John Mazza
Funeral Mass was celebrated Wednesday at St. Helena Catholic Church for John A. Mazza, who died Dec. 16, 2001. He was 84. Mr. Mazza was the fourth of six children born to Filomena and Rocco Mazza of Willard, Ohio. He graduated from Mansfield High School in 1935 and three years later joined the Ohio National Guard. He saw active duty from September 1940 through July of 1941. The following year he enlisted in the Army Air Force, trained as a flight engineer/gunner, was promoted to Tech. Sergeant and in February 1944, was sent to Italy, where he was assigned to the 301st Bomb Group, 419th Squadron of the 15th Air Force. He flew 51 combat missions over Italy, Germany and Eastern Europe, including four missions to Ploesti, between February and July 1944. He was rotated home in 1944 and married Rosemary Wood. Mr. Mazza was recalled to active duty briefly in 1951 and remained in the reserves until 1963. In civilian life he worked as a service engineer at Ford Motor Company in Richmond, Calif., instructing automobile mechanics. He and his wife moved to St. Helena in 1965. Following his retirement in 1980, he enjoyed model railroading, traveling and building/restoring clocks. He was active in the American Legion Post 199, did volunteer work with the St Helena Hospital and restored aircraft at the Travis AFB museum. In addition to his wife of 57 years he is survived by sons John Jr. of San Francisco and Michael of Lafayette; daughters Kathryn of Maryland and Jean of Florida; two grandchildren Mike and Elizabeth; a sister, Jenny, of Ohio, and a brother, Joe, of Florida. Arrangements by Morrison Funeral Chapel.
http://www.obitcentral.com/obitsearch/obits/ca/ca-napa_6.htm John A. Mazza
T/Sgt John A Mazza was assigned to the 301st BG 419th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Engineer-Gunner.
The following information on John Mazza is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on T/Sgt Mazza. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to John Mazza's military record please contact us.
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Rank |
General Order |
Date |
Notes |
Award |
Ribbon & Device |
John Mazza |
T/Sgt |
731 |
05/30/1944 |
|
AM |
|
John Mazza |
T/Sgt |
731 |
05/30/1944 |
|
AM/OLC |
|
John Mazza |
T/Sgt |
731 |
05/30/1944 |
|
AM/2OLC |
|
John Mazza |
T/Sgt |
1155 |
06/19/1944 |
|
AM/3OLC |
|
John Mazza |
T/Sgt |
2548 |
08/15/1944 |
|
AM/4OLC |
|
2/25/1944 John was listed on a roster of personnel assigned to the 301st Bombardment Group, 419th Squadron on this date, 25 Feb. 1944, when they were awarded a Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). PUC 2/25/1944 PUC
Please contact us if you can assist with any biographical data, pictures or other information regarding the service and life of John Mazza.
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