John A. Scannapieco was born on January 18, 1923 in East Boston. John graduated from Mechanic Arts High School and entered the U.S. Army on March 1, 1943.
At Fort Jackson John was a member of the 106th Division, 589th Field, Artillery and was Gun Leader of the 4th Howitzer. John was sent to Tennessee Maneuvers and then to Camp Atterbury, Indiana before shipping out from Boston to England in November 1944.
In December he was sent to Belgium and while German troops and tanks began their advancement into Belgium that late became the Battle of the Bulge. In the early morning hours of December 17, 1944 under a barrage of German fire, the 589th was ordered to immediately begin withdrawal to St. Vith, northwest of Schonberg.
The truck of Sgt. Scannapieco got stuck in mud and snow, this delay was tragic. A heavily armored German tank opened fire on Sgt. Scannapieco and the remaining men. In order to protect his men, he secured a bazooka and fired at the tank. He did so heroically, at the expense of his own life. Sgt. Scannapieco was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. John was survived by his parents Giovanni and Emilia Scannapieco and his sisters Ida Poto and Antoinetta Tescione.
The event was held on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the corner of London and Decatur Streets in East Boston.
