Edward Caputa

17Feb1916 – 13May1944

Edison Days

The only connection to Edison found to date is Edwards’s inclusion in the “In Memoriam” section of the 1946 Wizard yearbook.

Prior to enlisting in the Army, Edward worked at Minneapolis Brewing Company (the Grain Belt Brewery site on Broadway Street and Marshall Street) and he was a good amateur bowler.

Military Service

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Branch: United States Army

Unit: 338th Infantry Regiment – 85th Infantry Division

Edward enlisted in the Army on 9May1942. It is unknown where he took his basic training. After basic training it is likely that he was assigned to the 338th Infantry Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

In March 1943, the entire division relocated to Camp Clairborne, Louisiana to participate in large scale military training maneuvers. While in Louisiana, Edward was promoted to Sergeant.

In June 1943 the division was transferred to Camp Pilot Knob, California on the California-Arizona, Mexico border for training in the high desert.

After 4 months in California, Edward and the division boarded trains for a cross-country trip to Fort Dix, New Jersey to prepare for deployment to the Mediterranean theater.

On 24Dec1943, after a short trip down the coast to Hampton Roads, Virginia, the division boarded troop transport ships bound for Casablanca, Morocco. After a short time in Oran, Algeria for additional training, Edward and the division start to arrive in Naples, Italy in March of 1944.

On10Apr1944 the 338th Infantry Regiment is assigned to a combat area near Minturno, Italy. Just a month later, on 11May1944, the Allies launched Operation Diadem, a large scale assault on the German Gustav line with the ultimate goal of capturing Rome.

By 13May1944, after two days of very heavy fighting, the 338th Infantry Regiment had
crossed the Garigliano River under intense fire, captured the high ground east of Minturno, and fought through the German outpost line toward Solacciano. This was one of the bloodiest days of combat the regiment experienced in the entire Italian campaign. It was also the day that Edward was killed in action.

Edward was originally reported as missing in action to his family.

Just over a month later his status was changed to killed in action.

The circumstances of his death are unknown.

A requiem mass was held in his honor on 1Aug1944.

Edward is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nuttuno, Italy. His is 1 of 7,845 headstones of American service members to be buried there.