Addabbo honors 99-year old constituent with induction into State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame

On Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day, State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. honored the life and sacrifices of a local veteran by inducting him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

Addabbo presented Ermondo “Butch” Puccio — a 99-year-old Queens native — with the honor for serving in World War II.

“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to present Butch with this plaque and to thank him for his years of service to our country,” Addabbo, a member of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, said. “There are not too many of our World War II veterans left, so it meant a lot to recognize Ermondo for his service time during the world’s greatest conflict.”

Puccio was born on April 15, 1921, in Queens, and at the age of 21 he enlisted as a Private in the United States Army and completed his basic training at Camp Davis in North Carolina. Before being deployed to California in 1943, Puccio married his wife Jennie, and on August 28, 2020, they celebrated their 77^th wedding anniversary.

During his years in service, Puccio spent time in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. While in combat, a .50 caliber machine gun fell on Puccio, injuring him. In January 1946, Puccio returned to the United States, and on February 2, 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Army, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant.

“Our veterans give up so much, including time at home with their families, while some make the ultimate sacrifice and lay down their lives for our country,” Addabbo concluded. “It is a great feeling to be able to give back to our veterans, and this induction into the NYS Veterans Hall of Fame for Butch is one small way that I can help honor a great soldier, especially on Veterans Day.”