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Post by The Phantom on Dec 7, 2008 21:44:44 GMT 8
Scott was to meet with his Great Aunt, Matthews sister, this past weekend to present her with Matthew's dog tags and the 48 star flag that was flown on Corregidor this past February 16th. The 16th of February, (1945), is the anniversary of the 503rd's drop on Corregidor and also the day Matthew was killed by Japanese gunfire as his chute went over a cliff, according to documents furnished by the Army this past month.
I received this email from Scott yesterday...... She had a lot to do with bringing his remains home after the war. Matthew was originally M.I.A.
"Unfortunately my great aunt and I never got together last weekend. She was taken to the hospital on Sunday with congestive heart failure and pneumonia. She was admitted to the ICU and remains there currently. Only immediate family members are being allowed to see her at this time.
I spoke with my cousin this afternoon and she states that my great aunt is improving and may be moved to a 24 hour nursing facility next week.
I will let you know if I am able to see my great aunt once she is moved.
Yes, I did read the paperwork you sent and boy it is quite a story of my great uncle's remains! He was unidentified after the war and moved twice with army assigned identification numbers. And the family had to provide civilian dental records to positively identified his remains. It's an incredible story!
If you want to provide the details Tom that is fine with me. I have some vacation time coming up around Christmas and I will set aside time to work on the information in detail that you provided and submit a synopsis of the events on the website. I agree that it is a great snapshot of the turmoil and frustrations that surviving families had to endure with the Army for the identification & return of a MIA of a fallen love one in WW II.
I will keep you posted on my great aunt's condition.
Thanks, Scott "
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 16, 2008 4:02:14 GMT 8
Message from Scott.........
My Great Aunt was moved to a 24 hour care facility last week and I was able to go and visit her yesterday (Sunday 14 December 2008). She is doing much better and the doctors are telling the family that she may go home later this week.
I showed her everything you have sent regarding her brother Matthew. She looked over the dog tags, grasp them in her hands, became emotional, kissed them and held them clasped in her hands on her chest close to her heart. It was very touching & moving moment. She wanted me to thank you for everything you have done to reunite her brother's dog tags with the family!
I am scheduled to meet with a newspaper reporter this evening to tell the story of my Great Uncle's dog tags and their amazing 63 year journey home. I will be sending you a copy of the article once it is published as well as posting it on the website.
Finally, when my Great Aunt does come home and gets settled I will get a picture of her with the dog tags to post on the website.
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 16, 2008 4:09:15 GMT 8
A better outcome could not have been scripted Scott. I am truly touched. We are all glad to have helped. That Matthew's dog tags, 63 years after his death in far off Corregidor Philippines, are in his sisters hands in the U.S.A.......priceless. You have done a remarkable job on your end Scott.
Maybe someday you can join us on Corregidor and experience the place where Matthew, and many others, paid the ultimate price for their country.
History comes alive on Corregidor still.
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 16, 2008 4:39:22 GMT 8
From the Army's Personnel's Record Center pertaining to the return of Matthew's remains to the U.S.
RECEIPT OF REMAINS HEADQUARTERS NYPE Distribution center- DISTRIBUTION CENTER #1, AGRS ROUTINE ................................................................................................................. 58TH ST. & FIRST AVE., BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
D'ESOPO FUNERAL PARLOR 235 WESTERFIELD AVENUE HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT REMAINS OF THE LATE PVT MATTHEW D MUSOLINO ACCOMPANIED BY AN ESCORT ARE SCHEDULED TO LEAVE NEW YORK ON TRAIN NUMBER 68 NEW HAVEN RAILROAD AT TEN THIRTY ON FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER AND DUE TO ARRIVE AT HARTFORD AT ONE SEVEN PM ON SAME DATE Please arrange to accept remains upon arrival and please notify the next of kin of the date and time of arrival.
G.H.BARE
COLONEL, QMC
ESCORT: SGT JOHN L AUSTIN RA 20126876 DET #5 1300 ASU ............................................................................................................ I the undersigned, do hereby acknowledge receipt of the remains of the above named deceased. This 18th day of Nov. 1949. THE D'ESOPO FUNERAL HOME (SIGNED) JOHN L AUSTIN SGT. DANIAL P D'ESOPO (witness) (consignee) ............................................................................................................
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 18, 2008 10:03:30 GMT 8
I talked to the reporter, Julie, this afternoon. I told her how the events seemed to flow as if preordained from the beginning of this saga. My deciding at the last minute to buy and bring a 48 star flag to fly on the Feb.16th anniversary of the retaking of Corregidor and as it happens the anniversary of the death of Matthew. How I placed his dog tags in the flag for the trip to the states and then sending him home to Connecticut in the flag that had been flown on Corregidor. I told her how I happened to be on Corregidor and in the P.I. I gave her a lot of info in a short time. She thinks it's a remarkable story.
I didn't realize that Matthew's sister, who you are to give the dog tags and flag to, had to write most of the letters to find, and get Matthew's body home, because Matthew's mother's English was not that good. Was she first generation from Italy Scott?
I would like a copy of the article when completed please Scott.
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 29, 2008 20:02:22 GMT 8
WAR DEPT. OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 29, 2008 20:17:10 GMT 8
WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL WASHINGTON D.C.
MUSOLINO, MATTHEW D. 20, MARCH 1947 (MANILA #2)
SUBJECT: IDENTIFICATION DATA
TO, CHIEF ORGANIZATION RECORDS BRANCH BLDG. 102, RECORDS ADMINISTRATION CENTER AGO ST.LOUIS 20, MISSOURI
IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE RECORDS OF Co E, 503rd PARACHUTE INFANTRY BE REVIEWED FOR ANY PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF Pvt. MATTHEW D. MUSOLINO, 20130787 AND THIS OFFICE ADVISED AT EARLIEST PRACTICABLE DATE.
FOR THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL:
JAMES B COLSON COLONEL, QMC MEMORIAL DIVISION
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 29, 2008 20:35:02 GMT 8
The preceding correspondence is in response to this letter........
"AG 201 MUSOLINO, MATTHEW D. PC-N SWP088
DEAR SIR,
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER FOR MY MOTHER, MRS. ANGELINA MUSOLINO, 178 BROOK STREET, HTFD, CONN., WHO BECAME A GOLD STAR MOTHER ON FEBRUARY 16TH, 1945.
A TELEGRAM DATED APRIL 23, 1945, STATED THAT MY BROTHER MATTHEW D. MUSOLINO 20,130,787 WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON CORREGIDOR, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
NOW MY MOTHER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT SHE CAN HAVE HER SON'S BODY BROUGHT TO THE U.S.A. WE WERE ALSO NOTIFIED THAT HE WAS BURIED IN THE U.S. CEMETERY NO.1, MARIVELES, BATAAN PENINSULA, P.I.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT YOUR EARLIEST POSSIBLE CONVENIENCE WHAT CAN BE DONE ALONG THESE LINES AS MY MOTHER IS VERY ANXIOUS TO HAVE MY BROTHER'S BROUGHT HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION, I REMAIN,
GRATEFULLY YOURS,
MRS CONCETTA PASSARETTI 180 BROOK STREET HARTFORD, CONN."
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 29, 2008 20:51:07 GMT 8
Pages of correspondence ensure between the various entities, looking for finger prints, (none exist). Actual location of Matthew's remains, (not on Bataan?) Several bodies possible in various unmarked graves in Manila's various WW II cemetery's of the time.
This brings a request from the Graves Registration for Matthew's dental records, which are sent.
And Matthew is found.
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Post by The Phantom on Dec 29, 2008 21:11:45 GMT 8
CASE HISTORY OF IDENTIFIABLE REMAINS; (CONTINUED)
MUSOLINO, MATTHEW D., Pvt. 20 130 787 UNKNOWN X- 837, AGRS MAUSOLEUM, MANILA, P.I. (FORMERLY X-355, USAF CEM. MANILA #2, P.I.) (FORMERLY X-13, USAF CEM. MARIVELES #1, P.I.)
7. DENTAL CHART ON QMC FORM 1045 FOR UNKNOWN X-837 COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH THAT ON OQMG FORM 371 FOR Pvt. MUSOLINO. (SEE INCLS.. 1 AND 6)
8. IDENTFICATION DATA FOR ALL OTHER UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS RECOVERED FROM THE SAME AREA WERE COMPARED WITH DATA ON OQMG FORM 371 FOR Pvt. MUSOLINO WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS.
9. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE REMAINS OF UNKNOWN X-837, AGRS MAUSOLEUM, MANILA, P.I. (HANGER 812, BAY B, CRYPT 368) , BE IDENTIFIED AS THOSE OF Pvt. MATTHEW D. MUSOLINO, 20 130 787.
IDENTIFCATION ACCEPTED. APPROVAL RECOMMENDED; 12 APRIL 1949
DOMINICE A GREY WILLIAM E. GRAVES WILSON HOBBS 1ST. LT. 1ST. LT. 1ST. LT. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER
APPROVAL STAMP BELOW........
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