Two Albany County residents were involved in an ambush in World War II 80 years ago.

Jimmy Scalzo of Watervliet was a combat engineer and a member of the Fifth Armored Division. Scalzo and seven other guys were sent on Sept. 16, 1944 to scout an area where German soldiers had taken up position near a farmhouse.

Scalzo was driving one of two Jeeps when they saw a German soldier. After that soldier ignored commands to surrender, he ran back into the house and then they heard a ping and another ping. They were under fire.

Scalzo managed to back the Jeep 300 yards to a place where three other soldiers could escape and get help. He convinced officers that they needed to send tanks and riflemen right away. 

Those rescuing soldiers saved lives, at the risk of losing their own.

Scalzo won a Bronze Star for his action.

At least one of the rescuers, John Greschiak, was killed.

Scalzo’s nephew, Peter Clouse, and later great-nephew Zach Clouse, wanted to know more about that story. Their tireless research tracked down Greschiak’s family in Albany.

Learn more about what led to the two families meeting, by watching the video of Mark Mulholland’s story.