Veterans - A Personal Remembrance

Joseph "Pippy" D'Arrigo

My dad taught me to respect our service veterans.  Maybe it's more accurate to say he insisted upon it.  He was one himself, serving in the Army Air Corps during WW2, though not overseas.  His two best friends died in the war, one on a destroyer sunk by the Japanese, the other in an airplane crash in the U.S. (about 10,000 servicemen died in the States in air crashes during the war - the most well known incident a B-25 bomber flying into the Empire State building in July 1945).

Dad's father was a veteran of two armies.  He deserted from the Russian army, escaped to the U.S. and promptly enlisted in the U.S. army, serving two 3-year enlistments, spending time in the Philippines, discharged as sergeant in 1912, obtaining his citizenship the same year, and always proud of his service in the army of his adopted country.  I told his story here.

In the late 1950s, while at the family store in Noroton Heights (a neighborhood in  the town of Darien, CT), dad introduced me to a short, slim, older and somewhat taciturn man.  I've always spelled his name as Pippi Dirigo.  Pippi was friendly with my dad and I encountered him several more times over the years.  My dad told me Pippi's story on a number of occasions.  Pippi served in WW2, was one of the first American soldiers to enter Germany, at the border city of Aachen, receiving medals for his bravery.  After the war, Pippi re-enlisted, was sent to South Korea as advisor to its new army, and was on the border on June 25, 1950 when the surprise invasion by the North Koreans began.  Narrowly escaping and getting out of Korea, Pippi later returned to conduct dangerous missions, caught encephalitis which affected his memory, and was forced to leave the service.

Dad always emphasized that Pippi was a true American hero and lamented that many in town didn't know his story and treat him with the respect he deserved.  For more than 60 years I've remembered what dad told me about Pippi.

Veteran's Day got me thinking about Pippi.  Over the years I tried a couple of times to see if I could find anything about him on the internet but drew a blank.  This time I was smarter, and contacted my sister who's an expert in researching family histories.  With her help, we figured out Pippi's real name was Joseph "Pippy" D'Arrigo.  Once we had his name right, finding information on him followed quickly.

In the 1920s and 30s the D'Arrigo and Stoler families were neighbors in Noroton Heights.  Pippy was one of seven children and the only boy. Dad and Pippy may have been in the same grade or, at most, separated by one year.  Joseph D'Arrigo was drafted in 1942 and served in the European theater.

According to an interview he granted to the Norwalk Hour and published on July 24, 1986, at the end of the war Pippy was a first lieutenant, commanding Company C in the 335th Infantry Regiment.  The 335th was part of the 84th Infantry Division, which entered action in November 1944 in Belgium and then participated in the advance on Aachen (just like dad told me!).  In early January 1945, the 84th moved south to help repel German attacks in the Battle of the Bulge; brutal fighting in winter conditions.  After more engagements crossing the River Roer, the 84th crossed the Rhine, driving into Germany and liberating two satellite concentration camps.  The 84th incurred more than 7,000 casualties and was in combat for 170 days.

The Hour reports Pipi received a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart and quotes from his Silver Star citation:

When the advance of his platoon was stopped due to constant fire from an enemy strong point . . .  he unhesitatingly led the unit in an assault which resulted in the reduction of the fortification, the killing of approximately 18 Germans and capture of 52 prisoners . . . a courageous action and superior performance.

The Hour reporter confirmed Pippy's assignment to Korea, his presence during the North Korea attack and narrow escape along with his bout with encephalitis (the reporter noting that "his memory wanders at times").  He was a Captain at the time of his discharge.

A 2010 article in The Darien Times tells of Pippy's Korean adventures in a bolder style.

Then came the bloody Korean strife and a Darien soldier had the unique distinction of being first as well as last. Joe "Pippy" D'Arrigo was the last American still in the demilitarized zone when the Chinese horde charged across the North Korean border. Describing him as "the shirtless captain from Connecticut," a New York Times dispatch hailed the Noroton Heights native as "the first American hero" of the war.

I've seen other references to the Times article though I have not read it myself.  Also, in June 1950 there was no "Chinese horde" as the Chinese did not enter the war until October, it was the North Koreans in June.

A 2018 Memorial Day section in the Darien Times contained the photo at the top of this post, with this legend:

Capt. Joseph D'Arrigo.  World War II, Germany; Korea 1950.  Lookout at 38th parallel.  First American to see invasion by North Koreans.  Honored in Washington D.C., during 50th anniversary of Korean War. 

A webpage about the efforts by high school student Joseph DeVito to raise funds for the National Museum of the United States Army, inspired by the story of his great uncle Joseph D'Arrigo, includes this unlabeled photo of what looks to be Pippy D'Arrigo in his later years.  According to my sister's research he passed in 2004.

I'm glad what dad told me proved so accurate and, as usual, he was right.  Joseph D'Arrigo is an American hero.