Antonio Vecchiollo
Early Life
Antonio Vecchiollo was born on March 21, 1887, in Italy. By the time of the First World War, he had immigrated to the United States and established his life in Rye, New York, residing at 144 Maple Avenue.
His presence in Rye reflects the broader wave of Italian immigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as families settled in Westchester County and became part of the local working community.
World War I Service
Vecchiollo entered military service on May 27, 1918, when he was inducted at Local Board No. 6 in Port Chester, New York, into the United States Army.
He was initially assigned to Company D of the 2nd Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion, a unit responsible for defending against enemy aircraft, reflecting the growing importance of air defense during the war.
He was later transferred to Company H of the 52nd Pioneer Infantry, a unit that combined infantry duties with engineering and labor functions. Pioneer infantry units were tasked with building roads, repairing infrastructure, and supporting front-line operations, often working in forward areas under difficult conditions.
Vecchiollo served in the rank of Private. His service remained within the United States, and there is no record of overseas deployment or combat engagement.
He was honorably discharged on March 3, 1919.
Life After Service
Details of Vecchiollo’s life after military service are limited in available records. However, his residence in Rye and military service place him firmly within the community of local men who contributed to the war effort during a period of national mobilization.
Although surviving documentation of his service is brief, his name is included among those honored on the Rye, New York World War I Memorial plaques, recognizing his contribution alongside others from the community.