Armato

S/Sgt. Richard C. Armato was the son of Italian immigrants. He was born on January 16, 1912, to Antonia and Dominick Armato. He grew up in Melrose Park, Illinois, and with friends joined the Illinois National Guard as a member of the 33rd Tank Company in Maywood, Illinois.

Before he was inducted into the army in 1940, Richard worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago and lived at 741 North Waller Avenue. When his tank company was called to federal service on November 25, 1940, Richard was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky for training.

At Fort Knox, Richard learned to operate all the equipment that was used by the company. He next went to Camp Polk, Louisiana, to take part in the Louisiana maneuvers of 1941. It was there that the 192nd Tank Battalion was selected for duty in the Philippine Islands.

When news of the overseas assignment given, Richard was given the opportunity to resign from federal service. This was done because he was 29 years old. Since he shipped out with his company, Richard chose to remain in the service.

Richard fought with his company after the Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands. He became a Prisoner of War when the Philippine Islands fell to the Japanese. During this interment, he was selected to be sent to Japan. On July 17, 1944, Richard boarded the Nissyo Maru. The ship sailed and arrived at Moji, Japan on September 4, 1944. From Moji, he was sent to Fukuoka #3. This camp provided slave labor for the Yawata Steel Mills.

The prisoners were given various jobs including cleaning out the debris from the blast furnaces. Since Richard and the other POWs were slave labor, the Japanese saw no reason to allow the ovens to cool before the POWs cleaned them.

After three and a half years as a POW, he was liberated when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. He was discharged, from the army, on June 20, 1946 and returned home to Melrose Park.

Richard later joined a monastery in Wisconsin where he studied to become a Catholic priest. After leaving the monastery, he moved to San Diego, California, and worked as a title searcher for American Title & Insurance.

Richard Armato passed away on August 3, 1985, and is buried at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego. He was 73 years old.