It had been just over two years that the United States had been pulled into World War II by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor when a tall and brawny waiter from Philadelphia named Nicholas Arrigo volunteered for the U.S. Army. Arrigo would first go to Camp Blanding in Florida to train as a rifleman for an infantry unit, later qualifying to become a parachutist in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division by mid-1944. Even though Arrigo would miss the D-Day invasion of mainland Europe, he would see action throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and, finally, Germany. Arrigo fought in battles including the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Market Garden. He was wounded in Germany on Feb. 3, 1945, and received the Purple Heart.
In 1946, Arrigo would return to the U.S. and march down Fifth Avenue in New York City for the WWII Victory Parade. He returned to his civilian life, building a house in Bucks County, owning a restaurant with his wife, and serving as a police officer for over 25 years.
On Saturday, April 22, Alderfer’s in Hatfield, Pa., will auction Nicholas Arrigo’s uniform, jump jacket, and assorted relics. The main grouping of items (his uniforms, books, and German flags) have stories to tell, and some of these stories have been documented by his daughter and will be included with notarized documentation. An example of one of these stories is associated with the large German flag included in the collection. Private Arrigo pulled this flag off of a building in Germany in the winter of 1944/45. Other items that will be offered in the sale include a pistol and swords that Arrigo captured/liberated, as well as a preliminary copy of the International Military Tribunal Charges that would be filed against high ranking German political and military officers for their war crimes.
For more information, call Tim Hollinger at 215-393-3000 or visit www.AlderferAuction.com.