Joseph Burlazzi
Encyclopedia
Joseph Burlazzi was a U.S. Army soldier in World War II
who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for his conduct during Army operations in North Africa.
. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and trained at Fort Devens
, Massachusetts
. He was killed in action on 23 March 1943 near Tunisia
at the North African front in World War II
. Burlazzi was a veteran of ten successive battles and aided in the capture of German
prisoners.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
posthumously. In the citation, Brigadier General E. L. Ford wrote that " ... during assault on enemy forces ... Burlazzi and another man volunteered ... into the face of enemy fire to take up an abandoned machine gun position ... they were responsible for turning an enemy assault into a retreat and allowing our own troops to advance... (they) moved (the) machine gun position ... Burlazzi went up with his rifle to provide security for his companion and was struck and killed by artillery
fire."
Burlazzi's brother Guido accepted the award.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
for his conduct during Army operations in North Africa.
Biography
Burlazzi was born in Smith's Mills, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and trained at Fort Devens
Fort Devens, Massachusetts
Devens, Massachusetts is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is the successor to Fort Devens, a military post that operated from 1917 to 1996. The area...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was killed in action on 23 March 1943 near Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
at the North African front in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Burlazzi was a veteran of ten successive battles and aided in the capture of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
prisoners.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
posthumously. In the citation, Brigadier General E. L. Ford wrote that " ... during assault on enemy forces ... Burlazzi and another man volunteered ... into the face of enemy fire to take up an abandoned machine gun position ... they were responsible for turning an enemy assault into a retreat and allowing our own troops to advance... (they) moved (the) machine gun position ... Burlazzi went up with his rifle to provide security for his companion and was struck and killed by artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
fire."
Burlazzi's brother Guido accepted the award.