Ortt, Morinello meet with WWII vet, NYS Senate Veterans Hall of Fame inductee George Morreale

Submitted by the Office of New York State Sen. Rob Ortt

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Angelo Morinello met with Senate Veteran Hall of Fame inductee George Morreale.

Morreale was unable to attend the Senate Hall of Fame ceremony in Albany this past May, so Ortt and Morinello wanted to ensure he received an American flag that flew over the capitol building, a plaque with his biography, and to formally congratulate him on being inducted into the prestigious program.

“It’s an honor and privilege to meet with George – a decorated combat veteran from the Battle of the Bulge,” Ortt said. “His story is inspirational and one of bravery, sacrifice and grit – exemplifying the many reasons we refer to George and his peers as ‘The Greatest Generation.’ I’m proud to be able to choose veterans from Senate District 62 like George to highlight during this program, and enshrine his story into New York State history.”

“George Morreale is not only an American hero, but he is also someone I have had the privilege of knowing personally for many years,” Morinello said. “His story is one of courage, sacrifice and service. At just 19 years old, George faced unimaginable conditions during some of the fiercest fighting of World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge. Yet after returning home, he continued serving his community as a dedicated public servant and family man. George represents the very best of ‘The Greatest Generation,’ and it is an honor to see his service recognized through the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.”

A decorated combat veteran of World War II, Army Sgt. Morreale was drafted before he could even finish high school. In November 1944, he was stepping off a ship in Scotland, where shortly after he’d make his way across the English Channel to France. On Dec. 7, his 19th birthday, he and members of his unit began battling Germans.

As part of the 87th Infantry Division, 3rd Army, Morreale would soon go on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, where he’d find himself positioned in a two-man foxhole for seven days and seven nights. Morreale recalled they had to lie still during the day, or German tanks would open fire wherever they spotted movement. Food came in the form of K-rations after nightfall by men who crawled through the battlefield from foxhole to foxhole. Water came from eating snow, which was plentiful during what was one of the coldest, harshest winters on record at the time.

Relief came on a sunny Dec. 23 with the thunderous sound of American fighter planes taking out the German tanks and forcing a retreat. When Morreale finally got up, he realized his feet had been badly frost bitten. So bad, in fact, he had to be taken off of the battlefield and sent to a hospital in Paris where he was later told he’d be heading home.

Shortly after arriving home, the war came to an end and Morreale went back to finish high school at Trott Vocational School where he focused on becoming a draftsman.

He married the former Margaret Suhansky with whom he shares three children and seven grandchildren. Morreale is a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls – where he was employed as the city’s civil engineer, then became director of public works.

This past year, Morreale celebrated his 100th birthday.