PFC Salvatore "Sam" Oliverio (WWII)


Remembering PFC Salvatore "Sam" Oliverio (Monongah)   June 23, 1925 - May 13, 1945

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PFC Salvatore "Sam" Oliverio was born June 23, 1925 in Chiefton, WV (near Worthington), the son of Giovanni "John" and Costanza (Iaquinta) Oliverio. Both of Sam's parents were born in San Giovanni in Fiore, immigrating around 1909 (John) and 1913 (Costanza) for John to work in the coal mine.

Sam attended Monongah High School for three years (1941-1943) before leaving school to join the military. Sam listed "Student-Monongah High" as his occupation when he completed his draft registration on June 23, 1943-- his 18th birthday. He listed himself as 5'6" and 140 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and dark skin.

Sam enlisted on August 28, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. He served in the 132nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division.

The U.S. Army Center of Military History records: "On 8 January 1945, the Division began movement to Leyte and Samar, to take part in cleaning out remaining Japanese forces on those islands, and to invade Biri, Capul, Ticao, and Burias. Relieved, 13 March 1945, on Leyte, the Division landed on Cebu, 26 March, and seized the city and airfield by 28 March. Divisional combat teams made landings on Bohol, Negros, and Mindanao, where they cleared out pockets of resisting Japanese until 17 June when ordered to return to Cebu, arriving on 25 June."

PFC Salvatore "Sam" Oliverio died, age 19, on May 13, 1945, in the Philippines. His hospital admission record states that he received head injuries from a machine gun bullet, subsequently killing him. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his service and is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV. Sam is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.

Sam was survived by his parents, his older sister Teresina Oliverio, and younger brother Biagio William Oliverio.  Teresina married Tony Warash in 1949, and lived out the rest of her days in Monongah, where she died in 2014.

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