Carmelo Frank Vassallo was born at Saint Louis, Missouri on July 22, 1922. He was one of at least ten children of Italian immigrants. His parents were Salvatore 'Sam' Vassallo (1 Jan 1873 – 5 Dec 1936), who was born at Palermo, Sicily, Italy; and Antoinena 'Nena' (Genovese) Vassallo (9 Jun 1882 – 20 Jan 1958) (name inscribed "NINA" on the family grave marker), who was born at Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Messina, Sicily, Italy. His parents married about 1903. His father Sam immigrated to America in 1904 (embarked on S.S. Aurania at Palermo, Italy on February 22, 1904; arrived at Port of New York on March 1, 1904; and joined his brother Carmelo Vassallo at 1119 North 9th Street, Saint Louis, Missouri). His mother Nena immigrated to America with his sister Catherine about 1905.

In 1920 the family lived at 1313 North 19th Street, Saint Louis, Missouri, and his father was a salesman of macaroni and other food products. His father's brother Carmelo lived at the same address. By 1925 the family lived at 4953 Terry Avenue in Saint Louis. His father died in 1936, and in 1940 the family lived at 4850 Farlin Avenue in Saint Louis. At the time of her death in 1958, his mother lived with his brother Angelo S. Vassallo at 3415 Humphrey Street in Saint Louis.

He completed one year of high school, and worked as a skilled mechanic and repairman for a railroad carshop, the American Car and Foundry Company in Madison, Illinois. He registered for the draft at Saint Louis, Missouri on June 30, 1942. He was five feet nine inches tall, weighed 132 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on December 17, 1942.

He completed Army Air Forces radio operator and aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of Lt James B. Squier in the 839th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. The Squier crew completed B-24 heavy bomber crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. They flew B-24H 42-52776 overseas from Alamogordo, New Mexico to Lavenham, England via the southern Atlantic ferry route—a journey of about 10,000 miles—and arrived in England by mid-April 1944. The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is the crew roster when they arrived in England:

839th Bomb Squadron crew:
• 2/Lt James B. Squier – O752025 – Pilot
• 2/Lt Francis J. Adams – O815050 – Copilot
• F/O David Ruditz – T123999 – Navigator
• 2/Lt Gerald F. Weber – O695568 – Bombardier
• S/Sgt Charles E. Anderson – 35366252 – Engineer
• S/Sgt Carmelo F. Vassallo – 37404546 – Radio Operator
• S/Sgt James A. Strickler – 33505870 – Armorer/Gunner
• S/Sgt Robert W. Yankaskas – 31281285 – Gunner
• Sgt Frank L. Leone – 20115215 – Gunner

On August 1, 1944, the 487th Bomb Group began flying combat missions in the B-17 'Flying Fortress' heavy bomber. On August 5, 1944, Lt Squier's crew flew B-17G 43-37984 on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft and engine factory at Magdeburg, Germany. T/Sgt Vassallo was killed in action when he was struck by flak from German antiaircraft fire over the target. The rest of his crew survived, and returned his body to their base near Lavenham.

T/Sgt Vassallo is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, UK.

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com