Dan Riccio
Early Life
Dan Riccio was born on June 13, 1892, in Castelfranco in Miscano, in the province of Benevento, Italy, the son of Antonio Riccio and Juana Russo. He immigrated to the United States in the early twentieth century, part of the wave of southern Italian migration that brought many families to Westchester County in search of work and stability.
By the time of the First World War, he was living at 18 High Street in Rye, New York, establishing his connection to the community during the war years. Like many immigrants of his generation, he entered the workforce in manual trades and would later be employed as a plumber’s helper in the Rye area.
Although later records place him primarily in Port Chester, his inclusion on the World War I memorial plaques at the Rye, New York Memorial Flagpole confirms his recognized connection to the Rye community.
World War I Service
Riccio entered military service on June 24, 1918, when he was inducted in Westchester County, New York, into the United States Army. He was assigned to Company M of the 345th Infantry Regiment, part of the 87th Infantry Division.
The 87th Division was composed largely of drafted soldiers and trained for deployment during the final phase of World War I. While the division did not enter combat as a complete unit, many of its men were sent overseas as replacements and support personnel within the American Expeditionary Forces, reinforcing front-line units during the closing offensives of 1918.
Riccio served overseas from August 23, 1918, to March 10, 1919, placing him in France during the final months of the war and the early occupation period following the Armistice. He served in the rank of Private and sustained no wounds or injuries in action.
He was honorably discharged on March 10, 1919.
Life After Service
Following his return from military service, Riccio settled in the Rye and Port Chester area, where he worked in the building trades as a plumber’s helper. He was a communicant of Corpus Christi Church and remained active within his local community.
He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Port Chester, maintaining ties to fellow veterans of the First World War.
Dan Riccio died on February 9, 1949, at United Hospital after a long illness at the age of 56.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Carmela Carlucci Riccio; his sons, Anthony and Joseph; his daughters, Jean and Lucy; one granddaughter; and his sister, Grace Riccio of Italy.