Rites Held for Corp. Grasso, Honored by 3 Governments

Babylon, Nov. 17 The memory of Corp. Rocco T. Grasso, one of the first native-born soldiers of this village to die in action in World War II; and who was posthumously honored by the United States, Great Britain and France, is today being honored by his home folks the day his flag-draped casket is being buried in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery Corporal Grasso's parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Grasso of Litchfield Ave., have letters from the president and several generals commending the soldier's courage.

His body, brought home on the Lawrence Victory, has been at the Boyd Funeral Home where the Babylon Post of American Legion and the West Babylon Post, Veterans of Foreign. Wars, held services last night. Solemn requiem mass was offered today at St. Joseph's RC Church.

Grasso, only 19 when he was killed near Corsica on Sept. 25, 1943, was attached to the 100th Division OSS Commando, and at the close of the battle that day only one man of his unit was alive.

A graduate of the St. Joseph's Parochial School and the Babylon High School, he enlisted In December, 1942, only a few-months after completing his schooling, and was killed about

month after he arrived overseas.

Surviving are his parents, four sisters, Mrs Josephine Stein, Mrs Mary Fattoruso, Catherine and Theresa, and two brothers, Ralph and John.

The fire horn gave the sig business came to a standstill for a few minutes and the Methodist Church bell tolled to honor Babylon's hero as the procession moved from Boyd's, Funeral Home to St. Joseph's Church.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle; Brooklyn, New York; 17 Nov 1948

17 Nov 1948_BrooklynEagle_GrassoRT.jpg

Rocco T Grasso