to 473 (Winch Operator, loading and unloading ships by crane). He was stationed in the Bristol/Somerset region, United Kingdom at that time.

During World War II, the 303rd Port Company was part of the 519th Port Battalion under the US Transportation Corps. These units were crucial to Allied logistics and responsible for unloading and distributing supplies in port areas and on invasion beaches. In May and June 1944, the unit was stationed in the Bristol/Somerset region, United Kingdom, in preparation for the crossing of the English Channel. On June 6, 1944, parts of the 519th Port Battalion, including the 303rd Port Company, landed on Utah Beach in Normandy. Their task was to bring supplies ashore amid the chaos to support the advancing troops. During the Normandy invasion, the unit was attached to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade, which coordinated operations on the beaches. Unlike combat divisions, Port Companies operated directly under the Transportation Corps. They often manned the cranes, winches, and trucks needed to move ammunition, food, and fuel from ships to depots. After the liberation of major ports such as Antwerp, such units were often moved there to handle the enormous flow of goods needed for the advance into Germany.

The unit was honored by Belgium for its role in the 175 days of repairing and maintaining the Port of Antwerp.

After the War, Salvatore Triano married Genevieve DePaolo in 1954. He died on November 27, 2002 in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.