DOB/DOD: December 17, 1916 (Norwalk, CT) – April 22, 1996 (Branford, CT); 79 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Olga Lombardi Caputo (1921-2012).
CHILDREN: Two daughters, Janice Caputo Lapke (1952-) and Andrea Caputo Radley (1955-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 229 Ely Avenue and 5 Cindy Lane, Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: Enlisted from the National Guard on February 24, 1941, as a Corporal, then on April 1, 1943, was commissioned.
DISCHARGE: March 13, 1946.
SERVICE NUMBERS: 20132818, then O-1824639 as an officer.
UNIT: Company B, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
FAMILY: Born to Christopher (1880-1918) and Antonetta Pinto Caputo (1883-1947). Antonetta remarried Gerolamo Scianna. Stepbrothers Anthony Scianna (1913-2010) and James Scianna (1915-?). Brothers Joseph (1907-1960), James (1911-1973), and Christopher (1916-1996). Sisters Jean Caputo Pirnat (1908-1996), Paula Scianna Warga (1927-1999), Anna Caputo Macrides (1913-1981), and Mildred Caputo Pittocco (1915-2001).
Norwalk High School Class of ’34
Awarded the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal as a Lieutenant during World War II.
Citation to accompany the award of the Silver Star Medal
SECOND LIEUTENANT CHRISTOPHER P. CAPUTO, O1824639, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, United States Army. For gallantry in action against the enemy near Laudesfeld, Germany, 18 September 1944. When a German tank began a close-range attack on a pill box being used as an Infantry forward outpost, Second Lieutenant Caputo, a Tank Destroyer Platoon Leader, exposed himself to enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, with complete disregard for his personal safety, to reconnoiter positions for his two destroyers. Having placed his destroyers, Second Lieutenant Caputo further exposed himself to enemy fire when he mounted the side of one destroyer to point out the tank position to his gun commander, who then placed effective fire upon it. The tank was destroyed; its crew was killed. Later in the day, when one of his gun commanders had unknowingly exposed his weapon to direct enemy anti-tank fire while performing a mission, Second Lieutenant Caputo dashed across an open road under enemy fire in order to warn his gun commander of the danger. At this time, Second Lieutenant Caputo was wounded, but he continued to guide his destroyer to a position of safety. He then collapsed and was evacuated. Second Lieutenant Caputo’s personal courage and his leadership in the face of great danger materially influenced the results of the encounter and set an inspiring example for the members of his Battalion. Such gallantry in action reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. Entered military service from: South Norwalk, Connecticut.
NOTE: Citation provided by Andrea Caputo Radley, daughter, via e-mail on November 10, 2021.
From The Norwalk Hour October 24, 1968
CAPUTO ELEVATED TO LIEUT. COLONEL
A Norwalk, Connecticut, Army National Guard officer who was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart in World War II has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned as an intelligence officer in the Connecticut Army National Guard’s 103rd Emergency Operation Headquarters at New London. He is Christopher P. Caputo of 5 Cindy Lane, who, in civilian life, is an Internal Revenue Agent with the Stamford office of the Internal Revenue Service of Connecticut. Born in South Norwalk, Col. Caputo attended Norwalk High School and was awarded a bachelor of science degree at the University of Bridgeport. His initial military experience was with the Guard’s 192nd Field Artillery here in 1936. Col Caputo received his commission in 1943 at Fort Hood, Texas [Fort Cavazos as of 2023], and was then sent to the European Theater of Operations, where he took part in the action at the Siegfried Line. In 1949, after his discharge from active duty, he was assigned to Norwalk’s 963rd Field Artillery, where he served until he was again called to active duty in the Korean conflict. After serving in Germany in the Korean action, Col. Caputo joined the Norwalk unit as a battery commander. He was later promoted to major and named personnel officer. In 1962, he was reassigned to Waterbury’s 102nd Battle Group, where he was an intelligence officer. In 1964, he was made operations and training officer with Support Command of the 43rd Command Headquarters at Hartford, and in 1966 was made supply operations officer. The son of the late Christopher and Antonetta Caputo, Col. Caputo is married to the former Olga Lombardi of New York City, and they have two children.
From The Norwalk Hour April 23, 1996
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Peter Caputo, 79, a retired Army officer and Norwalk resident, died Monday in the Connecticut Hospice in Branford. He was married to Olga Lombardi Caputo. Caputo was decorated with the Silver Star for heroism during World War II and served overseas again during the Korean War. He was with the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion in Laudesseld, Germany, on September 18, 1944, when the heroic action occurred. His Silver Star citation reads in part: “When a German tank made a close-range attack on a pillbox being used as a U.S. Infantry forward outpost, Lt Caputo, a platoon leader, exposed himself to enemy artillery, armor, and small arms fire with complete disregard for his own personal safety to reconnoiter for his two destroyers. Having placed his destroyers, Lt. Caputo further exposed himself to enemy fire when he mounted one destroyer to point out the enemy tank’s position to his gun commander, who then placed effective fire upon it. “The tank destroyed, and crew killed; later in the day, when one of his gun commanders had unknowingly exposed his weapon to direct enemy anti-tank fire while performing a mission, Lt. Caputo dashed across an open road under fire to warn his commander of the danger. At this time, he was wounded but continued to guide the destroyer to a safe position before he collapsed and was evacuated. “Lt. Caputo’s personal courage and leadership in the face of great danger materially influenced the result of the encounter and set an inspiring example for members of his battalion. Such gallantry reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.” He was wounded during the action but returned to action soon afterward and was with his unit when the war ended in Europe in May 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Caputo had been mobilized with the 192nd Field Artillery of the National Guard based in Norwalk before the outbreak of the war and had trained at Camp Blanding. After graduating from Officers Candidate School, he was assigned to the anti-tank unit and sent overseas. He remained in the National Guard after the war and was mobilized again on September 5, 1950, with the 963rd Field Artillery Battalion based in Norwalk. The unit went to Augsburg, Germany, as part of the 43rd Division occupation force, where he served as a headquarters liaison officer. He was on active duty in Germany for a year and remained with the National Guard afterward, rising to higher rank during a total of 28 years of active and reserve service, the last with the 102nd Infantry in Waterbury. “The Korean War service sliced through a career already begun with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service that found him working throughout Connecticut as an examiner of large corporations. He had joined the IRS after graduating from the University of Bridgeport and becoming a certified public accountant. After his marriage, he lived for a decade in Orange Street before settling down in Cindi Lane for 32 years until 1995. Caputo was active with the local chapter of AARP and had helped its members each year for the past decade to fill out their tax returns. He was a member of Msgr Finn Council 46, Knights of Columbus, and was a fourth-degree Knight with Bishop Fenwick Assembly. He was also a member of the Frank C. Godfrey Post 12, the American Legion, and the South Norwalk Boat Club. His father, Christopher Caputo, had died before he was born on December 16, 1916, and he was raised by his late mother, Antoinette Pinto Caputo Scianna, and his late stepfather, Girolama Scianna. Also surviving are two daughters, Janice A. Lapke of Milford and Andrea M. Radley of Raleigh, N.C.; three sisters, Jean Piernat and Mildred Pittoco, both of South Daytona, Florida and Paula Warga of Norwalk; two stepbrothers, James Scianna and Anthony Scianna, both of Norwalk; a stepsister, Beatrice Petrino of Bridgeport; two grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a brother, James Caputo. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Jerome Church, 28 Hale Mile Road, with interment to follow in St. John Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 9 pm. Wednesday at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave. Members of the Knights of Columbus will gather at the funeral home at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The family would appreciate contributions to Connecticut Hospice, 61 Burban Drive, Branford, 06405.
Buried in St. John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut. Veterans Section.
Photo pending
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