Ermondo “Butch” Puccio

Ermondo “Butch” Puccio was born on April 15, 1921 in his family home located in Queens, New York. At the age of 21, he enlisted as a Private in the United States Army and completed basic training at Camp Davis in North Carolina.

Before leaving for Camp Stoneman in California on September 7, 1943, Mr. Puccio married his loving wife Jennie. On August 28, 2020, Butch and Jennie Puccio will celebrate their 77th wedding anniversary.

On September 18, 1944 he departed San Francisco aboard the USS Arthur Middleton arriving in New Guinea where he remained for five months. On March 2, 1945, as part of a 100-ship convoy, he left New Guinea for combat zones in the Philippines. The following day their LST, or Landing Ship Tank, experienced engine trouble which left them abandoned mid-ocean. On March 12, they finally arrived at San Jose, where they would spend the next eight months in various parts of the Philippine Islands before their November 1945 departure.

While serving in combat, Mr. Puccio was injured by a .50 caliber machine gun which fell on him. In January 1946, he returned to the United States where,
on February 2, 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Army.

World War II Staff Sergeant Puccio bravely served our country. In a letter provided by Mr. Puccio from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Army Expeditionary Forces, the President stated “Upon the outcome depends the freedom of your lives: the freedom of the lives of those you love - your fellow citizens - your people.”

Mr. Puccio is one of our country’s few remaining World War II veterans, a hero to many and a 99-year Queens resident. It is with great pride and appreciation that we recognize such a distinguished member of our community.