FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013
OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013
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SHOWN ARE William J. Ceccon, left, and his cousin, Andrew Finco.
War tale of two cousins By RALPH ANSAMI
ransami@yourdailyglobe.com
The Jan. 4 letter from France from William J. Ceccon to his cousin, Andy Finco, both of Ironwood, contained a foreboding. “I know your up in the front lines again and I wish you all the luck in the world. It's a good thing we met that Saterday, heh? Because you sure pulled out fast.” They had met in France on March 7, 1944, and had often written to each other about the war and the people back home in Ironwood's Newport Location. Their mothers were sisters. Decades later, Karen (Ceccon) Byrns, of Ironwood, was looking through her father's war-time correspondences and she realized a startling fact – the letter from her father to his cousin was never sent. Andrew A. Finco was killed by machine gun fire in action in Belgium with the 32nd Glider Infantry. The date of his death was Jan. 4, 1945. There were 18 tanks involved and casualties were heavy,
as the position was overrun and the platoon couldn't withstand the enemy assault. Karen also found letters from “Andy to Billy.” One read, “I got a letter from your brother Eugene. He says he likes the Navy. Well, I suppose its better than army. Well I hope this war ends soon so we can can get to see old Newport again. I sure miss the old place.” The letter ended, “Don't do what I wouldn't do.” Private Finco was apparently buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery in France, about 10 miles north of Yerdun. His body was supposedly in grave 238, row 10, plot D, according to military records. But William Ceccon was also told that Andrew was buried in the U.S. cemetery in Foy, Belgium. Ceccon went to Belgium on June 6, 1945, but couldn't find his cousin's grave. He tried and tried but he never did find Andrew Finco's final resting place. Ceccon, who enlisted at age 17, was discharged from service on Feb. 2, 1946, at the age of 21. He died on Oct 23, 2002.
Top – Letter from 1945 requesting the place of burial for Andrew Finco; bottom – Letter from Andrew Finco to his cousin William J. Ceccon written in November of 1944 approximately one month before his death.
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