Memorial

More information

Pfc Midday Delfonte was an employee of the City Street Department.

He enlisted in Clarksburg, West Virginia on 8 October 1942.
Sgt. Walter L. Arnold served with Pfc. Midday Delfonte and these men where good friends. He recalled what happened on that tragic day: "The next morning, we were moving out somewhere near Rochefort, Belgium. The Germans laid down one of the hellish artillery barrages. John Balistere was hit in the thigh, and the metal went all the way through the bone and his leg was up under his stomach. He was screaming for help. I had to roll him over. On my right, Midday Delfonte was hit through the steal helmet head and all and he died within two minutes. When this shelling was going on, I felt the Lord push me to the ground. I heard the shelling coming. It started a few yards up the road and was making its way along the road to where we were. When the Lord pushed me to the ground, lying there I was not that afraid. I was looking up. I could see the shells exploding all around us, the tree tops were falling, etc.
After I did all I could for these men, I sent one of my men down on the road, to get help. Help was not too far away. I then took Delfonte's gun, stuck it into the ground and put his helmet on it so people coming looking for the dead could see where he was".

Pfc Midday Delfonte first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Fosse, Belgium.

Pfc Delfonte is also mentioned in the Morning Report beringlightly wounded in action on 20 July 1944 for which he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal a first time.