The longest serving Danbury Common Council member is being remembered today.  96-year old John Esposito Senior died Monday.  The WWII veteran was also a volunteer fireman with the City. 

Visitation will be held July 18 at 3pm at Green Funeral Home, with a funeral mass July 19 at 10:30am at St. Peter Church in Danbury. 

At 17 he enlisted with the Marines and fought in 4 battles during WWII.  In one battle, State Department of Veteran Affairs Commissioner Tom Saadi says Esposito's unit helped spearhead the beach assault.  At Iwo Jima, in his regiment, one in every three Marines were either killed or wounded, one of the highest casualty rates suffered by the United States military in WWII. 

Esposito was seriously injured by gunfire in the arm and face.  He earned the Purple Heart among other honors for his service.