Joseph Burlazzi

Joseph L. Burlazzi (May 20, 1912 – March 23, 1943) was a private in the United States Army who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his conduct during military operations in North Africa during World War II. He became the Belleville, New Jersey, area's "first local war casualty" on March 23, 1943, when he was killed while fighting at the front near Tunisia.

Formative years
Born in Smith Mills, Union Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania on May 20, 1912, Joseph L. Burlazzi considered Essex, New Jersey his hometown and, by his early to mid-20s, resided on Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Belleville, New Jersey.

World War II
After enlisting in the United States Army at Newark, New Jersey on October 22, 1940, for a term of service with the army's Philippine Department, Burlazzi was assigned Army Serial Number 12009274. Military records at the time noted that the highest level of education he had completed was "grammar school" and that, at the time of his enlistment, he was unmarried with no dependents. Following training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, he and the other members of his unit boarded the troop transport, USS Heywood (APA-6) in New York City and, on January 9, 1942, sailed for England, where they were stationed until they were sent to North Africa during the fall of that same year.

While serving as a rifleman with the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division (also known as the "Big Red One"), Burlazzi was killed by friendly fire from U.S. Artillery guns on March 23, 1943, while operating a machine gun in the Battle of Tunisia on the North African front as Allied forces were engaged in combat with Axis tanks and infantry. At the time of his death, he had been a veteran of ten successive battles, and had also been credited with aiding in the capture of troops from Nazi Germany.

In his book, Patton's First Victory: How General George Patton Turned the Tide in North Africa and Defeated the Afrika Korps at El Guettar, author Leo Barron recounts how the fighting unfolded that day near El Guettar, Tunisia, including the final assault by German tanks and infantry "at 1640 hours." As one company of outnumbered U.S. artillerymen were forced to retreat from the base of Dj bou Rhedja (Hill 483) after spiking their guns, members of the U.S. 18th Infantry's 1st Battalion were reporting that German infantry and panzers had surrounded the 18th's 3rd Battalion at the El Keddah Ridge (Hill 336), and were also approaching the rear of the 1st Battalion. Nearly also pushed to retreat by approaching panzers and infantry around this same time were soldiers assigned to the 32nd Field Artillery's Battery A who, at 1737 hours, were ordered, to hold their position at all cost.

Also around the same time, Burlazzi and other members from K Company in the "Big Red One" (1st Infantry) were fighting to protect another hill on the U.S. Army's southern flank. Facing a German halftrack advance and running low on ammunition, they took up defensive positions behind rocks, and began firing down from their high ground. Shortly thereafter, Burlazzi and private first class Raymond F. Villeneuve volunteered to seize and wield an abandoned M1917 machine gun. "Creeping and crawling under heavy artillery, grenades, and small-arms fire, the two privates finally obtained the gun, and placed it in action," according to the citation for valor they later received.

"Villeneuve started to swing the gun back and forth, raking Axis lines. The impact of the weapon was immediate. Within minutes, two German machine guns were down, and the hillside began to fill up with German dead. Chastened, the panzergrenadiers withdrew. The two soldiers lifted the hefty and unwieldy piece and carried it to another position to keep the pressure on the enemy."

But, just as they were gaining the advantage militarily, Burlazzi and Villeneuve were hit by a barrage from a U.S. artillery battery that mistakenly fired on their position after having been given incorrect firing coordinates. Hit in the face and blinded, Villeneuve survived; however, Burlazzi and 36 others were killed.

In recognition of his bravery, Joseph Burlazzi was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was accepted on his behalf by his brother, Guido. Describing Joseph Burlazzi's final act of valor, Brigadier General E. L. Ford wrote: "... during assault on enemy forces ... Burlazzi and another man volunteered ... into the face of enemy fire to take up an abandoned machine gun position ... they were responsible for turning an enemy assault into a retreat and allowing our own troops to advance... (they) moved (the) machine gun position ... Burlazzi went up with his rifle to provide security for his companion and was struck and killed by artillery fire."

Burlazzi's grave is located in section H, plot 9611 at the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

Citation
The following is a synopsis of Burlazzi's citation:

"GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 47 (1943) CITATION SYNOPSIS:

Private Joseph L. Burlazzi (ASN: 12009274), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces on May 23, 1943, in Tunisia. During [the] assault on enemy forces Private Burlazzi and another man volunteered, in the face of enemy fire, to take up an abandoned machine gun position. They were responsible for turning an enemy assault into a retreat and allowing our own troops to advance. They then moved the machine gun position and Private Burlazzi went up with his rifle to provide security for his companion and was struck and killed by artillery fire. Private Burlazzi's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."