I've a request from Teresa Hirsch (teresahirsch@yahoo.com), a volunteer helping the Cambridge (England) WWII Cemetery with their upcoming 'Faces of Cambridge' tribute. On Memorial Day weekend 2017 they will post photos which they receive next to the person's name on the wall of the missing or grave marker. She is searching for a photo of SSGT Joe Nigro (1921 - 1943) who was killed in WWII and memorialized at Cambridge.
I found some information about this family in the book, "Welch & its People," published in 1985. I understand most of the info for this publication was furnished by family members: Joe's parents had several children, most if not all are WHS grads. They &/or their children eventually moved to the Bluefield area: Papa, Dominick, born in 1892, came here from Italy & operated a shoe repair shop in Welch. He married Antoinette Bovino of Coalwood. They lived on Court St. & were the parents of nine children.
Daughter, Gaetano, was born June 10, 1918. Our hero, son Joe, was born in 1921 & graduated from WHS in 1939. He entered the service in 1942; recd basic training at Shepherd Field in TX & at aeronautical school in Lincoln, Nebraska. July 1943 he was sent to England where he served as top gunner on a B-24 Star Duster. 12/22/43 he was reported missing & later pronounced dead. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Bravery. A second son, Felix, was born in 1924..he also graduated from WHS (1942). He married Beulah Warden, a GHS graduate. They moved to Blfd. where he was foreman of the Commercial Printing Shop. He has a hobby of collecting cloth hats....has over 150! & wears a different one every day. Their son, Joe went to Blfd HS & graduated from Blfd State in 1978. Joe & wife, Jenny, are parents of Joey II. Dominick, born 2/28/32, was head drum major in the WHS band. He graduated in 1950. John, born in 1934 was a 1952 WHS graduate. He worked in the WDN composing room while in h/school & went into the Navy in 1952. He married Dorothy Smith of Iaeger. They are the parents of Marc. In 1937 twins, Frances & Antoinette, were born. Other children include Katie ?, Mrs. John Rash, Mrs, Pete Jacovitch & Mrs. Carl Jones.
-----Maybe one of these names will ring a bell &/or provide a lead to somebody who might have a picture of SSgt Joe Nigro.
