World War II veteran Dominic Giovinazzo, also known as the 'Bazooka man'

Photo: CEBA



A simple lapel pin – this appears to be the only distinction US veteran Dominic Giovinazzo (96) will earn for his feat of bravery in the hard-fought Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

Seventy-four years ago, in the winter of 1944, the 22-year-old Giovinazzo, a soldier in the 26th US Infantry Division, was sent with his fellow soldiers to Luxembourg's northern region of Ösling.

Their objective was to stop Germany's last major offensive campaign on the Western Front, in the frozen, forested hills of the Ardennes.

Soon after Giovinazzo and his division reached the village of Eschdorf on Christmas Eve, they came under heavy artillery fire.

The 88-mm German cannon pounded the Americans relentlessly with the aim of turning back their advance.

For the Americans, the prospects were grim. The US division was facing heavy casualties – one of their tanks was crippled during the shelling. They came to realise their only means of possibly countering the enemy artillery was, in the end, a single bazooka.



“Captain Reed Seely, who commanded the company, chose me as the shooter – I had never before held such a thing in my hands Dominic Giovinazzo

Unfortunately, the fingers of the soldier who was normally in charge of the bazooka were so frostbitten he could not wield the weapon.

So Giovinazzo was ordered to take up the weapon and take out the German cannon.

"Captain Reed Seely, who commanded the company, chose me as the shooter," Giovinazzo recalls in an interview with journalist John Lamberty of the Luxemburger Wort.

"I had never before held such a thing in my hands."

And then, with just a single shot, he silenced the German weapon, while at the same time blowing up one of the enemy's Tiger 1 tanks.

With this shot, Giovinazzo helped open the way to Eschdorf and deliver the village to Allied forces in the following days.

No official recognition

In an article on the Battle of the Bulge Memories website, 1st Lt Sam B Peters, a veteran of the same battle, provides an account of Giovinazzo's actions.

"When we tried to advance, we met a large German force on the reverse slope less than 100 yards away," he writes. "The Germans were well camouflaged in the snow with white capes. They opened up with a murderous rifle and automatic weapons fire".

"Captain Seeley and I were directing troops and a tank along the road. The tank was hit by 88 fire, knocking Captain Seeley to the ground, but not seriously hurt. He was later killed in action.

"The 88 was destroyed by Bazooka man Pfc D Giouanazzo. When the smoke cleared, a previously unseen Tiger Tank trembled nervously for a moment and waddled off down the slope toward Eschdorf and safety. Had he stood in place and fought, we would have been in serious trouble."

Despite this story, Giovinazzo's bravery and feat of arms have never been recognised officially. The US military awards medals only if there are eyewitnesses to confirm a soldier's actions.

"Captain Seely was killed some days after the event," says Giovinazzo's daughter Cindy. "Without witnesses, you cannot be nominated for a Medal of Honour in the United States."

An ordinary GI

But the people of Luxembourg did not forget the 'Bazooka man'.

The late Camille Kohn, former president of the Centre of Studies on the Battle of the Bulge (CEBA), discovered a second mention of Giovinazzo's story in a book published in the Grand Duchy.

Soon after this, Kohn decided to seek out the old veteran.

"Kohn contacted me years ago to ask me to persevere, in order to get official recognition – and we became friends," Giovinazzo says.



“My father never really made a fuss about his military service and rarely made any mention of that moment Cindy Giovinazzo

They never had the chance to meet face to face, however, as Kohn died. But Giovinazzo, at the age of 96, recently decided to come back to Luxembourg and return to the scene of the battle.

As he arrived in Eschdorf with his children Cindy and Tom in September, they were met with a surprise welcome committee.

At the event, on behalf of the US Embassy, public affairs officer Dan Pattarini awarded Giovinazzo a commemorative lapel pin.

Erny Kohn, son of Camille and current president of CEBA, awarded the veteran a medal from his organisation, while Marco Schank, mayor of Eschdorf, made Giovinazzo citizen of honour.

"We had no idea my dad was so important here," Cindy says. "My father never really made a fuss about his military service and rarely made any mention of that moment.

"He simply considered what he had done during World War II the duty of an ordinary GI."



The CEBA

Founded in 1972, the CEBA (Centre d'Etudes sur la Bataille des Ardennes) is dedicated to the study of the Battle of the Bulge.

Among other missions, it provides a common point of contact for all those interested in the battle.

In addition to maintaining military patrimony, it seeks to build connections among World War II veterans.

It also aims to provide teachers, historians and authors with objective information about the Ardennes offensive.

Correction: This article originally stated that US Ambassador Randy Evans awarded Giovinazzo with the lapel pin. It was awarded by public affairs officer Dan Pattarini.