06/06/2026
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We take a moment to remember and reflex on this day. Today is the 82nd anniversary of THE LONGEST DAY, D-DAY, the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe, Operation Overlord. Along with the thousands of Allied servicemen who landed on the beaches in France, were many Lodi, NJ boys, some who were wounded and others who paid the ultimate sacrifice. They are recipients of the Military Order of the Purple Heart medal. May we always remember them...
SALVATORE ABBATE, US ARMY, landed on D-Day, wounded in the right leg. Buried at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi.
NICHOLAS O. BONGO, US ARMY, Co. G, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Landed at Normandy on D-Day. One of the first Lodi men to give his life in action in World War II. Killed in action at Normandy July 26, 1944. Buried at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi.
HOWARD BOWENS, US ARMY, "TEXAS RANGER," 2nd RANGER BATTALION. Killed in action June 6, 1944. He was a nephew of Bert Bruinooge and first cousin of KIA Cornelius DeLeeuw. Buried at Normandy American Cemetery.
MARIANO J. CUCCIO, US ARMY, 82nd Airborne Paratrooper, wounded, buried at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ.
ELMER B. DANSEN, US ARMY, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Landed at Normandy on D-Day. Killed in action June 10, 1944. Buried at Normandy American Cemetery.
JOHN DUVA, US ARMY, CORPORAL. Landed at
Normandy on D-Day. Fought for 16 days before being killed in action on the Cherbourg Peninsula on July 12, 1944. Inducted November 1942, with training in Florida, Virginia and South Carolina before going overseas in January 1944. Before entering the service he had been a silk dyer, but was last employed at the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company in Garfield. Buried at St. Nicholas Cemetery.
GEORGE FATZER, US ARMY, 101st AIRBORNE, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY. Killed in action June 6, 1944. Buried at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi.
ABRAHAM LACROIX, US NAVY, Pharmacist's Mate. Killed in action June 6, 1944. Other medals: Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry" in action on D-Day. Citation reads: "In charge of a medical station on an important assault beach, La Croix supervised the handling of casualties skillfully and with complete disregard for his personal safety, voluntarily exposing himself and bringing the wounded to his post until he was killed on one of these missions." He was 31 years old at the time of his death, was a veteran of the North African and Sicilian campaigns. He entered the Navy in April 1942 at age 29 and went overseas a year later. He attended Garfield High School and was employed by United Piece Dye Works before entering the service. Buried in the family plot at Lodi Cemetery.
FRANK LANZA, US ARMY, landed on D-Day, spent 22 consecutive weeks in battle.
ALBAN MECCIA, US ARMY, STAFF SERGEANT, "TEXAS RANGERS," BAZOOKA MAN. Wounded on Normandy Beach June 6, 1944. Served in the same unit as KIA Howard Bowens. Buried at Florida National Cemetery.
MICHAEL GERARD PERAGINE, US ARMY INFANTRY, "BIG RED ONE DIVISION." Wounded June 6, 1944. Veteran of the North Africa campaign. Died 2009, cremated.
HENRY PROKOWSKI, US ARMY, GLIDER OUTFIT. Received training at Fort Bragg, NC, and Fort Meade, MD. Before entering the service he was employed by the Botany Worsted Mills. Wounded June 6, 1944. Buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Saddle Brook.
ALEXANDER V. SICA, US ARMY, CORPORAL, 507th PARACHUTE INFANTRY. Landed on D-Day, wounded twice.
MICHAEL SLIVKA, US ARMY, 116th INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29th DIVISION. Killed in action June 6, 1944 at Normandy. Prior to his service, he was a coal miner in Cambria & Somerset Counties, PA. Brother of Lodi Purple Heart recipients Charles & Harry Slivka. Buried at Normandy American Cemetery,
