Antonio Pierro
Encyclopedia
Antonio "Tony" Pierro was, at age 110, recognized as the oldest living man in the U.S.
(since January 9, 2007) and the world's oldest living WWI veteran
(since January 24, 2007). He was one of the last surviving veterans of World War I
. He was also a combat veteran, making him an even greater rarity.
town of Forenza
, the son of Rocco and Nunzia (Dell'Aquilla) Pierro. His birthdate of February 22, 1896 was recorded as February 24, 1896 in the baptism
al records. Pierro claimed, however, that he was a week older and it took a week to register. This cannot be officially verified, and it is not entirely satisfactory, as the birthdate could easily have stated February 15, but it did not. In any case, Pierro was born in February 1896.
Pierro immigrated
to the United States in 1914, and lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts
and Swampscott, Massachusetts
. In 1918 he enlisted in the Army
, and trained at Fort Dix
before being sent off to combat. Pierro saw action in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel
and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
. Pierro served in France with the 82nd Division A.E.F. [American Expeditionary Forces] 320th Field Artillery. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 2005 in Marblehead and IUE Local 21. He was a former member of the American Legion "Redmen" in Swampscott.
Returning to the U.S. in 1919, he married Mary Pierre in 1920. She died in 1967, however, and they did not have children. In civilian life, Pierro worked for the General Electric
jet engine plant in Lynn
.
In 2006, Pierro celebrated his 110th birthday. Since December 30, 2006 he was the second-oldest living person in the state of Massachusetts
, and one of the few remaining combat veterans of World War I anywhere in the world. He became the oldest verified man in the United States on January 9, 2007, following the death of 111-year-old Thomas Nelson, Sr., and on January 24, 2007, when 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro
died, Pierro became the oldest World War I veteran and second-oldest man in the world.
Antonio Pierro died on February 8, 2007, just a few weeks shy of his 111th birthday, in Swampscott. At that time he was living with his now 102 year old brother, Nicholas Pierro.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(since January 9, 2007) and the world's oldest living WWI veteran
Surviving veterans of World War I
The last living verified veteran of World War I is Florence Green, a British woman who served in the Allied armed forces. The last combat veteran was Claude Choules who served in the British Royal Navy , and died 5 May 2011, aged 110...
(since January 24, 2007). He was one of the last surviving veterans of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was also a combat veteran, making him an even greater rarity.
Biography
Pierro was born in the ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
town of Forenza
Forenza
Forenza is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Acerenza, Avigliano, Filiano, Ginestra, Maschito, Palazzo San Gervasio, Pietragalla, Ripacandida....
, the son of Rocco and Nunzia (Dell'Aquilla) Pierro. His birthdate of February 22, 1896 was recorded as February 24, 1896 in the baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
al records. Pierro claimed, however, that he was a week older and it took a week to register. This cannot be officially verified, and it is not entirely satisfactory, as the birthdate could easily have stated February 15, but it did not. In any case, Pierro was born in February 1896.
Pierro immigrated
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
to the United States in 1914, and lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
and Swampscott, Massachusetts
Swampscott, Massachusetts
Swampscott is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States located 15 miles up the coast from Boston in an area known as the North Shore. The population is 13,787...
. In 1918 he enlisted in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and trained at Fort Dix
Fort Dix, New Jersey
JB MDL Dix , better known as Fort Dix, is a United States Army base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. Dix is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Reserve Command...
before being sent off to combat. Pierro saw action in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. Pierro served in France with the 82nd Division A.E.F. [American Expeditionary Forces] 320th Field Artillery. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 2005 in Marblehead and IUE Local 21. He was a former member of the American Legion "Redmen" in Swampscott.
Returning to the U.S. in 1919, he married Mary Pierre in 1920. She died in 1967, however, and they did not have children. In civilian life, Pierro worked for the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
jet engine plant in Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
.
In 2006, Pierro celebrated his 110th birthday. Since December 30, 2006 he was the second-oldest living person in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and one of the few remaining combat veterans of World War I anywhere in the world. He became the oldest verified man in the United States on January 9, 2007, following the death of 111-year-old Thomas Nelson, Sr., and on January 24, 2007, when 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro
Emiliano Mercado del Toro
Emiliano Mercado del Toro was, at age 115, the world's oldest person for six weeks, and the world's oldest man from November 19, 2004 until his own death on January 24, 2007. He is the oldest verified military veteran ever...
died, Pierro became the oldest World War I veteran and second-oldest man in the world.
Antonio Pierro died on February 8, 2007, just a few weeks shy of his 111th birthday, in Swampscott. At that time he was living with his now 102 year old brother, Nicholas Pierro.
See also
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2007