Community WWII veteran KIA honored

Seventy-two years after his death in World War II, Watertown resident PVT Dominic J. Russo was recognized and honored for his contributions with a memorial next to his former home on Palfrey Street.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Russo’s family, local veterans and friends joined Veteran Services Agent Mark Comeiro and other officials to commemorate Russo’s service with a plaque on the corner of Palfrey and Forest Street in Watertown.

Russo was the eldest of eight children, born and raised in Watertown.

According to Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro, Russo grew up on the corner of Palfrey and Forest Street in Watertown.

“Dominic worked for the Department of Public Works along with one of his brothers and his father until he was called into Service during WW2,” Comeiro said. “Dominic enlisted in the US Army on March 5 th, 1943 and after finishing Basic Training, he was deployed overseas with the 143 rd Infantry 36 th Division, Second Battalion as a Combat Infantryman.”

On Sept. 12, 1944 Private Russo was shot and killed (KIA) by enemy gunfire. Just a couple of months later, on Dec. 12, 1944, the President of the United States awarded PVT Russo the Purple Heart.

Private Dominic Joseph Russo is buried in Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, France along with 5,300 American Soldiers from WW2.

“The significance of this Dedication is Private Dominic Russo is a Watertown Native who was Killed in Action during WW2 fighting for his Country,” Comeiro said. “Dominic has a few siblings still alive who will be at the ceremony tomorrow. This has been a long time coming and is well deserved.”

After the ceremony, Marguerite Brooks, Russo’s younger sister spoke about what the memorial means to her family.

“I called him junior and I was just six years old when he was killed in World War II,” she said. “I have a very limited memory of him but one thing I can remember is him kissing me goodnight when I was very young.”

For Brooks and her family, Tuesday’s ceremony was meaningful and bittersweet.

“This is just unbelievable,” Brooks said, choking back tears. “Even though I didn’t grow up with him, his death was very traumatic. To think this many people came out to support him so many years after he’s been gone is wonderful. I know my parents would have been thrilled.”