Posted by Clint Dixon from 63.91.25.139 (?) on Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 5:36PM :
My father-in-law, George, passed away in his sleep early this morning. He was the youngest of seven children of Sicilian immigrants, Frank and Frances Patronagio. He was raised in the first house on 2nd Street, Silvis, Illinois, the nationally recognized street now known as Hero Street USA, a predominately Hispanic neighborhood of 25 homes. The Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. has documented that there is no other street in the U.S.A. of comparable size that has sent more men and women into the armed forces than this 1-1/2 mile long block. Families of this street lost a total of eight boys in service to their country during WWII and Korea.
George lost a nephew on Okinawa, who is buried at the Punch Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. George himself proudly served a total of three years in the military during WWII and again during the Korean Conflict. He served as a medic in the European Theater and as a machine gunner on the front lines of Korea. George never spoke of his experiences from the two tours of duty.
George was a member of American Legion Post 0246 in Moline, Illinois and will be laid to rest in the National Cemetery on Arsenal Island, Rock Island, Illinois. George attended two Vintage Power Wagon Rallies in Fairfield, Iowa.
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