DOB/DOD: October 13, 1917 (Stamford, CT) – March 13, 2014 (Wilton, CT)
MARITAL STATUS: Married Anna Braccia on September 10, 1949, in Stamford
LOCAL ADDRESS: 8 Leann Drive, Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: October 21, 1942
UNIT: B Company, 713th Tank Battalion
DECORATIONS: Also received the Bronze Star Medal
CIRCUMSTANCES: Wounded on April 19, 1945 at Okinawa
From Legacy.com
Michael C. LaDestro, 96, a former resident of Stamford, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Greens of Cannondale in Wilton. He was born in Stamford on October 13, 1917, to the late Fillipo and Elizabeth Giordano LaDestro.
He was a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus of Stamford and was a veteran of the US Army, having served in WWII, and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Michael is survived by several loving nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Anna Braccia LaDestro, in 2004, four brothers, Andrew, Angelo, Jerome, and Salvatore LaDestro, and two sisters, Angela Semenzo and Theresa Bellantonio.
A funeral procession will be leaving The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Monday, March 17, 2014, at 10:00 AM for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 AM at the Sacred Heart RC Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford. Interment will follow at St. John’s RC Cemetery, Darien. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, March 16, 2014 from 2:00-6:00 PM.
The family requests that donations be made in Michael’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project ,P.O Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
The family would like to extend a thank you to the staff at the Greens of Cannondale for the loving care that they provided to Michael during his stay.
Buried in St. John’s Cemetery, 25 Camp Avenue, Darien, Connecticut; Section Z-8, Plot 11. Photo from FindAGrave.com.
END
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Thank you so much for adding Michael Ladestro in this. Micheal was a proud American and was inside his tank with his crew when his tank blew up, he was the only survivor in the tank. Michael got severe hearing and lost of sight from this. He was not only a brave man he loved his family. He truly loved him life and was the son of Fillippo Ladestro and Elisabetta Mari Giordano Ladestro. He had a loving wife Ann Braccia. He was taken care of by Linda Malta Falco his niece and her husband Patrick Falco in his older age.
Brianna, it was truly my honor. As a secondary project to this website, I created a registry for Purple Heart recipients from Norwalk. There are 119 that I could find including Mr. LaDestro. I would be happy to send you what I have which isn’t much. Also, if there’s a picture the family would prefer, I would be happy to add it. Thank you for the feedback. Always makes my day! Always makes me feel like the work was worth it. Email is jeffrey.r.dewitt@gmail.