United States. A Bronze Star & Purple Heart Pair to Staff Sergeant Cecchini, For Courage at Okinawa

 

Footnote: Anthony Joseph Cecchini was born on September 18, 1907 in Richmond, Virginia. His education consisted of eight years of grammar school and four years of high school. After finishing school, he served as a Private First Class with Company A, 1st Infantry Regiment, from October 15, 1929 to his Honorable Discharge on July 23, 1932, his character noted as "Excellent". Before enlisting, he was employed for two years as a General Clerk at $12 per week, before taking a job as a Salesman for four years, selling ladies clothing to retail stores at $50 per week. Cecchini enlisted as a Private (33158193) in the United States Army at the Induction Station at Camp Lee, Virginia on April 3, 1942, for "enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.", naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Carmelia Cecchini of Richmond, stating that he was Single and that his religion was Catholic. He was posted to the 77th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and would see four rank promotions: to Private First Class on June 1, 1942, to Corporal on July 17, 1942, to Sergeant (Temporary) on October 19, 1942 and to Staff Sergeant (Temporary) on January 10, 1944. While in the rank of Sergeant, he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal as of June 16, 1943. Staff Sergeant Cecchini left San Francisco, California for service with Company B, 306th Infantry Regiment in the Pacific theater on March 25, 1944, arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 1st. His tour of duty would see him participate in action against the enemy at six major battles in the Pacific. The first would be on the Island of Guam in the Mariana Islands, from July 21 to August 10, 1944. After his actions at Guam, he was authorized to wear one service bar as of September 24, 1944. Staff Sergeant Cecchini was transferred and posted to Camp Downes on the Island of Leyte in the Philippines, where he would encounter Japanese forces for a second time, from November 25 to December 25, 1944. It was here that he would earn his Bronze Star Medal, for actions that took place on December 8, 1944, his citation from Headquarters, 77th Infantry Division stating: "Staff Sergeant ANTHONY J. CECCHINI, (33158193), Infantry, United States Army. For meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy on Leyte, P.I. (Philippine Islands), on 8 December 1944. Sergeant CECCHINI's squad was the advance element of his company when attacking the barracks at Camp Downes. His squad was fired upon by the enemy and the two scouts were wounded. Observing the dangerous position of his wounded comrades and their inability to move to a covered position, and realizing he had a few minutes while his company was awaiting the supporting artillery fire, Sergeant CECCHINI quickly directed the remainder of his squad to give covering fire, threw a smoke grenade to cover his movements, and moved the wounded men to a covered position where aid could be administered. His quick thinking, coolness under fire, and concern for the wounded were an inspiration to the men of his unit and reflect credit upon himself and the military service."

 

While still in the Philippines, he would confronted the Japanese in battle one month later, on the Island of Luzon, from January 24 to February 9, 1945. For his actions in the Philippines, he was authorized to wear the Republic of the Philippines Unit Citation Badge. Although hostilities had ceased in the Philippines, his participation in action against the enemy in 1945 had not, as he was transferred and posted to the Ryukyu Islands. His first encounter with the Japanese on the Ryukyu Islands was at Kerama Retto, from March 26 to April 2. That was followed two weeks later by combat at Ie Shima (now Iejima), from April 16 to April 21 and for his actions during this battle, he would be awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal, his citation stating: "For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Ie Shima, R.I. (Ryukyu Islands), 20 April 1945. The first Platoon Company B, 306th Infantry Regiment attacked the steep and heavily defended pinnacle of Iegusugu Mountain. The terrain over which the platoon was attacking was flat and open, lacking both concealment and cover. All the approaches to the mountain were covered by hostile machine gun emplacements, cleverly constructed pill boxes, barbed wire entanglements and mine fields. Sergeant Cecchini, a squad leader, successfully led his men forward to a tank ditch, passing through a heavy concentration of enemy machine gun and rifle fire coming from his direct front. With great risk and complete disregard for his own safety, he calmly directed the fire of his squad and that of a nearby tank on four enemy stone and concrete emplacements. Even though one bullet pierced his combat pack and another cut through a bandolier of ammunition slung over his shoulder, Sergeant Cecchini continued to direct fire of his men until the enemy positions were neutralized. His outstanding courage, determination and leadership, aided materially in the success of the attack and were a source of inspiration to the men of his unit." He would go on to earn a second Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal, which was based on the Combat Infantryman Badge. His sixth and final encounter with the enemy and his third encounter in the Ryukyu Islands took place at Okinawa, from April 26 to May 4, with Cecchini slightly wounded in action on May 4th, suffering a gunshot wound to his right buttock, earning him the Purple Heart. After the ceasing of hostilities during the Second World War and having seen extensive action in the Pacific, he arrived back home in the United States on October 21, 1945. Staff Sergeant Anthony Joseph Cecchini was discharged upon demobilization, on November 2, 1945 at the Separation Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In addition to the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Army Good Conduct Medal, his records indicate that he was also entitled to the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star. Cecchini died on December 9, 1993, at the age of 86 and is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, Plot: Section 6.