MAJOR (Ret) EDWARD T. DAMASO Jr. (M6746) was a Life member of Chapter 48, SFA. Died peacefully, at age 87, on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center, Providence with his family at his side.
Born in Providence to Edward T. Damaso Sr. and Louise (Laurienzo) Damaso, he was the beloved husband of Susan J. (Ettlinger) Eastwood Damaso and of the late Joanne M. (Martell) Damaso. Father of Debra L. Northcutt & her husband Andrew and his late infant son Michael Thomas Damaso. "Poppy" to three granddaughters: Cristina Hendrickson (husband Matthew), Jessica Alton (husband Samuel) and Alissa Northcutt and "G-Pops" to four great grandchildren: Andrew, William & Edward Hendrickson and Abigail Alton.
Ed served nearly 24 years in the US Army including over 20 years of active duty. He served almost 8 years overseas during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and retired on June 30, 1972. He graduated from the US Army Infantry Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1959. He completed the Basic Airborne Course in 1961. He was a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division as well as the US Army Special Forces. He served as Adjutant - Company C, 5th SFG 1967 – 1968 in Vietnam.
His military decorations included a Bronze Star (1 OLC Combat Infantryman Badge; the Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC); a Parachute Badge; a Korean Service Medal; a UN Service Medal; a National Defense Service Medal (1 OLC); a Vietnam Service Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry both awarded by the South Vietnamese Government; Vietnam Jump Wings; a Meritorious Unit Citation and an Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
His funeral service was conducted at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home, 659 East Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI on 25 February 2020. Burial with military honors took place at the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
