Pfc Pasquale Vivaldi

"Pasquale J. Vivaldi" is the last name placed on the plaque honoring members of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Drexel Hill who made the "supreme sacrifice" in World War II. What follows is a short biographical sketch of the young man behind the name based on records and historical events that correspond with both his life and death. Over time new facts, clarifications and corrections may emerge, but one thing is clear to me now, "Pasquale J. Vivaldi" is much more than a name on a plaque.

In order to paint the picture below I reverse-engineered the likely events of Pasquale's military experience using the regiment and company he was with at the time of his death. My intention is to "do no harm" to his memory (and others) but rather pay tribute to for the sacrifice he made. Hopefully I don't stray from that aim.

Meet Pasquale J. Vivaldi

It only took a few minutes to identify when Private First Class Pasquale John Vivaldi was born and when he died. Oddly enough I didn't immediately connect the dots for a tragic irony. Pfc. Pasquale J. Vivaldi was born on June 20, 1923 in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania. Exactly twenty-one years later his life came to an end in Cormolain, France. On Tuesday, June 20, 1944, the day when Pasquale and his family and friends should have been celebrating his 21st birthday at home, he became a World War II fatality in the service of his country and others.

Pasquale was a first generation American born to Carlo Alberto Vivaldi and Anna Granata Vivaldi of Sicily, Italy. Two of his five siblings were born in the Sicilian town of Nazo before the family established roots in the US around 1909.

Pasquale's path to the US military started when he registered for the draft at age 19 on June 30, 1942. At the time he was living at 42 North Sycamore Street, in Clifton Heights which was walking distance from his parish, St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Oakview (now Drexel Hill). I can't help but wonder how his Sicilian parents (still considered to be "aliens" by the US in 1940), felt about the prospect of their youngest son Pasquale serving in the US military and the possibility that he could end up fighting in Italy.

When Pasquale signed his draft registration card at the Lansdowne Theatre Bldg, he was standing 5' 8" and weighed 165 lbs. He possessed brown hair and brown eyes. His formal education was limited to the 7th grade, which wasn't unlike that of his siblings and far better than that of his parents. He was employed at Sun Shipbuilding in Chester, PA. He couldn't know the high stakes future he'd be facing when he signed his draft card or that someone would later write "Died of Wounds" across the card that still bares his signature.

Records indicate that on February 10, 1943 Pasquale entered active military service in Philadelphia. The journey ahead would ultimately lead him to the 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, F Company. To the best of my knowledge this designation held true for the entirety of his military career and that critical assumption informs the story that follows.

The 1st Infantry is well know as "the Big Red One" since their shoulder patch includes a big red number one on a pentagon-shaped field of green. Prior to Pasquale's service the Big Red One landed in Oran, Algeria in November 1942 and fought in North Africa as part of Operation Torch. In July 1943 they fought as part of the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky). Based on Pasquale's enlistment date it seems possible that Pasquale served in the battle to wrestle the Sicilian homeland of his parents from fascist German and Italian forces. Maybe he even stood in battle against members of his Sicilian family. At some point Pasquale joined the Big Red One who were eventually deployed to England to prepare for Operation Overlord, the codename for the planned invasion of Normandy by Allied forces.

Supreme Sacrifice

The records I've found thus far don't shed a lot of light on the specifics of the event that resulted in the death of Pfc Pasquale J. Vivaldi. They only tell us the place of his death (Cormolain, France) and the date (June 20, 1944). However, these two things do help frame a story.

For starters, Cormolain is roughly 20 miles away from Omaha Beach, the famed D-Day invasion beach. Pasquale's F Company of the 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion assaulted German forces there on June 6, 1944. That is the unit Pasquale was attached to on the day he "died of wounds" in Cormolain. Several other men from his unit (Pvt. Renee Hebert, Pvt. Vincent Schmidt, Pvt. James H. Smith) died at Cormolain the day before Pasquale's young life came to an end. It is worth noting that "died of wounds" implies Pasquale survived injuries to reach medical attention. We don't know where or when he sustained his wounds. There is a memoir of a Combat Medical Aidman who was in a Cormolain aid station that provides some context for the environment in and around Cormolain when Pasquale passed away.

It appears Pasquale's 2nd Battalion arrived in Cormolain between June 10-13, just a few days after D-Day. I haven't been able to completely reconcile some of the information to nail the exact date. This contingent of troops had advanced further than some others and were told to dig in an hold defensive positions until reinforcements arrived.

During this time the troops in Cormolain were exposed to enemy attacks and casualties continued to rise. I've read reports of enemy shelling (mortars and tanks) and nighttime machine gun fire that compelled men to stay in their fox holes as much as possible. It was unnerving to say the least. During this pause in the march to take back Europe from fascist Nazi forces, some units were reorganized and replacements came forward to account for those lost in the initial D-Day invasion.

So, based on what I've found thus far two things seem possible. First, Pasquale was a part of the D-Day invasion and survived the push to Cormolain. Thinking that scenario is most likely, I am providing some additional context for what D-Day may have been like for Pasquale. I felt drawn to learn more about his unit and what they faced. However, I recognize a second scenario might be possible, though less likely. Maybe Pasquale came ashore in Normandy, France after D-Day only to die a short distance away in Cormolain.

Regardless of the circumstances of his death, he paid the ultimate price and his loss was no doubt felt among family, friends and his US infantry brothers. His body was returned to the US four years and ten months after his death on April 22, 1948 along with 243 other servicemen. He was interned on September 23, 1948 in Arlington National Cemetery (Sec 12, Grave 4158). Pasquale was the baby of the family, eight years younger than his closest sibling. We can only imagine the pain his parents and siblings felt.

Today, you can remember and honor Pasquale J. Vivaldi's sacrifice by visiting the memorial at St. Charles Borromeo church, visiting his grave in Arlington National Cemetery or just by learning his story. To understand what D-Day might have involved for him, read on.

D-Day: June 6, 1944 - Pasquale's Company in the First Wave

As I was doing my research, the 76th anniversary of D-Day arrived and I matched details about Pasquale's service that potentially place him at the scene of this historic and terrifying event. I'm inclined to think he was there based on evidence, but I recognize that even if he wasn't, there is a story for F Company (1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion) that I feel compelled to explore. D-Day wasn't one big story, but rather thousands of individual stories and each company and soldier deserves to have their story told. I just hope to do it justice in relaying what follows.

From November 1943 until June 1944 F Company was based in West Bay, in Dorset, England. There are tons of stories detailing what it took to ready the troops, including rehearsed landings. What Pasquale couldn't have prepared for was tonsillitis. In May 1944, just before D-Day, he was diagnosed with tonsillitis. I'm sure it came as a relief to his Company when he was medically discharged from the hospital that same month. Somehow, knowing he had tonsillitis makes Pasquale seem more human and real to me.

After months of training (see pictures) the stage was set for F Company to exit England through Castleton or Weymouth, Portland and move towards the coast of Normandy, France. A 6-mile stretch of french beach between Port-en-Bessin to the east and the Vire River to the west was in their future. This area was codenamed Omaha Beach. To put Omaha Beach in the context of operation Overlord (the entire D-Day operation) and other D-Day beaches, I suggest checking out this map and illustration.

When F Company set off in the early morning hours we can expect that each soldier was loaded with 50 pounds of equipment in addition to a weapon and ammunition. Maybe Pasquale was there carrying the letter signed by the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, that had been distributed to troops before they departed. The message would likely have found room in the head of each soldier that day. The letter read, "You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you."

F Company travelled on the USS Henrico along with E Company to "Piccadilly Circus", a rendezvous point in the English Channel. As early as 2:00 AM the troops on the USS Henrico began to make their way down cargo nets thrown over the side to twelve small versatile LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) pitching and rocking in the channel. The Coast Guard were at the helm of the LCVPs. F Company was set to be a part of the largest amphibious assault in history. The rendezvous involved around 5,000 ships and landing craft with 156,000 men in action. Many LCVPs would circle at Piccadilly Circus for a few hours while troops were loaded and the invasion was organized. By 04:15 in the morning things were finally coming together, but the assault would wait.

USS Henrico

Pasquale's 16th regiment was commanded by 45 year-old Colonel George A. Taylor of Oklahoma. He would go on to earn the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on D-Day. He would arrive in a later invasion wave and is well known for saying, "There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let's get the hell out of here."

Captain John G. Wilhelm Finke had charge of Pasquale's F Company. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in Sicily. Captain Finke would be leading his troops with a cane in-hand. He had severely sprained his ankle recently and decided to forego his rifle for a cane on D-Day. Yes, you read that right. He wasn't carrying a rifle as his troops took to the shores on D-Day. To make that even more daunting, consider that F Company would be at the forefront of the invasion in the planned first wave.

At 06:00 F Company started to travel to their target destination with about 31 soldiers and crew onboard each LCVP. After hours of circling in rough seas the ride to the shore proved too much and some of the men in LCVPs found themselves vomiting from seasickness. In fact, many had been sick in the hours prior as they struggling with ocean swells while circling at "Piccadilly Circus." No doubt the stress of the situation and the emerging view of the fortified Normandy beach made matters worse.

F Company and E Company were aimed at the St. Laurent draw, also known as E-1 (Exit 1) in the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach. The "draws" were focus areas of the assault since they were low ground between high hills and cliffs. For American forces, securing the draws on D-Day was vital to moving troops and equipment off the beaches and heading inland. If the men of the first wave couldn't get off the beach they would be trapped between enemy fire and rising tides with little prospect for turning back. More troops would be coming in subsequent waves and congestion on the beach would be deadly.

It has been said that war plans rarely go as expected, and that certainly held true for the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach in many ways. F Company experienced that first-hand. Instead of landing in the Easy Red sector, most of F Company landed in the adjacent and more eastern Fox Green sector. F Company was stretched across thousands of feet of sand due to the pull of the current, reduced visibility and other factors. As you can see in the map below, many American troops landed in alternate sectors that day.

F Company's LCVPs landed the troops to the vicinity of Colleville sur Mer between approximately 06:30 and 06:45. One section landed at the western edge of Fox Green with five more further east. F Company was in for a fight and a lot of confusion. Some of the unit landed directly in front a German E-3 strongpoint and were intermingled with E Company.

By the time they landed, F Company was undoubtedly aware that the enemy had not been displaced from their beach strongholds or that the beach had been cleared of obstacles in advance. It was going to be a tough slog to overtake the German "Atlantic Wall". Costal defenses greeted incoming LCVPs and amphibious DD tanks (those who didn't sink from the rough water) with hostile fire before anyone set foot ashore.

Each LCVP on D-Day had its own narrative. Those who exited F Company landing craft sometimes found themselves wading in water that was above their waists and even over their heads. One F Company soldier, Pfc. Hu Riley, noted that he had to activate life belt preservers around his waist to get his head back above water. Men and equipment of all types were lost in the struggle to exit the surf. The famous picture below shows troops from the 16th regiment making an estimated 300 to 400 yard march through the surf while totally exposed.

Troops from Company E, 16th Infantry, wading onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach from their LCVP in the first wave on D-Day. Sections of F Company found themselves on this same section of the beach.

The German troops poured fire from above as American troops scrambled for cover behind obstacles in the water and on the sand if they even made it that far. Bodies and blood turned in waves as they rolled in. Not landing at the targeted location was deadly. F company had arrived in a killing zone covered by heavily fortified "widerstndsnests" (resistance nest) known as WN61 and WN62.

F Company's Captain John Finke was one of the first two officers to land on Omaha Beach. He wouldn't have a lot of support. A majority of F Company officers were killed before they could reach "the shingle" seawall (a thin strip of small round rocks providing some modest and temporary protection). Only two of Captain John Finke's officers were able to cross the beach. He estimated that he lost quarter of his command before they reached the sea wall. To help appreciate what Pfc Pasquale Vivaldi might have experienced I think it is helpful to read what Captain John Finke recalled in a 1972 interview for BBC:

"Our landing area was dictated by the presence of the beach obstacles. We had to land about 400 yards from the actual seawall. [The men wading ashore were halted due to the] shock of tremendous amount of fire on them and no place to go.

We had a great deal of difficulty getting the men to move. There was great deal of enemy fire and they would take cover behind some of these obstacles that were there to catch assault craft. They were about the size of a ten or twelve foot telephone pole with a teller mine on the top of it.

The whole area was just full of these obstacles. Any port in a storm. People would just try to take cover behind one of these poles. Well, it didn’t provide any cover so you just had to force them to move no matter how you did it. It had so happened, I had sprained my ankle in the marshalling area and had to go ashore carrying a cane instead of a rifle. I used it to very good effect to just whack people until they moved."

Yes, Captain Finke motivated his men off the beach with some whacks of his cane! Amazing. The men had every right to be fearful of course, but staying put wasn't an option as Colonel George Taylor would say that day. Some resources indicate enemy mortars and machine gun fire hit about one-third of the F Company personnel before they could reach the shingle. Further east, only seven men from one craft got through enemy fire to reach the shingle.

Pfc Hu Riley of F Company on Fox Green sector of Omaha Beach

My mind often turns to Saving Private Ryan when trying to picture what F Company, possibly including Pfc Pasquale Vivaldi, faced. That movie is set on a different sector of Omaha Beach, but I understand the carnage and chaos to be representative of the experience at places like Fox Green. Blood stained sand, dismembered bodies, explosions, whizzing bullets and wounded men calling for help. F Company would have experienced all of that.

Amazingly, we do have real famous images of the action at Fox Green as captured by Robert Cappa. The includes a famous photo of Pfc Hu Riley of F Company. I can't help but wonder if he new Pasquale. The scene described by Captain Finke is reflected in these photos. Unfortunately, many many photos by Robert Cappa did not survive the dark room process back in London (an story in itself).

WN 62 would not fall until about 1430 (~8 hours after F Company hit the beach) with the support of reinforcements and strong leadership. With this the E3 exit/draw was now open and access to the village of Colleville-sur-Mer was a reality. Troops would head inland but the battles would rage.

The price was high on D-Day. Across Omaha beach alone around 2,400 Americans were killed or wounded. Yet, somehow amidst all of this terror members of F Company, likely including 21 year-old Pasquale Vivaldi of Clifton Heights, survived. Tragically, in the days and months ahead many of the same men, including Pasquale Vivalidi, would pay the ultimate sacrifice to win freedom for the people of Europe and secure the safety of Americans at home.