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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2008 7:15:03 GMT 8
I received a response from the Department Of The Army today, May 21st, as to our request for information as to the burial place of Matthew here in the States, and a possible connection to his family, so we can return his dog tags to a family member. Some excerpts from the letter. " THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F.O.I.A.) REQUEST WHICH YOU RECENTLY SUBMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND, ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA. DUE TO THE VOLUME OF REQUESTS WE RECEIVE AT (I.D.P.F.) INDIVIDUAL DECEASED PERSONNEL FILE, IT COULD TAKE UP TO 24 WEEKS TO PROCESS. ONCE I.D.P.F.'S ARE COPIED, THEY WILL BE SENT TO THE MAILING ADDRESS YOU HAVE PROVIDED. THOUGH THIS COMMAND HAS CUSTODY OF THE I.D.P.F.'S, WE DO NOT SPECIALIZE IN HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON FILE. THE FOLLOWING WEB LINKS MIGHT PROVIDE ADDITION INFORMATION ON CASUALTIES OF FOREIGN CONFLICTS: American Battle Monument Commission Archives Veterans Administration Cemeteries PLEASE BE ASSURED YOUR REQUEST WILL BE PROCESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE". SINCERELY, THOMAS M. JONES CHIEF, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACT OFFICE We will pursue any new leads.......
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Post by The Phantom on Jul 20, 2008 2:39:14 GMT 8
No new leads to report at this time.
If the I.D.P.F. Dept. is able to find information on Matthew Musolino, we should receive the information by the end of October, 2008.
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Post by one50 on Jul 22, 2008 9:54:03 GMT 8
Here is some info I found on Matthew. This is from the National Archives. He enlisted in the army on Feb. 24th 1941. He was born in 1920. He had 2 years of High School. He was single, without dependents. Civilian occupation was Architect.
I have also been calling cemeteries in the Hartford Area. So far I have yet to find his resting place.
He may also have a brother Frank Musolino who served in the army. Frank is also from Hartford CT. Frank was born in 1915 and was married when he enlisted in 1942. Maybe this lead can help?
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Post by OlsenPC on Jul 22, 2008 17:52:14 GMT 8
Here is why perhaps PFC Musolinos' tags were never found. This is from corregidor.org, from a John L. Lindgren, D Co, 503rd Btn, written in 1999 in "Patsy's Log". Particular attention to 4th par. discussing Cheneys Ravine. The tags may have been taken by a Japanese soldier who then died in a Banzai attack:
"At about 12:30 on the 16th of February 1945 "D" Company flying in C-47’s out of Mondoro jumped on the golf course that we called jump field B in our field order. I was the platoon leader of the 4th platoon which had 60mm mortars. All of the platoon mortars were in excellent condition and we had no jump casualties.
The company was quickly assembled and our company commander Joseph A. Turinsky assigned us defence posts near the Southern end of the golf course.
The next day we relieved "F" company at Battery Wheeler and got orders to attack the huge gun position at once. "F" Company had suffered very heavy casualties there the day before. We attacked with the 1st Platoon led by James P. Gifford who used smoke grenades to blind the Japanese inside the magazines who were firing at us. The platoon started at the berm2 at the eastern end of the battery and with lightning speed and much whooping and hollering had climbed to the western parapet within 2 or 3 minutes. That night the south part of the battery blew up and one man was killed. The assault had cost the 1st platoon 6 men wounded and 1 killed.
The next day (the 18th), "D" Company attacked north and took Battery Cheney and at Wheeler Point to the south where we tied in with "C" Company on the high ground at Battery Wheeler. Nightfall came and even then Lt. Endo, a naval officer, was moving a force of nearly 800 Japanese Imperial Marines out of the magazine and tunnels at Battery Monja cut 300 feet below on the sheer cliffs of Wheeler Point.3 He led his men along the rocky beach washed by the South China Sea until he reached the mouth of Cheney Ravine and proceeded south along Cheney Trail. The trail had been laboriously cut into the sheer walls of Cheney Ravine and somehow or other he managed to slip by the 2nd and 3rd platoons positioned some distance above the trail on Battery Cheney. He hit the 4th platoon without warning and some Japanese Marines and the 4th Platoon were intertwined. The platoon withdrew to a concrete building4 at Wheeler Point, 30 yards to the west, pouring fire into the column now stalled on the trail. At 0430 when the fighting began, the night was pitch black but soon we called for illumination shells from the warships standing off to the west. They lit the battlefield like a thousand suns and helped the stout defence force "D" Company hold off attack after attack after attack on Wheeler Point. The men from "D" Company poured fire into the Japanese column that was unable to continue their attack to Topside. Their objective was to secure Topside and control of the island.
The Japanese Commander, Itagaki had been killed by paratroopers shortly after the first troops had landed and Endo had taken over from him. It was a dreadful night as the Japanese, desperate to push on, could not go beyond Wheeler Point. Wave after wave of marines attacked "D" Company, only to be cut down. The fight was over by 0630 when daylight finally came. When we cautiously surveyed the battlefield to our front it was littered with over 200 corpses of Japanese slain in the thwarted attacks. "D" Company had lost 15 dead, mainly from Company HQ and the 4th Platoon. To this day, Wheeler Point is Banzai Point for "D" Company soldiers who were there. The battle was the only really organized attack in strength during the operation and never again would the Japanese ever muster a force so large. Not only were the casualties massive but the elite5 of 7,000 (?6) Japanese on the Rock were lying out in the bare ground near Cheney Trail. In less than 2 hours nearly 200 men had perished along a 200 foot stretch of Cheney Trail.
The dead paratroopers were laid out in front of the concrete building side by side covered with their green ponchos. The wounded went up Cheney Trail towards the parade ground, walking slowly. The infantrymen could not dig graves in the rocky volcanic soil so the Japanese dead were gathered up and dropped over the cliff at Wheeler Point.
The building at Banzai Point now lies in ruins and only chunks of concrete remain in the tangled undergrowth. A change from the bare ground that we saw in ‘45 stripped of all vegetation. There was not a living animal or bird on the island."
BTW, I am from Hartford area, and my mother is a cemetary association member from Granby, CT. (Hartford County covers MANY towns and citites) I could ask her to use the association if anyone wishes?
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Post by The Phantom on Jul 23, 2008 23:33:53 GMT 8
All help is appreciated from all.
The goal is to return the Dog Tags to a member of Matthew's family.
We didn't previously know he had a brother in the service and other things mentioned.
OlsenPC Ask your mother to help if you would, that would be great.
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Post by one50 on Jul 24, 2008 1:43:19 GMT 8
Let me clarify my statement. He MAY have a brother that was in the service. I was just guessing…not a definite. When I was checking the national archives I came across Frank Musolino from Hartford Ct.
Frank could be a close cousin too? I was just throwing it out as another avenue to check.
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Post by one50 on Jul 25, 2008 1:05:34 GMT 8
I found Matthews resting place.
Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Hartford County 1 Cottage Grove Rd Bloomfield, Connecticut
PVT. Matthew D. Musolino Section L Lot # 987-988
He was buried in 1949. They do not have his date of death on file. Which we know should be 2/16/45 ? His mother was Angelina Musolino.
I was given a name and number of a possible Kin. Some one was recently buried in the same lot and I have a name for the contact...Most likely a relation. I will be glad to give it to whoever would like to talk to the possible family. I am not qualified to go any further as it’s not my place.
I hope this info helps.
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Post by PolsenPC on Jul 25, 2008 10:25:30 GMT 8
Great job, One50. I found two possible relatives living in Windsor, CT, the town next to Bloomfield. I could call them, but I have never done this kind of work before, and don't know if I am qualified? But if you experts would like my help, I would be happy to assist. My mom was unable to access records, I guess she retired from the association.
Also, although I am in Wash. State, I often fly back to see them in Granby, CT (two towns away from Bloomfield) and would be honored if it were appropriate to deliver the dogtags. I am not an Army vet, I'm a recent (70's USNR) vet, but my Great Uncle was Lt. Col. Alexander Olsen USA Cavalry, who was lost on the Death March in Bataan. That's how I found this site - family is still searching after 60 years to find out what happened to him.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2008 5:25:24 GMT 8
Good work folks. Do we have a mailing address or phone number for the possible relative? I would like to make contact.
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Post by one50 on Jul 27, 2008 2:21:22 GMT 8
I have the info.
I'll send you a PM. Let us know how it pans out.
If you deliver the Tags to the family in person, My wife and I are going on vacation the end of Sept. in that general direction. We would love to meet up with you if the timing worked out.
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