United States. A Pacific Theater Purple Heart to Staff Sergeant Sparacino, Wounded in Action at Okinawa

Includes: 1. Group of Eight: Bronze Star (engraved "TONY T. SPARACINO" on the reverse); Purple Heart (engraved "TONY T. SPARACINO" on the reverse); Army Good Conduct Medal (engraved "TONY T. SPARACINO" on the reverse); American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with arrowhead and four bronze stars; World War II Victory Medal; Philippine Liberation Medal; each with its original ribbon and brooch pinback. 2. six Ribbon Bars: Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Army Good Conduct Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. 3. two Enameled Ribbon Bars: Purple Heart; American Defense Service Medal. 4. Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with two B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) Clasp. 5. 7th Infantry Division "Bayonet" Patch. 6. 40th Infantry Division "Sunshine Division" Patch. 7. 184th Infantry Regiment Lapel Badge. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records, along with copies of his Bronze Star and Purple Heart Award Documents. Near extremely fine. Footnote: Anthony Thomas "Antonio" Sparacino was born on December 21, 1918 (acknowledged as 1917 on his grave marker) in Monessen, Pennsylvania, the son of Peter Sparacino (1885-1964) and Mary Prioreschi Sparacino (1893-1982). He had five siblings: Dominick Peter Sparacino (1912-1986), Angelo Arnold Sparacino (1914-2005), Pauline Christine Sparacino (1915-2000), Salvatore T. Sparacino (1920-1998) and Auzalia Joyce Sparacino Utz (1924-2011). He was inducted into active service (39 003 868) with the Infantry of the United States Army, on March 6, 1941 at San Francisco, California, at the age of 22, stating his civilian occupation as that of Butcher. His military occupation was Mess Sergeant, having attended Cooks and Bakers School, along with Mess Sergeants School, NCO School and Ordnance School. In the Pacific theater, Staff Sergeant Sparacino served with the 184th Infantry Regiment, which was attached to the 7th Infantry Division. He is credited with having served with the unit during the Aleutian Islands campaign, the Marshall Islands campaign (Battle of Kwajalein), the Battle of Leyte and the Battle of Okinawa. He was wounded in action during the Battle of Okinawa (April 1 - June 22, 1945), suffering shrapnel wounds (artillery shell fragments) to his face, both his knees, his abdomen and his left side. Subsequently, the Purple Heart would be awarded to Staff Sergeant Tony T. Sparacino "for wounds received in action in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, World War II". He was invalided to the United States and admitted to Dibble General Hospital in Menlo Park, California on May 4, 1945, where he was treated for his wounds. As the result of his disability, Staff Sergeant Sparacino was honorably discharged on November 16, 1945, entitled to wear the Honorable Service Lapel Button (AKA Honorable Service Lapel Pin). The Bronze Star would be awarded to Staff Sergeant Tony T. Sparacino for "meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operation". For his Second World War service, he was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with arrowhead and four bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal. He was also a recipient of the Combat Infantryman Badge. Over the years, he has been acknowledged as having been a resident of Santa Clara County and Rancho Cordova in California. Anthony Thomas "Antonio" Sparacino died on October 28, 1993, in San Joaquin County, California, at the age of 75. He is buried in Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi, San Joaquin County, California.