As a member of the 34th Infantry Division during World War II, he battled his way up the peninsula where his father was born. One of five children, Ferdinand Prestia was born in 1921 to Peter and Jenny (Tavolina). His father immigrated to Chicago from Marsala, Italy, by himself when he was 17 years old. The family moved several times […]
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Assigned to Plane Captain School after boot camp during the Korean War, his dream of entering the medical field came true when he transferred to Hospital Corps School. The oldest of two children, Richard Morbidoni was born at Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago. His parents, Alfredo Flora (Ricci), were both born in Castelfidardo, Italy, the accordion capital of the world. […]
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After guarding the Korean DMZ for most of his tour of duty in the Army during the Vietnam War, Luco Clarizio watched over fallen soldiers returning to the States, escorting their caskets from the airport to the cemetery. The oldest of two sons born to Dominick and Mary (Viola) Clarizio, Luco was brought into this world by his maternal grandmother […]
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Stationed in Germany more than a decade after World War II, Guy Cardarelli witnessed firsthand the lingering devastation wrought by fierce Allied bombing. Guy Cardarelli and his twin sister, Judy Ann, were born in Chicago in 1935 to Guido and Marie Mele Cardarelli. They lived behind the family grocery store/meat market on 5th Street and Kedzie Avenue. Cardarelli’s father immigrated […]
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An electronics specialist for the Air Force at the tail end of World War II, Dominick Gobbo also did a 21-month tour of duty as an aircraft operator in Korea. Editor’s Note: Ralph passed away March 2017. This article was published in the April 2016 issue of Fra Noi and is being republished here in his memory. The youngest of […]
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While stationed in Italy at the end of his military career, Retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Ruffolo helped an RAF officer find the grave of a grandfather who gave his life while storming Monte Cassino during World War II. Prior to my retirement from the U.S. Army, my last military assignment was to the United States Diplomatic Mission to Italy […]
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After a stint with the Air Transport Command Band, Arturo Del Monaco flew countless supply missions in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. The second of five sons, Arturo Del Monaco was born at home in an Italian neighborhood on Lake Street in Chicago. When Del Monaco was 4 years old, his father was killed in a hit-and-run car […]
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Trained in heavy artillery, Ralph DeBartolo switched from the smaller 105 howitzer to the massive 8-inch howitzer, targeting the enemy as far as eight miles away. Editor’s Note: Ralph passed away in January 2021. This article was published in the November 2016 issue of Fra Noi and is being republished here in his memory. The oldest of six children, Ralph […]
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Drafted into the Army right out of high school, Tony Figlioli fought his way across Europe, earning five Battle Stars, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star along the way. The oldest of two boys, Tony Figlioli was born in Marsala, Sicily, in 1924. His father, Vito, came to the United States at the age of 17, fought in World […]
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A Marine Guard in Europe after World War II, Joe Priola had the time of his life while serving his country. This is a war story where no one gets hurt: Goodwill and humor are the weapons of choice. My first cousin Joe Priola was in the Marines at the tail end of World War II and a bit thereafter. […]
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