Charles Santarsiero
May 10, 2004
Charles "Sandy" Santarsiero, 81, a longtime resident of Scranton, died Monday in the Moses Taylor emergency room. His wife, the former Clara Elizabeth Strubeck, died March 12, 1998.
He was born and raised in Dunmore, the son of the late John and Mary Zaccanino Santarsiero. He was a graduate of Dunmore High School and a member of St. Clare's Church. He was a much-decorated veteran, who served as a lieutenant with the Army's 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He parachuted behind the Normandy beaches in the D-Day invasion of Europe with the 3rd Battalion, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Two days later, during the battle known as "The Wooden Bridges at Brevands," he became a hero, and was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was in the battle known as "Bloody Gulch," in which he was machine-gunned through the thigh. He later rejoined his unit, and was with them when they parachuted into Holland and was severely wounded by an exploding German 88 millimeter artillery shell, which landed right behind him. He spent the next 3 years and seventeen operations getting back to normal, more or less. He received the Distinguished Service Cross. He continued to be active with the 101st Airborne Association of Retired Veterans, and was a member of the McHugh-Bushweller VFW Post 3474, Dunmore. Prior to retirement, he was employed as a lineman and troubleshooter by Pennsylvania Power and Light.
Surviving are two brothers, Tony, Dunmore, and Joseph, Florida; several nieces and nephews, and his lifetime friend, Anna Mecca, Dunmore.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment, Forest Hill Cemetery, Dunmore. Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, 730 Pittston Ave., 18505-4103.