DOB/DOD: July 13, 1922 (Norwalk, CT) – March 2, 1986 (Stamford, CT); 63 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Gladys E. Kacer (1927-2010).
CHILDREN: Two stepdaughters, Karen Kulish (1951-) and Valerie Freund (1954-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 65 Woodward Avenue, South Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: January 14, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 8072120
DISCHARGE: January 20, 1946
FAMILY: Born to Andrew (1881-1926) and Rose Evansco Mezzo Kardos (1882-1980). Three sisters, Grace Mezzo Anderson (1906-1995), Ethel Mezzo Garvey (1912-1990), and Verna V. Mezzo Miller (1917-2000). One brother, Andrew (1909-1979).
DECORATIONS: Received the Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the WWII Victory Medal.
Norwalk High School Class of 1940
Also Served aboard the USS Chandeleur (AV-10) in late 1945 and early 1946 until his discharge on January 20, 1946.
Photo contributed by Valerie Freund.
Ernest Mezzo and his wife Gladys.
From The Norwalk Hour August 2, 1945
MMM 3-C ERNEST MEZZO WOUNDED IN ACTION
Ernest Edward Mezzo, Motor Machinists’ Mate Third Class, USN, son of Mrs. Rose Mezzo Kardos of 87 Woodward Avenue, was wounded in action on May 14, according to word received by his mother, and is now under treatment at the 374th General Hospital, Tinian, Marianas Islands. MMM3 Mezzo is a crew member of the USS Evans, which, with the USS Hadley, shot down 38 Japanese planes during the engagement in which the local sailor was wounded. MMM3 Mezzo, who has been in the service for nearly three years, became 23 years of age on July 13. In civilian life, he was with the Nash Engineering Company.
From The Norwalk Hour August 31, 1945
MMM 3-C MEZZO GETS PURPLE HEART
Ernest E. Merzzo, Motor Machinist’s Mate Third Class, USNR, son of Mrs. Rose Mezzo Kardos of 97 Woodward Avenue, aboard the USS Evans, now wears the Purple Heart for wounds incurred when the destroyer was hit by Japanese suicide planes during the Okinawa campaign.
The deck log from the USS Evans (DD-552) on May 11, 1945, the day MoMM3 Mezzo was wounded, can be viewed HERE. The document was contributed by Valerie Freund.
The USS Evans (DD-552) participated in Navy Day festivities on October 27, 1945, at the Navy Yard in Mare Island, California. The book commemorating that event can be seen HERE. The book was contributed by Valerie Freund.
The USS Evans (DD-552)
USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) was laid down on 21 April 1944 at Staten Island, N.Y., by Bethlehem Steel Co.; launched on 3 October 1944; and sponsored by Mrs. Allean F. Evans, widow of the late Brig. Gen. Evans. “The 2,200-ton super-destroyer Evans,” the New York Times reported the following day, “named in honor of the late Brig. Frank E. Evans of the Marine Corps was launched at high water yesterday at the Bethlehem Steel and Shipbuilding Company yard at Mariners Harbor in the presence of high-ranking naval officers, seventy-five invited guests, and 500 shipyard workers.” Frank E. Evans was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., on 3 February 1945, Cmdr. Harry Smith, in command.
USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) began the destroyer’s service in the Atlantic Fleet as she completed a shakedown cruise and original daily anti-submarine warfare, gunnery, damage control, Combat Information Center (CIC), engineering, and communications training as part of Task Group (TG) 23.1 in the waters off Bermuda (23 February–5 March). On 6 April 1945, the Japanese launched the first of a series of ten mass kamikaze attacks, interspersed with smaller raids and named Kikusui (Floating Chrysanthemum) No. 1, against Allied ships off Okinawa during Operation Iceberg—the invasion of the island. (history.navy.mil)
From The Norwalk Hour March 3, 1986
Ernest Edward Mezzo, 63, of Iron Gate Road, a native of Norwalk, died Sunday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Stamford. Mr. Mezzo was the maintenance supervisor of the Smith House Skilled Nursing Facility; Mr. Mezzo was a member of St. Leo Roman Catholic Church. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, in which he was awarded
the Purple Heart. Mr. Mezzo is survived by his wife, Gladys; two daughters, Karen Kulish of Fairfield and Valerie Freund of Bridgeport; three sisters, Grace Anderson of Norwalk, Ethel Garvey of Norwalk, and Verna Miller of Sacramento, California; and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother brother, Andrew Mezzo of Norwalk. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebraicd at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Leo Roman Catholic Church in Stamford. Interment will be in St. John Roman Catholic Cemetery in
Norwalk. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Houton and Reynolds Funeral Home. 545 Bedford St., Stamford.
Buried in St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut; Section 5, Lot 220 East, Grave 1.
END
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