Augustine Burgo

Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Serial: 32271823

Unit: 336th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: February 6, 1944, France

Burial: Plot A, Row 42, Grave 25, Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

Staff Sergeant Augustine Burgo was born in Camden NJ in 1919. His grandfather was John Burgo, who had come to America from Italy in 1898, and was living at 304 Cherry Street in Camden by 1910, still working as a self-employed junk dealer at the age of 70 in 1920. His mother Rose Burgo had come to America in 1907, and by 1930 owned a grocery store. The Burgo family lived at 304 Cherry Street, then a predominantly Italian neighborhood.

Augustine, who was born Augustino, was the fourth child. Before him were Joseph, Rosie, and Jacob “Jack”; James and Elizabeth were born after him. At the age of 17, on August 13, 1936, he was taken to Cooper Hospital for a broken foot. Shortly after his foot healed, he enlisted in the Army, and served three years in the Hawaiian Islands before being discharged. He had returned to Camden NJ and had married the former Josephine Zambetti. By the time the Army called him up, the Burgos were living at 948 South 5th Street in Camden. Their daughter, Rose Anna, was born in the summer of 1941. After being drafted, he qualified for flight school, and was assigned to the 336th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy. He had already gone overseas when the Camden Courier-Post printed his picture on November 6, 1943.

Staff Sergeant Augustine Burgo was killed in action when the plane he was on went down over France on February 6, 1944. His body was later recovered, and he is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France. He was survived by his wife Josephine, daughter Rose Anna, his mother, and siblings. His brothers Jack and James were then serving in the armed forces as well.