Private First Class Peter Liviola 35920754 US Army KIA

Private First Class Peter Liviola 35920754 US Army KIA. He was born March 12, 1923 the son of Rose Liviola of Cleveland Ohio. He entered the US Army on November 4 1943, at the age of 19. He entered the 63rd Infantry Division at Camp Van Dorn Mississippi on October 22, 1944. He served in 1st Squad and 3rd Squad, of 1st Platoon, Company F, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. Pfc Liviola was a conscientious objector whom was a browning automatic rifle BAR man instead of caring ammunition for the BAR in his ammunition pouches he carried love letters from his Girl Friend, as well as salamis, pepperonis and other goodies sent from his mother.“He was extremely brave but he just didn’t have the heart to kill any of those Germans.” Although “he would not kill he was not afraid of dying whenever he would come to a clearing that he thought might be a minefield he would volunteer to lead the way and have the other men follow in his foot steps.” Making it where the other men in his platoon would be safe. T/5 Robert (Bob) Bane served with Liviola in 1st Squad and Peter taught Robert many thing during the war Bob and Pete dug in together for most of the war. Bob was put with Pete because no one wanted to be in the same fox hole as a conscientious objector. PFC Liviola was serving in 3rd Squad, of 1st Platoon on April 16, 1945, while on a patrol in Germany led by Max Anderson. According to Anderson PFC Liviola did not trigger a land mine that was inside a tree on the road it just went off killing Liviola. PFC Peter Liviola died at the age of 22. On Liviola gravestone it has the wrong unit engraved on it they forgot to engrave the 5 in 253rd Infantry. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (PHM), the American Campaign Medal, the European Campaign Medal, the World War Two Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

1 – Oral History with Robert Bane

2 – Oral History with Max Anderson

3 – – The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher

4- U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963

5- 1940 United States Federal Census