- Patchogue Advance, 30 Mar 1944.
Sgt. A. J. Iarocci Dies in Action, Report from Italy
N. Bellporter Ran "Better Ole" in Brookhaven
Also at Bellport Country Club—"All Right" Message Late
Staff Sgt. Anthony J. "Tony" Iarocci, age 31, former proprietor of The Better 'Ole, Brookhaven restaurant, has been killed in action in Italy, the War department reports in a telegram received at 11 p.m. Saturday by his mother, Mrs. Josephine Iarocci of North Bellport, mother of six sons in military service.
Less than 15 minutes after the telegram had been received, a telephone call was received at the Iarocci home from a merchant marine sailor, just arrived in New York, who said he was fulfilling a promise made late last month to Sergeant Inrocci, who had said, "When you get to New York, please phone my mother and tell her I'm all right."
The telephone caller, whose name was not gotten because of the excitement wrought by the telegram, was greatly shocked when told the news of Sergeant Iarocci's death.
Sergeant Iarocci, who had been on the Anzio beachhead in Italy, met his death on March 1, "in action in the defense of his country," the War department telegram stated. In a letter dated March 1, that was probably the last one he wrote, received about two weeks ago by his mother, Sergeant Iarocci expressed the hope of getting a furlough within a few months, during which he could come home.
Sergeant Iarocci, who was unmarried, was born in New Rochelle, but spent most of his life in North Bellport. He attended the Bellport public schools, and on leaving school, was engaged in the landscaping business, assisting his late father, Martin Iarocci, Sr.
Afterward, he became bartender in the Bellport Country club, and held similar jobs in other parts of the county before becoming proprietor of the Better 'Ole, which he operated for four years.
He joined the Army on April 8, 1942. He was sent overseas with an Army engineers unit in January 1943.
Immediately before his induction, he had the dining room and grill concession of the Bellport Country club, where he served as steward.
The Iarocci family has one of Suffolk county's outstanding military service records. Mrs. Iaocci's other sons, all in the Army, are Sgt. Joseph Iaocci, 44, who is in Hawaii; Sgt. Nicholas Iarocci, 38, in Florida; Pvt. Martin Iarocci, 28, at Fort Belvoir, Va.; Pvt. Michael Iarocci, 26, in New York, and Sgt. Thomas Iarocci, 24, at Camp Shelby, Miss.
Mrs. Iarocci also has three daughters, two of whom are married to men in military service, and the third is the wife of a veteran of World War I. They are Mrs. Lawrence Musso of North Bellport, whose husband is a seaman, second class, aboard the U.S.S. Bunker Hill; Mrs. Thomas Brienza of North Bellport, whose husband is an Army private stationed at Narragansett pier, R. I., and Mrs. Anthony Citarella of Patchogue, whose husband served in the first World war.
Mrs. Iarocci, who was twice a widow, also has one son by a former marriage, John F. D'Ambrosio of North Bellport.
A high mass for Sergeant Iarocci will be offered at 9 a.m. tomorrow in St. Joseph R. C. church, Hagerman.
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