Louis A. DeFrancesco of Elkmont, NY graduated high school in June of 1941 and was in the Army two months after Pearl Harbor. 

Beginning with his basic training at Camp Croft on February 23, 1942, he was assigned to the 8th Infantry Training Regiment, 28th Battalion, Company A. 

In his photos, some taken with his Sergeant Thomas Logan or his buddies Walter Anderson and Thomas Lewis, he is always smiling and appears to have been proud and happy to be in Camp Croft.  Completing basic training May 23, 1942 he was assigned to the 45th Infantry Division, "The Thunderbirds", then gathering at Pine Camp, NY under Troy Middleton for winter training 1942-1943.

The Division then moved on to Fort Pickett, VA for beach landing exercises, then to Fort Patrick Henry, VA for mountain training and shipped out for the Mediterranean from Hampton Cross Roads Naval Station June 8, 1943.

The fleet carrying "The Thunderbirds" sailed as far south as Brazil during the ocean crossing to evade German submarines.  Landing in North Africa June 22, 1943 they were greeted by General Patton.

Louis DeFrancesco's unit, the 179th Infantry Regiment, would be the first to land at Sicily, at Salerno, and at Anzio.  A week after the liberation of Rome, Louis was finally sent home.

Among his awards were a Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf cluster, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Campaign Medal with three service stars.

In 1949, Louis became an original homeowner in Levittown, Long Island, a housing development for World War II veterans, where he lived with his wife Susan and their two sons Louis Jr. and Robert.

A member of the Nassau County Police Department, he was killed in the line of duty November 1957.  HE was only 34 years old and the year 2007 will mark the 50th Anniversary of his death.