PVT Michael Craparotta

PVT Michael Craparotta was born 9 Apr 1896 in Calatafimi, Sicily.  He immigrated in March 1914.  In 1917 he was working for Warwick Bed Company at Warwick and Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn, New York and was living at 542 Hendrix Street in Brooklyn only a 14 minute walk from work.  His brother, John, was living on the way on Pitkin Avenue.  Their mother was still living in Calatafimi, Italy.

Michael was inducted on 4 May 1918.  He was first assigned to the 2nd Recruit Company at Fort Slocum, New York. On 7 May 1918 he was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry.  He then traveled to Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit where, on 15 Jun 1918, he boarded the USS Finland with his unit and sailed for France.  The arrived on 28 Jun 1918 and after some training the unit went into the line. In October 1918 Michael came down with pneumonia and he died on 19 Oct 1918.

We do not know where PVT Craparotta is buried but we think he was repatriated and re-interred in a Catholic Cemetery near Brooklyn. 

His brother likewise served overseas in the World War.  He was stationed at Camp Hancock, Georgia when he was naturalized in July 1918.