Joseph A. Casaburi USAAF 1942-46

Dec 8, 1921 - Jan 14, 2023

Joseph A. Casaburi Army 1942-46

Joseph A. Casaburi served as a private first class in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946. Casaburi, commonly known as “Uncle Joey” to his family was brought up with 6 kids in a small apartment in NYC on 116th street and Pleasant Ave. He taught himself drums on the roof of the building and played as the drummer in the army orchestra. He worked as an upholster for many famous clients including John Lennon and Yoko Ono and the Mellon family. Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather who was married for over 50 years to Lee and when his wife got sick he refused to put her in a home and decided to become the caregiver for over 20 years to her.

Joey started his military career in Denver as a dental assistant and then was shipped out to the front lines in Germany where he fought alongside Patton's 3rd Army. One day his team split up and everyone that went one way never came back as well as another time during a bombing he was way outnumbered so he found a house and hid under the bed as the Germans came in. With Joey under the bed the Germans sat on top of the bed smoking cigarettes. The whole time they never knew he was right below them and survived.

For his service he received the Purple Heart, the American Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He received the Purple Heart for his service in Germany, where he was struck in the leg by a mortar fragment while on the front lines. To this day Casaburi still has shrapnel in his body.

Joey was honored on field by the NY Yankees in front of 55k fans on Memorial Day 2018 and the NY Mets made him a cardboard cutout to put in stands replacing people during the 2020 season. He is a survivor of Covid as well.

Joey’s story was recorded by his nephew Andy and submitted to our archives and we hope to interview him this summer.