Joseph Burlazzi

PVT Burlazzi sometime after Basic Training at Fort Devens MA

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.

Biography

Burlazzi was born in Smith Mills, Pennsylvania. 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.

References

• The Belleville Times, April 15, October 7, 1943; May 18, 1944