Samuel T. Battalio – Colonel, United States Air Force

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Samuel T. Battalio , Virginia Beach

Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Samuel T. Battalio died January 5, 2004. He was the son of Sam and Mazie Long Battalio and was preceded in death by his sisters, Angelina Veronica Battalio and Mazie Battalio Garner and his brother, Vincent J. Battalio.

Samuel T. Battalio was a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and a veteran of World War II and Korea. He was a Catholic and a member of the Little Creek Amphibious Base Chapel.

He enlisted in the Army in 1939 and later transferred to the Army Air Corps. Colonel Battalio was assigned to the 379th Bomb Group (B-17s) 8th Air Force in January 1944. He served as squadron, group and 8th Air Force lead bombardier. Colonel Battalio was wounded in September 1944 and returned to combat duty in January 1945.

Combat reports list at least six Battle Stars, which include Normandy, Northern France, Germany, Central Europe, Ardennes and the Korean Campaign. Decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism, two Legions of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Medals, Purple Heart and a Presidential Citation.

After having served at the Strategic Air Command in Omaha, Neb., with a tour in England as Seventh Air Division intelligence officer and a final tour back at Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Colonel Battalio retired from the Air Force in 1969 and moved his family to Virginia Beach.

Comptek Research Inc. and the Unisys Corporation employed him for 13 years as a senior systems engineer. He specialized in computerized command and control and related weapons systems. Survivors include his beloved wife, Mary Alice Bodron Battalio; two sons, Michael S. Battalio and wife, Sarah of Virginia Beach and Robert T. Battalio and wife, Berthe and their two sons, Sam and Jake, all of Pacifica, California; brother-in-law, Jack Garner of Edwards, Mississippi; and three nephews, John Battalio of Boise, Idaho, Joe Battalio and wife, Donna of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Jack Nelson Garner and wife, Rosalie of Oxford, Mississippi.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Westminster Canterbury. Following the service relatives and friends may join the family in the commons. A service will be held at a yet to be determined time in Arlington, at the Fort Myer Chapel. Burial will follow in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.

BATTALIO, SAMUEL T
COL   US AIR FORCE
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/27/1916
DATE OF DEATH: 01/05/2004
BURIED AT: SECTION 66  SITE 3579
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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