John Edward Sartor Jr.
T/5 in 603rd Engineer Camouflage Bn : HQ & Service Co
Military occupational specialty: 345 (Truck driver, light)
ASN#32976958
Born 1924 in NY, Died 1976
County of residence at enlistment: Kings County, NY
Other residence(s): Brooklyn, NY; New Hyde Park, NY
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor
John Sartor was born on August 21, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY, the middle of five children. His father was a driver for an "express" company; this ended up being a family business by the time John and his brothers came of age.
John grew up in Brooklyn and, after he graduated from high school, went to work for his father. He registered for the draft on December 15, 1942 and enlisted on June 30, 1943. In his enlistment registration his occupation was listed in the category of "semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor."
He was eventually assigned to the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion, and saw service in Europe during the war. Sadly, his father died a couple of months before his November 17, 1945 discharge from the Army with the rank of T/5.
John married Eleanore Jamison on June 19, 1948; they would go on to become the parents of twin children: Michele and Michael.
John and his brothers took over as owners of Sartor's Express, the family trucking business, and John was a member of the Teamsters Union. According to his daughter, Michele, John was very mechanical and enjoyed working on trucks and cars. He also was handy around the house—creating a playroom in the basement of the home in New Hyde Park, NY in which they lived.
Michele says that John's children were his hobbies. "He worked six days a week. On his day off he always did something with his kids—ice skating, bowling, and fishing."
John died too early, on August 3, 1976; he was only 51. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.
Sources:
1924 birth record
1930 census
1940 census
1942 draft card
1943 enlistment record
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/916583:8939?ssrc=pt&tid=90846192&pid=382315849733
1948 marriage license
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44832:61406?ssrc=pt&tid=90846192&pid=382315849733
1976 US Veterans' Gravesites
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2692156:8750?ssrc=pt&tid=90846192&pid=382315849733
1976 VA death record
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9429506:2441?ssrc=pt&tid=90846192&pid=382315849733
1976 Find a Grave record
1976 Social Security death index
2024 (May 21) GALP Veteran Biography Worksheet from daughter Michele Sartor