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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As a Navy Seabee, Anthony Pucillo helped create housing and infrastructure for installations throughout the Pacific after the Korean War. The oldest of three sons, Anthony Pucillo was born in Chicago to Ernest and Theresa (FioRito) Pucillo. The family lived in the Jane Adams Projects on Taylor Street until Pucillo was 5 years old. “We moved around quite a bit,” […]
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Renowned for the powerful bond he forged with the Marines under his stewardship, the Rev. Vincent Capodanno earned the Medal of Honor while willingly sacrificing his life during the Vietnam War. The Rev. Vincent Robert Capodanno was not your typical war hero. He never fired a shot — in fact he never even carried a weapon. However, his undisputed bravery […]
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After doing three tours of duty during a four-year enlistment with the Air Force, Billy Castellano trained Afghan police as a consultant for the U.S. Department of State. William “Billy” Castellano grew up in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago. The youngest of six children, his father was a Chicago police officer and his mother worked in property management. Being “raised […]
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A member of an Army regiment known as the Wolfhounds in Vietnam, Anthony Langone spent 30 days under siege in the jungle during the Battle of Boi Loi Woods. The oldest of four sons born to Louis and Betty Langone, Tony Langone was raised in the Little Italy surrounding Taylor Street, where he still lives today. He attended Our Lady […]
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Serving in the Navy at the close of World War II, Vince DiCarlo watched from a transport ship 10 miles away during the first atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. The fifth of six children, Roger Vincent DiCarlo was born in 1927 in his parents’ home at 1121 S. Morgan St. His father, Settimio (Sam), and mother, Lucia (Zarlenga), were […]
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Mere months before full-scale battles raged across Vietnam, Paul Calabrese engaged in deadly skirmishes in the jungles around his base camps to ward off enemy incursion. The oldest of four sons, Paul Calabrese was born in Chicago to Joseph and Betty (Spindler) Calabrese. They lived in a family-owned six-flat on the West Side of Chicago until moving to Oak Park […]
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A specialist in small-arms repair, Anthony Iovinelli kept his 36-man unit armed and ready while stationed on Guadalcanal. The second of four children born to Joe and Ida Iovinelli, Anthony Iovinelli was born in 1920 and grew up in the Taylor Street Italian enclave near Peanut Park. His father emigrated from Naples and traveled alone to Chicago as a young […]
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Persuaded by a smooth-talking recruiter to join the Marines during the height of the Vietnam War, Giovanni Insolia survived an endless round of helicopter assaults and enemy ambushes as a member of the ill-fated Foxtrot Company. Giovanni Insolia grew up in Solarino, a small Sicilian town in the province of Siracusa. One of six children born to Paolo and Sebastiana […]
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