Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

United States of America, Humane Society of Massachusetts, 5th type, small bronze medal, 38mm, the reverse engraved ‘Leonard Paradiso for Bravery in Saving Life at Boston June 17, 1953’ with integral bronze bar suspension, lacking riband, small dig to reverse field, very fine £70-90

Provenance: Buckland, Dix & Wood, October 1993.

Leonard Paradiso was awarded the Humane Society of Massachusetts bronze medal for saving the life of Salvatore Lovasco from drowning in Boston Harbor on 17 June 1953: ‘An 8 year old boy was saved from drowning in Boston Harbor near Commercial Street, North End, by a 10 year old companion who dived into the water and pulled him to safety shortly after 6 o’clock last night. Salvatore Lovasco was taken to City Hospital where he was held for treatment for immersion. Police said Salvatore lost his balance while walking a plank near the Boston Sand and Gravel Company wharf at 528 Commercial Street, and toppled into 15 feet of water. Another companion summoned police while Leonard Paradiso of 107 Prince Street, North End, jumped into the water and pulled him over to some pilings. Salvatore is a second grade pupil and the Paradiso boy is in the third grade of the Paul Revere School, North End.’ (Boston Globe, 18 June 1953 refers).

Sold together with a copy newspaper cutting from the Boston Globe, which contains photographs of both boys.