Pvt. Salvatore P. Cannici was March 23, 1926, in Melrose Park, Illinois, to Sam and Marietta Cannici. With his brother, he grew up at 1213 North 18th Avenue, Melrose Park. He graduated from the Field-Stevenson School in Melrose Park and Proviso Township High School as a member of the class of 1944. On May 3, 1944, he registered with Selective Service since the draft age had been lowered from 20 years old to 18 years old, and named his father as his contact person. He indicated he was working at the American Can Company, in Maywood, Illinois.
On August 2, 1944, he was inducted into the US Army, in Chicago, and issued the serial number 36, 908, 034. It is appears he was sent to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. and assigned to the 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division. The division was made of National Guardsmen from Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, which were referred to as “the Lincoln States” and members of the division were known as the “Railsplitters.” His basic training was a matter of weeks since on September 20, 1944, the division was sent to England and arrived on October 1st. A month later, from November 1st through 4th, the division landed at Omaha Beach. From there, they were sent to Holland in the general area of Gulpen arriving on November 5th. They remained there until the 12th. On November 18, 1944, they entered combat in an attack on Geilenkirchen, Germany, under British command. This was an attempt by the Allies to gain control of the Roer River Valley.
When the Germans launched their counter offensive – which became known as the Battle of the Bulge – the 84th was moved to Belgium to stop the German offensive. The soldiers fought in the rain. sleet, and snow. They recaptured Verdenne, Belgium, in a battle that lasted from the December 24th to 28th. The unit then took Beffe and Devantave from January 4th through 6th and then took La Roche on the 11th. The Battle of the Bulge was pretty much over by the 16th and the 84th was given a five day rest. It was moved back to the Roer River and prepared for an offensive that started on February 23rd known as Operation Grenade. It was during this offensive that Sal was killed when he was hit by shrapnel from a German artillery shell near Monterath, Germany.
Sal was buried at the United States Military Cemetery #1, Margraten, Holland, in Plot Q, Row 11, Grave 263. His grave was marked with a wooden cross. In a letter, dated March 28th, his parents asked where he was buried. The Quartermaster Corps, Washington DC, responded in a letter, dated July 18, 1945, stated it had not received any information on his burial. It sent another letter on September 8, 1945, telling his parents that he was buried at the U. S. Military Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. The letter also gave the location information of his grave.
Over two years later, his father was mailed another letter on November 26, 1947, that provided information on his options for Sal’s final burial. His father asked to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where he wanted Sal buried. The form was received by the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, on December 23, 1947. His father indicated on the form that he wanted Sal returned to the United States.
Sal’s casket was sent from the US Military Cemetery in Margraten to the Port Area in Antwerp arriving on August 5, 1948. His casket was place on the USAT Carrol Victory on September 16, 1948, and the ship sailed the same day. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on October 6th. His casket was held in New York until it was sent by train, with a military escort, to the QMC’s Distribution Center #8, and arrived there on October 18, 1948. On November 1, 1948, his casket, in a military hearse, was taken to the Ed Priganano & Son Funeral Home in Melrose Park. Pvt. Salvatore P. Cannici was buried in Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois, on November 21, 1948.
