Honoring Troy’s Veterans
Every Sunday through Veteran’s Day, The Record will publish brief profiles of the brave men and women honored by their family and friends with banners hung around Troy through the work of the Troy Military Banner Committee. To honor a veteran, contact the committee by email at troybanners@ gmail.comor through its website at www.troymilitarybanners.com.
Samuel G. Chiappone Sr.
Chiappone entered the U. S. Army on Jan. 13, 1941, and was assigned to the 174th Infantry regiment as part of the 44th Infantry Division at Fort Dix, N. J. From 1941 to 1944, the 174th was responsible for West Coast defenses from Washington State to california.
While home on a two- day leave, Chiappone married the love of his life, Filomena Derico, on Nov. 4, 1943. In March 1944, Chiappone was reassigned to the 83rd Infantry Division, Thunderbolt, in preparation for the D- Day invasion of Normandy. He sailed to England on his birthday, April 6, 1944, to train with the invasion force as part of the 83rd’s 322nd Battery A Field Artillery Unit. His unit landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day +12 and cwent on to earn battle stars for campaigns in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland.
Chiappone was wounded by a land mine Dec. 18, 1944, while his unit was transitioning from the Battle of Hurtgen Forest to the Battle of the Bulge. For his service, Chiappone received the Europe-Africa- Middle East Service Medal with three battle stars, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, in addition to his Purple Heart.
Chiappone was discharge from the Army from Valley Forge General Hospital on June 14, 1949. Upon returning to Troy, he worked as a heavy equipment operator for the city for 28 years, retiring in 1978.