Alex Spizzirri

Note, Alex Spizzirri was my father-in-law and a dear friend. He did not serve with the 82nd Airborne. He served with the I Company of the 14th Infantry, but received a medical discharge before the end of the war after being injured during training.

Over the years, Alex and I talked about his time in the military, he was the same age as my dad and registered for the service in February, 1942. His registration card revealed he was residing at 1304 S. Fairfield Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, date of birth July 20, 1921.  His employer’s name and address was Mr. Kellog, 3501 S. Shield Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  The registration card described him as white, 5’6-1/2”, 153 pounds, brown hair, hazel eyes and a light complexion.  Other obvious physical characteristics that would aid in identification reported as appendix and gallstone operation.  Alex registered at the Chicago Local Board #115, 749 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  

Not until recently did I find his registration card.  Before his death in 2017, he started giving me various important documents and several of those had to do with his time in the service.  He did not talk much about the service other than he was in the Army.  While training at Fort Carson, Colorado he was injured in a training accident.   Alex said something to the effect that he fell off the side of a mountain, apparently quite some distance.  He suffered internal injuries and was transferred to a hospital.  Alex had trouble with scar tissue after he started recovering. As a result he was Honorably Discharged from the service.

His discharge record shows an ASN #36661690.  Interesting, when I search the National Archives database by serial number or last name, Alex apparently is not in the record.  His discharge shows the rank of Private lcl, Company I, 14th Infantry given at Ft. Benning, Georgia dated October 19, 1944.  The 14th Infantry underwent combat training at Camp Carson, outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado and later at Ft. Benning Georgia.

His military specialty was listed as a Truck Driver and he received the Good Conduct Ribbon. 

Alex had his small pox and first course of the typhoid vaccination.  But his physical condition, when discharged, was listed as poor and the reason for discharge was CDD, Section II, AR615-630 and WD AGO Form #40 approved HQ. ASF.  The term CDD means Certificate of Disability for Discharge. “Section II discharges, commonly referred to as disability discharges, are granted to an enlisted man upon order of a certificate of disability for discharge (WD, AGO Form 40) which certifies that the enlisted man has become unfit for military service because of physical disability.” His character was listed as excellent and the following remarks were made: “Regional Hospital, Ft. Benning, Georgia, dated 17 October/44. No time lost under AW 107.  Soldier entitled to travel pay.  Blood type “O”.  Due sol mustering out payment two hundred dollars ($200.00).  Home address: 1304 S. Fairfield Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.” The record also listed a lapel button issued HQ. Ft. Benning, Georgia 19 October 1944 by First Lieutenant L. F. Nedopad Department of Patients.  This document appears to have been later recorded at Chicago, most probably the Cook County Clerk.  

Alex was a pretty interesting character.  I found him to be the kind of person who never disagreed with you, it was important for him to keep the peace.  Alex would go along with just about anything you said to avoid conflict.  When I met him in 1980, he had just retired from the Automatic Electric Company, which later became part of Verizon….but he always said that he worked for the” phone company.” Alex was born in the “Taylor Street” area of Chicago, more commonly known as “Little Italy.”  He told me he was born in a house the northeast corner of Polk and Morgan. Automatic Electric was a few blocks from that neighborhood on Harrison Street, just east of Racine Avenue. He worked for the same company his entire life, not uncommon for his generation, and met Josephine (his wife) there. At some point every one in his family had a job at Automatic Electric, including Janice. Alex and Josephine married in 1946, (see below) they had two daughters, Janice and Mary.

Alex talked fondly of his time in the service, but you could tell he was glad that he didn’t go overseas or see combat.  He had heard enough stories of friends and family who served and lost their lives.  He was more interested in discussing family life.  I remember him telling me one day about his dad, Frank Carmen Spizzirri.

Frank was a Foreman at Sawyer Biscuit in Chicago, his mother was Concetta and her mother’s name was Theresa. Theresa was married to Joseph Assisse, who lived at 2918 W. Polk in Chicago. The Assisse’s worked at Sawyer Biscuit as well, seems most of the family was employed there or at the Salerno bakery.  Alex’s brother was Frank Carmen Spizzirri and his only sister was Connie. 

I remember him telling me Connie and Frank both had diabetes, seems it ran in the family.  He always talked about their house at 1304 S. Fairfield, apparently, his grandfather owned the building at first. 

When Alex was in fifth grade, his brother started a fire in a bedroom closet playing with matches and almost burnt the house down. Alex talked about life in Chicago before the war, as a young man he would go to the Aragon Ball room to dance and of course meet girls. His brother was too young at the time but later was quite a dancer himself. His brother Frank was very athletic and a high school gymnast. Alex spoke of the Aragon and his social life, commenting on some of the “faster” girls on the dance floor. He steered clear of them, claiming they hung out with the Italian mob or “outfit” types from the neighborhood. His generation liked to dance, my father as well. Dad was not shy about getting on the dance floor, as a young boy I took note. Later, I took to the dance floor at the “Giraffe Disco”. Funny how some of us couldn’t wait to dance while others would never move from their bar stool. Willie and my friend Steve were like that, they’d sit at the bar and drink until they dropped. I on the other hand was trying to catch those pretty fast girls on the dance floor. My buddy Pete taught me how to dance in my parent’s living room. We all had nicknames growing up, his was the coolest, “Petey pores the umbrella kid.” He hates that name. Hard to imagine Alex’s generation dancing to the tunes of Tommy Dorsey or Glenn Miller, I on the other hand was dancing to the moves of the “Hustle.” Saturday Night Fever’s Tonny Manero I was not but give me an A for effort. I met Laurie on the dance floor, a pretty blonde and my future wife who had just broken up with this grease ball Mike Apa. Mike was a wannabe gangster, more like a degenerate gambler but still a ladies man. With Laurie on my arm he and I went face to face at the club. Working undercover I was always carrying, never left home without a “stick.” So Mike tries to act gentlemanly with a hand shake and in doing so brushes my side. The look on his face left little doubt he wanted no part of my friends, Smith & Wesson. Mike never got within 20 feet of me again. Fun times at the Giraffe.

(Alex family pics below)

I have great memories of Alex. I retired in 2016 so we had the chance to hang out the last few years of his life. He loved to visit with me in La Jolla, CA, quite content to sit outside and gaze at the ocean. He had two daughters but my son (Frank) was the son Alex never had. Growing up Alex was never more than a few steps behind Frank as a child and watched over him like his guardian angel.

Frank was enamored with Alex’s Italian sayings, especially the word “Scoodadailya” which meant forget about it. I always thought Alex made the word up.

Several times we visited Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial near La Jolla. He enjoyed the view of the ocean from there and of course the veteran memorials. It is the only memorial that honors veterans, living or deceased, from the Revolutionary War to the current war on terrorism, with an image of the veteran. Once we visited the USS Midway and Balboa Park. He loved to dine out and of course we had some great meals in San Diego’s “Little Italy” or dinner at Eddie V’s. Alex is dearly missed by all.