329th Buckshot Unit History

Cpl Lawrence Coladangelo

Corporal
Lawrence Coladangelo

Corporal Lawrence Coladangelo

Lawrence Coladangelo was born on May 12, 1922, in Wickliffe, Ohio, to Rose Sabette (1901-1988) and Donamic Coladangelo (1894-1976). His Italian born father emigrated to the United States in 1912 from Napels, Italy. He married Rose Sabette in 1917 when she was just 16 years old.

Lawrence 'Larry' Coladangelo enlisted on October 15, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of the early members of Anti-Tank Company. He was with them at basic training in Camp Atterbury, Indiana, then went to the Tennessee maneuvers an to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. Early April, 1944 Anti-Tank Company was stationed at Camp Shanks from where they left the US. They headed for Europe aboard the HMT Samaria. He arrived in Liverpool on April 16 from where they left for Wales by train. The unit boarded the SS Lucy Stone on July 19, 1944 for France but due to heavy weather it took them 5 days to arrive at Omaha Beach. He stayed with Anti-Tank Company for the remainder of the war. For his service he was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 campaign stars and the Good Conduct Medal.

Lawrence Coladangelo was a lifelong Wickliffe resident and retired in 1980 from Dominic's Cafe, where he had worked for many years. Lawrence Coladangelo died on August 26, 2012 in Naples, Florida and is buried at the All Souls Cemetery, Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Angela (Fatica) Coladangelo and his second wife, Christine (Tirabasso) Coladangelo.

George Studor Jr. son of 1st Lt. George F. Studor Sr., AT/329, had the opportunity to visit Larry Coladangelo at his home, July 30 2012, and these are a few things he recalled.
He said 10 guys from his hometown in Wickcliff, Ohio were inducted on the same day, and 9 ended up in the 83rd. Of those nine, three were killed, two discharged, and four came home alive. Returned alive: Paul "Gabby" Vitantonio, Angelo Cecina, Dominic Christopher, and Larry Coladangelo. Killed In Action: Carmen Matteo, Albert Vitantonio (cousin of Paul Vitantonio), and Earl Russel.
Discharged: Lester Cinabella, and Tony DeMatteo.

One incident he recalled: Galleon drove the ATCO HQ jeep. One day in the Hurtgen Forest, a round came near and he got out of the jeep and a second round knocked the jeep up a tree, it flipped upside down and received almost no damage... He was thrown into a pool in Germany, but couldn't swim.... They threw grenades into the river to "catch" fish... not that proud of that.