Caradino G. DiGregorio, 85 WWII vet

Caradino "Carl" G. DiGregorio, 85, of Springfield, Delaware County, a World War II veteran and a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 in Fort Washington, died June 29 at Delaware County Memorial Hospital of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Born in West Philadelphia, Mr. DiGregorio was raised in a "small, tight-knit Italian neighborhood" on 49th Street, his oldest son, Carl, said. Mr. DiGregorio was the third of 13 siblings, and in order to help support his family, he left high school to work at Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, where he built steam trains.

He attended Overbrook High School before receiving his GED in 1941 while in the Army Air Corps. As a sergeant engineer during World War II, he flew 35 successful missions in the 100th Bomb Squadron B-17 plane "Andy's Dandy," and was later awarded the Purple Heart.

"There was one mission where they were hit by some flak, and the nose gunner and the bombardier were hit," his son said. "When my father got down there, he saved one of the wounded men whose oxygen mask had fallen off."

Mr. DiGregorio and his wife of 58 years, Phyllis, met at a dance in 1947.

A member of Local 542, he worked on assignment at the Gulf Oil refinery in Philadelphia for 30 years as a heavy-equipment operator. He retired in 1982.

While shopping for groceries at Acme, Mr. DiGregorio and his wife won two tickets to the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans as part of a promotional sweepstakes. Mr. DiGregorio could not go for health reasons, but gave the tickets to his sons, Carl and Joseph.

In addition to his wife and sons, he is survived by daughters Carol Spina and Janet Palladino; four brothers and two sisters; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Holy Cross Church, Bishop and Springfield Roads, Springfield. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1615 West Chester Pike, Suite 102, West Chester, Pa. 19382.