329th Buckshot Unit History

Pfc Maurice V. Castello

Private First Class
Maurice V. Castello

Private First Class Maurice V. Castello

Maurice Virgel Castello was born on July 23, 1913, in Akron, Ohio, as the youngest son of four children to Leona M. Allen (1883-1949) and Dewitt D. Castello (1884-1967). Maurice Castello was married with Nellie M. Bibler on July 29, 1933 and they had one daughter.

He still lived in Summit County, Ohio, when he enlisted on October 14, 1942 in Akron, Ohio. At that time he had 3 years of high school education. Maurice Castello was one of the early members of Anti-Tank Company and was with them at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. There he was reduced from Technician 5th Grade to private (reason unknown) on January 25, 1944. 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. After a month in Combat he was promoted to Private First Class on August 15. He stayed with Anti-Tank Company for the remainder of the war and received a Bronze Star for his service on July 14, 1945. After the war was over he was transferred to the 7th Armored Division in September 1945, with this unit he was then discharged. For his service he was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

A life resident of Akron, Ohio, Maurice Castello died on October 15, 1964, at age 51, at St. Thomas Hospital Medical Center. He was survived by his wife Dora Chatharine Castello (1914-).