by Joe Reinschmidt
Louis Agosto at his kitchen table with mementoes of his military service. Left, the Purple Heart; center, telegram his parents received; right, the Bronze Star.Louis Agosto of Chili is one of the many WWII veterans who are just now receiving medals they earned about 70 years ago. He was born, grew up and schooled in East Rochester, the son of an Italian father who immigrated here in 1905. His father worked at the “car shops” in East Rochester repairing and rebuilding railroad box cars. During this writer’s conversation with him, Louis was happy to learn that the pig pen my parents built was sided with recycled boards removed from box cars at that facility, and it’s still standing.
Louis loved baseball and at 16 tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals at a session in Rochester. He was told to come back next year. Next year never came for that. At 18, still in his senior year, he was drafted into the Army, trained and assigned to General Patton’s army which was on the offensive and making daily gains until the German army mounted the counteroffensive which became the “Battle of the Bulge.” Suddenly they were bombarded by thousands of shells, one of which struck near his squad, wounding most of them. As he lay there looking at a bleeding, motionless leg he called for their medic, who responded from his nearby position that he couldn’t move since both of his legs had been struck. About a half hour later a jeep and medic drove up, loaded him in and took him to a field hospital where immediate aid was given along with a word from the doctor that “he wouldn’t have to fight anymore.” From there it was off to Belgium and then a military hospital in Paris for some surgery and casting the leg to try and save it. About a month later Louis was transported to a facility in London where he was told amputation of all but six to eight inches of his leg was necessary. The doctor said he would write Louis’s parents to inform them and he did. Louis recalled that the only amputees he had ever seen were men who sat on street corners selling pencils or other stuff. He feared that would be his fate.
While recuperating he was told he would receive the Purple Heart and his parents were also notified. The Bronze Star, however, would come later. Upon his return home, Louis finished high school and entered the College at Brockport, determined to pursue his love of sports as a gym teacher and coach. After a year he was convinced by faculty that a wooden leg would limit his ability to participate and properly demonstrate sports moves. He then entered an Engineering program at R.I.T. and went on to become a construction and inspection engineer for the NYS Office of General Services, a far cry from pedaling pencils. Years after his return to normal life, he experienced some pain and noticed a little bump on one of his buttocks. The VA doctor took a look and said lay still Louie. A quick shot of Novocaine and a sharp scalpel produced a chuck of shrapnel that was then surfacing.
Now Louie had a metal souvenir but he was still waiting for the medal.
Louis married the former Vivian J. Liese, of Ogden, a registered nurse, and they raised five children. He’s very proud to state that they all graduated from college and have good careers.
Louis was involved in a number of community activities such as coaching Little League baseball and American Legion teams. He also volunteered for Spencerport Central School to help students who needed remedial reading and mathematics supplemental programs. His efforts were noted over the years in several other newspaper article in East Rochester and Chili publications.
Like many other veterans, he eventually became aware that the Bronze Star required an application. He completed and submitted that last year and on January 28, 2013 he received a letter acknowledging his application and the determination he was eligible. The medal would be “in the mail.” Early in May he received a bubble wrap envelope, postmarked May 1. In it was the Bronze Star.
Despite his wounds and disappointment in not being able to pursue a career in sports, Louis is very grateful that his father immigrated here and for his life here, especially Vivian, his wife, and their family. Vivian passed away 21 years ago, but life continues for Louis with fond memories of her and the love of his children and grandchildren. At age 87, he still hopes to enjoy that many more years as well as his “new” medal.
