While re-dedicating the Irish Cultural Garden on Cleveland’s MLK Drive, the late Senator Voinovich said, “I have always found those closest to their roots to be the best citizens.” I can’t argue with that. Growing up in what has been called ‘Ethnicity’, Cleveland is home to many who have remained close to their roots. One of those is the Italian Community.
On a recent morning I drove to the Office of MC Corp., Willoughby, and founder Frank Piunno, Sr.. I was there to photograph the plaque that is the subject of this story. Not surprisingly, several members and friends of the extended Piunno family were also there. I was privileged to meet founder Frank Piunno, Sr., as well as Lou Lentine , Antony Granito, Don and Tony Mazzoliini and my friend Russ Davis.
The bronze plaque originally hung on a wall of the old Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the East 110th Street and Woodland Avenue neighborhood of Cleveland. When the Diocese of Cleveland announced it would close the Church, two co-conspirators sprang into action.
Frank Piunno, Sr., with his co-conspirator Russ Davis, seized the Plaque from the Church before it disappeared to who knows where and would probably have been melted down for the scrap value by outsiders. On it are the names of twenty parishioners who were killed in Action in WWII. One of the names on this plaque is that of Sgt. Michael F. Piunno, whose Italian-American family and community have never forgotten him.
Michael was born Sept. 24, 1922, to Francesco and Maria Giuseppa Piunno, the 7th of 8 children: Anna Marie, Giuseppe (Joseph), Donato (Dan), Rose Marie (Granito), Joseph Anthony, Camilla “Carrie” Marie, (now a nun with the Trinitarian Order), Michael Joseph and Frank. Joseph. While in grade school Michael was an Altar boy, like so many of us who lived in Catholic parishes were. Afterwards he studied at Benedictine High School, graduating in 1942.
Michael enlisted in the United States Army Nov. 16, 1942. After Basic Training he was assigned to the 89th Infantry Division. They deployed to France where they received additional training, most likely from combat veterans. The Division was part of General Patton’s Third Army.
Sgt. Piunno was part of the action that began on the 26th of March as they crossed the Rhine “under intense fire”. Once into Germany, on April 4, they overran Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald where Michael undoubtedly witnessed the atrocities there. It was the first concentration camp liberated by the U.S. Army.
According to the 89th Division History, they captured Zwickau , Germany, on April 17, the day Michael was killed. Up until V-E Day the Division lost 325 battle deaths and 1,029 wounded.
It wasn’t until 1949 that Michael’s remains were returned to the family in Cleveland. On March 26 a Requiem Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Burial took place in the Veterans Section of Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, four years after his death.
The original plaque now hangs honorably in the lobby of MCR Corp. with the name of Michael Piunno and nineteen other heroes from the parish who were Killed in Action during the war. The American flag that covered Michael’s coffin is also displayed there. Michael’s family received his Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge and other decorations earned.
Like other families who lost loved ones during the war, Michael’s death was suffered in silence. However, his family, and the Italian community of Cleveland. have not been silent about his memory and sacrifice. Each year Benedictine High School hosts an Italian Festa Night in his honor.
Sullivan , an alumnus of Benedictine, is a U.S. Army veteran of the 2nd Armored Division who served stateside and in Europe.
Bibliography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/89th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
US Army, Office of War Information
