Private First Class Andrew R. Tomasello
US Army - WW II
Service Number: 31357090
165th Engineer Combat Battalion, A Co
Born: 3 April 1924
Date of Death: 21 March 1945 - Age 20 - Hornbach, Germany
Status: KIA
Buried: Plot C, Row 20, Grave 17 - Ardennes American Cemetery
Awards
Purple Heart
Good Conduct Medal
WWII Victory Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Bar
BIOGRAPHY
Son of Frank and Anna Tomasello. Brother of Frank and Roy
Entered Service from Massachusetts on 19 May 1943.
At the time of enlistment:
Height: 64 inch
Weight: 119 pounds
Eyes: brown
Hair: brown
1945
Co A 165th Engineer Combat Battalion was billeted in a house in Hornbach, Germany.
On March 21, 1945 there was an explosion within the house killing 12 and wounded 8 others. A time delay bomb was strategically placed by the retreating Germans. Remains of 7 of those 12 deceased were recovered, 5 bodies remained in the rubble due to the mission of the Battalion. Lt. Col. Shilling had to give the order to cease attempts to recover the bodies and prepare to move out in accordance with his orders. Andy's remains were one of the 5.
1948
On September 8, 1948 the Graves Registration went back to Hornbach to retrieve the 5 bodies. They found Andy's remains were mixed in the rubble with another man's remains and it was impossible to separate them. They were buried together until proper identification could be made. Until then Andrew was listed as "Unknown X-7889".
1949
March 15, 1949 a disinterrement directive was issued: X-7889 buried at HH-8-189 is identified and will be reburied.
Disinterrement on August 15, 1949 of unknown X-7889 and reburied, in military clothing, September 1949 as identified,
Flag sent to father on September 29, 1949.
Frank Tomasello - 21st March 2018
"Thank you so much Danielle for adopting and continuing to honor Andy. It's a sad day for me when I think back to being a young boy coming home from school and finding out from my crying father that Andy had been killed in action. It seems as I get older his loss affects me more thinking about all those years and what could have been between us. On this day, Danielle, I thank God for you because you are the bond between Andy and me. For that and the love you continue to show us, I will be eternally grateful to you.♥️."
