Talento, Fred J. Jr.

Description

Fred J. Talento

Frederick John Talento was born on June 4, 1922, in Bronx, New York, his father, Rocco, was 26 and his mother, Isabella, was 28. He married on September 10, 1950, in Rye, New York. He had three children during his marriage. He died on April 22, 2015, in Rye, New York, at the age of 92. In Rye during the war his family lived at 42 Orchard Avenue. Fred was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1940. He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Fred was a WWII vet with the 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division.

After landing in France, the 78th Division moved to Tongeren, Belgium, on 27 November 1944, and to Roetgen, Germany, on 7 December 1944, to prepare for combat. The 311th Infantry Regiment was attached to the US 8th Infantry Division in the Hurtgen Forest, 10 December.

Fred’s 309th along with 310th Infantry Regiment relieved elements of the 1st Division in the line in the vicinity of Entenpfuhl, 1–12 December. On the 13th these regiments smashed into Simmerath, Witzerath, and Bickerath and were fighting for Kesternich when Gerd von Rundstedt launched his counteroffensive in the Monschau area, on 18 December.

The 309th entered into combat on December 13th, 1944 breaking through the Siegfried Line. From December 1944 to April 1945 the regiment was integral to the notable Battle of Kesternich, capture of Schwammenauel Dam, crossing and securing of the infamous Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, and onward to Wuppertal after clearing the Ruhr pocket.

Pfc Fred Talent Gets Award After Being in No-Mans Land
WITH THE 78TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN GERMANY
Pfc. Harry J.
Osborne, Jr., of Elgin, 111. and Pfc.
Frederick J. Talento, Jr., of Rye, R
“┬Ñ., who were classmates at Notre
Dame, know what it means to be
outnumbered by the enemy in a
battle, and come through with a victory.
The two soldiers were on a patrol
about 300 yards behind the enemy
lines when the Germans discovered
them. They were under small arms,
machine gun and mortar fire all of the
way back through the German lines
and across “no-man’s land,” yet they
returned successfully with information of vital importance to their unit.
Neither was hurt. They are members
of a battalion headquarters company
of the 78th “Lightning” Division. The Bronze Star has been awarded
Pfc. Talento for this daring exploit,
it was learned on Saturday by his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Talento,
of 42 Orchard Avenue.

RYE, NEW YORK FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1945

Fred fought in the section of The Battle of the Bulge descibed above and was decorated for his heroism with 2 Purple Hearts, 2 Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Cluster, The European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and the distinguished Combat Infantry Badge.

Fred attended Notre Dame University, Class of 1945.He married Norma on September 10, 1950, in Rye, New York. He had three children during his marriage. He began his career as an account executive with the advertising agency BBDO, New York. He was a sales executive with Look Magazine and The Saturday Evening Post, New York. He was V.P of Sales with Quebecor World Inc., New York for over 30 years where he continued to be on their staff until the age of 84.

Frederick John Talento, 92, passed away at his home in Rye, NY on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.

A great man from the greatest generation, he was a WWII vet. At the time of his death he was survived by his beloved wife Norma and his 3 daughters, Janette Talento Ley and son-in-law Dr. Christopher Ley, both of Warwick, RI, Teresa Duncan and Lori Talento, both of Rye, NY. He was also survived by 7 devoted grandchildren.