This is part of a Memorial Day presentation, put together and written by my friend ER. Because of the weather the service with over 250 attendees was in the HNM gym. The pictures are of Fr. Tony Fagnani’s youngest brother Attilio and his family. Very glad they were able to attend.
Fox-Eklof American American Legion Post #505 would like to recognize Father Anthony Gabriel Fagnani [FAG-YANI], who as a First Lieutenant and Regimental Chaplain, was wounded on the front lines of Korea in 1952, while serving with the 179th Infantry Regiment, of the 45th Infantry Division, and awarded The Purple Heart Medal. (Incidentally, two other Croton veterans served with Father Tony at the same time somewhere in that division.)
Father Tony, as he was called, served with his regiment in THREE KOREAN WAR campaigns: 2nd Korean Winter ‘51-‘52, Summer-Fall ‘52, Winter ’52-’53. His regiment fought in the battles of “Old Baldy”, “Outpost Eerie” and “Pork Chop Hill”. Unlike the prior two years of the War, his year there was characterized by vicious, sustained, very bloody battles with intensive Mortar & Artillery Shelling followed by enemy human wave attacks, and counter attacks, hand to hand combat, followed up by heavy patrolling and minor front line adjustments, never more than one or two miles. …
When he came home to Croton on Leave he would say daily Mass here at Holy Name of Mary in the holy Church above where we sit today. As a grammar school kid I remember him as a young energetic guy, devoted to the priesthood, Mass, Confession, and the other Sacraments. He would look at you, talk to you straight, and he had a sense of humor. As a Chaplain he was devoted to serving the men in his command, praying with them, praying for them, giving Last Rites to the wounded and the dead. Helping evacuate the wounded, interceding for men with their commanders, arranging for evacuations and emergency leave. … serving men of all faiths. … One famous photo has him saying Mass for infantrymen right behind a small Korean hill in the forward edge of the battle area. The photograph is entitled, “OUTDOOR CHURCH-Rev. Anthony G. Fagnani of the Bronx, NY, administers Holy Communion to front-line American soldiers in combat in North Korea.” The photo appeared in newspapers throughout the country. In service or out, HE LOVED TO PRESIDE OVER WEDDINGS and many engaged couples in Croton would specifically request he preside at their wedding. He was in much demand for that sacrament, and you can bet that Confession was the most popular Sacrament he administered to Front Line Troops expecting Combat Action in Korea and in Vietnam.
After Korea, Father Fagnani spent almost TWENTY (20) more years in the Army and most of that time with combat units: in Japan, in Germany, Panama, Vietnam, and here at home. He retired in 1971 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and returned to New York to serve the Catholic Church in the NY Archdiocese for a total of 30 years. Over a four decade period he assisted, pastored, or administrated 11 churches in five counties. Some of his hardest and best work, and there’s no medal or street sign for that. He died on January 4th, 1998 and was buried out of Holy Name of Mary Church, Croton, in a Funeral Mass celebrated by John Cardinal O’Connor, himself a former Navy Chief of Chaplains. He was interred with his parents at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, New Rochelle, NY.
Father Tony died almost thirty years ago, most of his records, and all of his medals were lost. So, IN HONOR OF THE WOUNDS HE RECEIVED AND THE BLOOD THAT HE SHED in the service of his Country and his fellow Soldiers, we present The Purple Heart Medal to his Family represented by his youngest brother Attilio Fagnani and his wife Judy.
Attilio and Judy live in Ossining. Attilio himself is a US Army National Guard Veteran, and another brother, Enrico Jr., served with the Army in Europe during WWII, and at age 19, survived the Battle of the Bulge. Also here with them today is their daughter Angela Briante (Carmel), granddaughter Jessica Rose Briante (White Plains), their grandson Anthony Briante (Carmel), and nephew John Palmaffy (Peekskill). Please recognize this family that sent its sons to serve in three Wars.
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