Private First Class Michael A. Scambelluri was a paratrooper in C Company 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Michael, being of Italian origian, was anxious to jump into Italy, the country where his parents came from. Michael jumped with his unit into Sicily during the eve of D-Day operation Husky, set on 10 July 1943.

Soon he was surrendered by Italian troops, the captors noticed the Italian slang in his language and tortured him. He was shot in the chest by an Italian officer. The pin of Mike's own handgrenade was pulled and the grenade was put between Mike's leg. Mike was left behind, still alive. Mike was recovered by his fellow paratroopers,who administered first aid. Mike was taken to the rear for medical treatment, enroute he saw the Italian officer among prisoners of war. The officer was shot by the paratroopers.

Mike was evacuated to North Africa for better treatment, however, he died of his sustained wounds in the 71st General Hospoital in Sousse, Tunisia. Private First Class Scambelluri was buried in the temporary American Kairouan Cemetery in Tunisia in grave A-6-54.

After the war his remains were repatriated and buried in the St John's Calvary Cemetery in Glemont, New York.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com