Theodore Antonelli
Major General, U.S. Army

Theodore Antonelli was born on 6 January 1920 in New Haven, CT. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1941 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army.

In World War II, he was a Platoon Leader and Company Commander in the First Infantry Division and was wounded in the North African campaign. When he recovered, he served in Italy and took part in the landings at Salerno and Anzio.

In the post war years, General Antonelli received a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and graduated from the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Army Transportation School.

His later career was in the Army Transportation Corps. He served at bases in the U.S. and in Korea, Germany and Greenland. He also served in the Vietnam War. He had several assignments in Washington, DC, including Director of Distribution and Transportation with the Army Materiel Command. Major General Antonelli was Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces when he retired from the Army in 1978.

Medals and Awards

Silver Star Medal (2 Awards)
Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal (3 Awards)

Badges

Combat Infantryman Badge

In Retirement 

After retiring from the Army, he was a consultant to government and industry in the field of logistics. He was a member of the board of directors and a vice president of the National Defense Executive Reserve and of the Society of the First Division, a director of the Association of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and a member of the Army Transportation Corps History Advisory Committee.

Death and Burial

Major General Theodore Antonelli died of cardiac arrest on 19 November 1993 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He had cancer. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Margaret Smith Antonelli of Alexandria; a son, William M. Antonelli of Burke, VA; two sisters, Gilda Antonelli of Albuquerque and Phyllis Pulos of Los Alamos, NM; and two grandchildren.