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PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
CHARLES RALPH SAPIO was born August 18, 1924 to John and Florence Sapio. The family was living in 1930
at 10 Watkins Avenue in Haddonfield NJ. John Sapio at that point
was a bus driver for the Public Service transit company, he later opened
up a popular bar and restaurant, Johnnie's
Inn, at 400 Haddon Avenue, in Westmont NJ. Charles Sapio had
graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School, where he was the class president
in his senior year of 1943. A fine athlete, he played on the Haddonfield
Memorial High School football team, was its Captain in 1942, and was an All-South
Jersey and All-State tackle. He also starred in track in the javelin and
discus events. Charles
R. Sapio was inducted into the United Staes army on February 7, 1943 at
Camden NJ. Private
Sapio lost his life while serving with the 76th General Hospital,
located at Liege, Belgium on January 8, 1945. On December 17th, 1944 a
German V-1 rocket struck the hospital, killing and wounding many, and it
is highly likely that this event may have led to Private Sapio's
death.
Charles Sapio was the second member of his family to lose his life in
the service of our nation. His uncle, Salvatore Sapio, had been killed in Italy in January of 1944. After
the war, Charles Sapio was returned home. He now rests at Berlin
Cemetery in Berlin NJ, next to his parents and an older brother, also
named Charles R. Sapio. |
