Jackie Joseph Causa Jr.

Jack's family was {Sicilian} from Parco, Palermo. In 1930 the town of "Parco" was changed to "Altofonte." The Causa family lived in a village called Villa Franca.

Margherita Santangelo (Jack's mother) was living in Belmonte, Palermo. She was born in April 1886. Gioacchino (Jack) Causa (Jack's father) was born January 27, 1884 in Parco, Palermo {Villa Franca.}

Margherita and Gioacchino Causa were married Dec 22, 1907. Nita (Jack's oldest sister) was born 10 days later on January 1, 1908. Gioacchino Causa came to America and arrived at the port of New York May 29, 1909. He was sailing on a ship called the "Virginia" from the Port of Naples. Margherita's father Giacomo, her younger brother, age 9, was traveling with Gioacchino on this voyage.

Margherita and Nita followed Gioacchino to America five years later, arriving at the port of New York October 26, 1914. She was sailing on the "Duca degli Abruzzi" from the Port of Palermo. She was heading to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to join her husband.

Jack's mother's parents, his grandparents, names were Giacomo Santangelo and Nicoletta Lena. Jack's father's parents, his grandparents, names were Luca Causa and Benedetta Lucia. All were farmers except Margherita's father Giacomo who was a Butcher.

Jackie J. Causa, Jr. was born on January 23, 1915 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

He entered the U.S. Army in Brownsville, Texas on May 26, 1936, and retired on June 30, 1960 at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

When Jack entered the military he was living and working in Galveston Texas. It had been a long journey for him leaving home a young boy during the Depression. Learning to be on his own, to find jobs when jobs were hard to find, life was hard. He met up with these two brothers. The three were talking and decided to go to the recruiting office and sign up for the Army together. The two brothers were shipped out, Jack was delayed. The Army sent Jack to wait in a hotel in Houston until they located his birth record. Jack was disappointed the two brothers were not with him. The three had planned to be together. He never saw the two brothers again.

The Army put Jack on a train and on this journey he didn't know where he was going until the train pulled into the depot in Brownsville, Texas. Along the ride his thoughts took him to a time in his young life when he never dreamed he would leave his home and couldn't believe he had joined the Army.

Arriving at Fort Brown his new home was at the 80#94 Head Quarters with the 12th Calvary. Jack was having the time of his life. He enjoyed his experience with the 12th Calvary. He had been assigned a horse named Prince. Along with the horse came 106 items. Jack wore a pistol and a Saber on his belt. Carrying a riffle he learned to shoot from both sides of the horse while sitting in the saddle. While shooting at targets he would take the clip from his riffle, open the bottom on his bosom, throw the clip in and reload. Guiding the horse and changing weapons without missing a shot.

They went into the foot hills of Texas and rounded up wild horses. Once the horses were tamed they were branded 71-P.

Leaving Fort Brown May 1939, Jack traveled to New York to visit his family. He hadn't seen his family for many years and had felt out of place. During the visit with his family Jack decided to go back to the Army. He found the recruiting office on Whithall Street in New York. He left from the port of New York in June 1936 on the U.S. Republic. The Republic was on her way to Hawaii. Jack was stationed in Honolulu at Fort Shafer. His living quarters were at Scolfield Barracks. He attended cooking school at Armstrong Bakery. Leaving Hawaii Dec 2 1941 his ship had been at sea five days when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He had made it to Arizona when the Army caught up to him and sent him back to Hawaii. Leaving Hawaii with his fellow troops, setting sail to Italy. Where they bombed Messina and moved on to Rome. One of his jobs during the war was, burying land mines in the hills so no one could get to the underground fort housing Eisenhower.

Campaigns included:

C PACIFIC TH 14 SEPT 39

EUROPEAN TH 6 SEPT 42

AFRICAN TH 8 NOV 42

US 14 MARCH 45

Korean War

Ending his service at Fort EUSTIS, VIRGINIA.

Jack received the following awards: Korean Service Metal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Marksman (Carbine), 2 Bronze Campaign Stars, Good Conduct Medal and Bronze Clasp w/ 4 Loops, Purple Heart

Jack was wounded in Leghorn Italy on July 19, 1944 and received the "Purple Heart."

Throughout his life he found joy in helping others. His hobbies and interests included cooking, fishing, and taking care of family and friends.

Preceding him in rest are his wife, Ann Hodges Causa; sons, Michael Causa and Jackie Causa III; brother, Luke Causa; sisters, Nita Cougot, Maria Demarco, and Angelina Richter.

Surviving members of his family include his former wives Louise Hewett and Frances Ann Walker Upton; his daughters, Terry Bommarito and husband Tom of O'Fallon, MO, Sue Burk and husband James of Troy, MO, Margaret Lorenzino and husband Mark of Bassett, VA, Trish Ferraro and husband Nick, Kathy Cutler and husband Glenn, Melinda Wales and husband Mark, Jessica Burke and husband J all of Hampton, VA, and Janet Evans and husband Ronnie of Poquoson, VA; sons, Sam Causa of Ridgeway, VA, and Alan Causa and wife Beverly of Griswald, CT; 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Jackie Causa was laid to rest on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at Franklin Memorial Park, 215 Franklin Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151, Lot 218-A

Graves Three and Four, Block “Garden of Love” Section Five.

Memorials Available At: www.causafamily.com, www.causaferraro.com or www.MeM.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foodbank of the Peninsula, 9912 Hosier Street, Newport News VA 23601.