Frank Perconte

Infobox Military Person
name=Frank Perconte
born= birth date and age|1917|3|10
died=


caption=Frank Perconte during WWII
rank=T/4
unit=Easy Company, 2nd Battalion,506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
family=
nickname=Perco
placeofbirth=Joliet, Illinois
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=
enteredservice=Camp Toccoa, Georgia
currentlyresides=
serviceyears=1942-1945
portrayedby=James Madio in "Band of Brothers"
laterwork=Postman
battles= World War II *Operation Market Garden *Battle of the Bulge
awards=Bronze Star Croix de Guerre Purple Heart

Frank 'Perco' Perconte (born March 10, 1917) was a non-commissioned officer during World War II with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in the United States Army. He was portrayed by James Madio in the HBO/BBC miniseries "Band of Brothers".

Early years

Frank Perconte was born to Joseph Perconte and Mary Carbone, and raised in Joliet, Illinois where he also attended Joliet Central High School. He enlisted in 1942 and was one of the first soldiers assigned to Easy Company.

During World War II

Perconte was a non-commissioned officer in 1st Platoon. He jumped into D-Day and started his own collection of dead soldiers' watches. He saw action again during Operation Market Garden and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. On Easy's assault on the town of Foy, he was shot in the rear by a German sniper. Frank was out for a couple of days before re-joining Easy at the town of Haguenau.

After the War

Frank survived the war and returned home to become a postman. He currently lives in Joliet, Illinois. Frank's nephew, Jack Perconte, played major league baseball during the 1980's with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox.

Decorations and Awards

American Army Medals

*Bronze Star (1 Oak leaf cluster, denoting a second awarded)
*Purple Heart
*Good Conduct Medal
*American Campaign Medal
*European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (4 Campaign Stars, and 1 Bronze Arrowhead)
*World War II Victory Medal
*Army of Occupation Medal (With Germany Clasp)
*Defense of the Americas Medal

Foreign Decorations

*Croix de Guerre (With Bronze Palm Leaf)
*French Liberation Medal

Commemorative Medals Awarded Post-War

*Commemorative D-Day Medal (60th Anniversary)
*Commemorative D-Day Medal (50th Anniversary)
*Commemorative Battle of the Bulge Medal
*Commemorative French D-Day Medal
*American Defense Service Medal
*Combat Service Commemorative Medal
*Austrian Liberation 50th Anniversary Medal
*Victory in Europe Commemorative Medal
*Commemorative WWII Medal

Badges/Other

*5 Overseas Service Bars (two and a half years overseas)
*Honorable Service Lapel Pin
*Marksmanship Badge (with two bars, denoting Submachine gun, and Pistol feats)
*Presidential Unit Citation (with two Oak leaf clusters, one for each Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge)
*Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)
*Parachutist Badge

ee also

References

* [http://www.dday-overlord.com/BPerconteeng.htm D-Day Overlord, Frank Perconte]
* [http://www.forums.wildbillguarnere.com Wild Bill Guarnere Forums for Medal Information]