Henry T Annunzio was born on 21 May 1915 to Ralph Annunzio and Frances Bruno Annunzio in Oralabor, Polk County, Iowa. He completed his third year of high school before going to work as a laborer at the Green County Coal Mine. Henry married Cornelia Ann Annunzio and together they had a son.

Henry enlisted in the Army with the rank of Private, Service Number 37194093, and was assigned to the 743rd Tank Battalion, Company “B” which did their basic training at Ft. Knox, KY. Pvt Annunzio landed on Omaha Beach with the 743rd and was among the first assault group of Operation Overlord (also known as D-Day) on 6 June 1944. During the initial assault Pvt Annunzio was mortally injured and died on Omaha Beach. Pvt Annunzio was awarded The Purple Heart Posthumously. Pvt Annunzio is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Department du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France, Plot J Row 9 Grave 3.

For more information on the 743rd Tank Battalion please see, https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/66/

Pvt Henry T. Annunzio - 743rd Tank Battalion