Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 20, 2024 Arthur F. DeFranzo: Medal of Honor Recipient (Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series of articles about Arthur F. DeFranzo, a Saugus hero who sacrifi ced his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers in World War II. He was the fi rst Saugus man killed during the D-Day Invasion on June 10, 1944. He is the town’s lone Medal of Honor recipient. The following is a press reDENT A L 373 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617) 898 3384 ranashahidental@gmail.com Dental Restorations Crowns Sealants Fluoride Treatments Bonding GRAND OPENING Gar ima Rana, D.M.D Yen Vo, D.M.D Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. Extractions Invisalign Cleanings Root Canals Emergency Care lease issued by the War Department Bureau of Public Relations in 1945, which announced DeFranzo would be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. He is one of 11 fallen heroes whose families will be honored at the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty Ceremony set for 10 a.m. tomorrow [Friday, Sept. 21] at 50 Maple St. in Milford) Staff Sergeant Arthur F. DeFranzo, Saugus, Massachusetts, Infantryman who gave his life to clear a blazing path through concentrated enemy fi re and in so doing, spared the lives of scores of his comrades, has been awarded, posthumously, the Medal of Honor, the War Department announced today. The action was among the deadly hedgerows of France last June 10, 1944. Details gathered since reveal his act to be one of selfl ess heroism and calculated sacrifi ce. For in the words of his offi cers and comrades in the 1st Infantry Division, “...he knew he would draw enough fi re to kill off a battalion which would save the lives of most of his company.” Presentation of America’s highest honor will be made to Staff Sargeant DeFranzo’s mother, Mrs. Grace DeFranzo, at a date to be announced later. Mrs. DeFranzo lives in the home at 16 Prospect Avenue, Saugus, Massachusetts, where her hero son was born 24 years ago. The slender, almost frail Infantryman (his height was S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping A SAUGUS WAR HERO: Staff /Sgt. Arthur Fredrick DeFranzo (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) fi ve foot, three inches and he weighed only 127 pounds) went to his heroic death in a wide and open fi eld near Vauban, France, when German machine guns, concealed in the surrounding hedgerows, together with a large number of snipers, fi rst halted, then pinned the members of his company to the ground. It was while this fi re sprayed and scorched the fi eld that Staff Sergeant DeFranzo acted. The action is described by the commander of the company, Captain William E. Russell, whose home is 67 School St., Millinocket, Maine. (Note Captain Russell was KIA 11/21/1944 at 26 years old). “He started forward to help a wounded scout as it was impossible that any man could advance under that fi re without getting hit,” the Captain related. “The machine guns and rifl es all opened up on him as though he was a battalion, not just a single man. But he went through it with his rifl e blazing and was still able to pick up the wounded scout and carried him to the shelter of a hedgerow that paralleled our advance. There an aid man was able to dress the scout’s wounds and at the same time he noticed that DeFranzo was also wounded. But with a grin, and a gesture of refusal with his arm, he was off to continue the deeds that were so remarkable that day. He again entered the fi eld and led the advance himself. He could only fi re in one direction at a time, but the enemy was to his front, to his left and to his right. There were always at least two machine guns to bring the unrelenting fi re on him. While the Infantrymen of his company took up the advances, they watched the slender figure ahead continue to charge directly into the line of enemy fi re. He was pumping clip after clip of ammunition from his N1 rifle. One by one the [emplacements] became silenced.” Captain Russell’s account continues. “The men behind could easily follow his trail as his advance was marked by enemy dead, but he was not invulnerable to the hail of enemy fi re. Several times he was hit, and his loss of blood was great. It was no longer his physical strength that carried him on, but a fi ery spirit of devotion and determination. At one point he fell, but his arm was still waving in a forward gesture. His squad saw no more of him until they reached a point twenty yards from where he had gone down. Amazingly he came up again, limping and stumbling, but with his rifl e blazing and once more he was HONOR | SEE PAGE 13
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