The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PV2 Joseph F. Santillo, RA12342479, who died in the service of his country on February 15th, 1951 in South Korea. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Joseph was 18 years of age. He was from Patterson, New Jersey. Joseph's Military Occupation Specialty was 4812-Heavy Weapons Infantryman.
The decorations earned by PV2 Joseph F. Santillo include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Private Santillo was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on February 15, 1951. Private Santillo was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Burial:
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Totowa
Passaic County
New Jersey, USA
Plot: Section 3, Lot 221, Grave 1
At a very young age Joseph became a ward of the state of New Jersey because of his family's inability or refusal to care for him. My mother, who knew him, said that he wasn't completely abandoned, because he did know his mother. His teenage mother was unwed when she gave birth to Joseph. Unable to take care of him, he was placed in foster care through the State Board eventually going to the care of Joe and Angie Rodak. He lived with them, their two sons, my dad, and a few other state board boys at 134 Broadway in Jersey City up until the time he enlisted in the army. He was well liked in the neighborhood, especially by the Baratta family who lived two doors up from the Rodaks. The photo I used in this memorial was the one that he gave to my grandparents after his graduation from basic training.
Pvt. Joseph A. Santillo, serial number RA12342479, served as a heavy weapons specialist with Co. M, 3rd Bn., 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was a mortarman. On February 15, 1951 he was killed in action by small arms fire near Seoul, South Korea.
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