Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Sgt. Nick Matassini
March 21, 1911 • December 7, 1944
— He gave his all for his country —
War Dept. Records:
"Sgt. Nick Matassini Co. H. 357 Inf. was instantly killed in action Dec. 7, 1944 while leading his machine gun squad on German positions when his regiment established a bridgehead east bank of Saar River in the vicinity of Pachten, Germany."
(Right face:)
son of
Pasquale & Francesca Matassini
Born
Tampa, Florida
Died
Pachten, Germany
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is December 7, 1944.
Location. 27° 58.313′ N, 82° 25.897′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker can be reached from North 26th Street south of East 23rd Avenue, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located in the L’Unione Italiana Cemetery, in Tampa's Jackson Heights neighborhood. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33605, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ossuarium Memoriale (within shouting distance of this marker); Il Cimitero Dell’Unione Italiana (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); College Hill Cemetery (about 400 feet away); Florida Sentinel Bulletin (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Benedict the Moor School (approx. half a mile away); Giunta Homestead and Farm (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cyrus Greene Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Our Lady of Perpetual Help (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
More about this marker. The marker is part of the funerary memorial at the subject's grave. The monument is constructed of marble and/or granite, featuring a ceramic photo of Sgt. Matassini. Above it is a large sculpture of a priest holding a young child in one hand and a large stem with flowers in the other. Regrettably, vandals have broken the heads off both figures, along with the boy's right hand. Behind the sculpture stands a large spire towering approximately ten feet. The rectangular plot's borders are clearly laid out in stone. A paved entrance extends outside the border, including a stone upon which is engraved "Matassini".
Regarding Sgt. Nick Matassini. Sgt. Matassini is buried at L’Unione Italiana Cemetery, the private cemetery established by the Italian Club of Tampa for the use of its members and their families.
The club erected a WWII Memorial inside the cemetery, the "Ossuarium Memoriale". The memorial honors twelve servicemen from the club who died in the war. For reasons not apparent, Sgt. Matassini's name does not appear on the memorial.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 856 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 5, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.