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Banzai! Banzai!” screamed the Japanese at the top of their lungs as they launched a ferocious night attack against Marines dug in on Guadalcanal. It was October 24, 1942, and the intensity of the Japanese assault in the darkness was terrifying. Through it all, however, Sergeant “Manila John” Basilone—his fellow Marines gave him that nickname becaus...

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To many Americans, the third Sunday in November is typically a regular day. But to American and European Soldiers and Veterans, it is a day to honor the fallen German and Italian Prisoners of War. For nearly four decades, services have been held at the German-Italian Prisoners of War Cemetery to honor the 26 Germans and three Italians buried there....

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The Italian American War Veterans Post 40 in Milford needed some money to repair the building's heating system — so a local nonprofit that supports veterans and their families stepped in to help. The Milford-based nonprofit Thanks To Yanks presented the post with a $500 check that will be put toward the heating system upgrade, founder Michael Shain...

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For many Italian Americans, World War II was a difficult era. The U.S. had declared war on their ancestral home, many were perceived as a national security threat and domestic sentiment towards citizens with Italian heritage was skeptical, at best. Despite all these challenges, more than half a million Italian Americans joined and proudly served in...

1944

The son of Italian immigrants, Lawrence Peter Berra grew up in the historic Italian district of St. Louis known as "The Hill," where he was given the nickname of "Yogi" by a friend, noting his resemblance to a snake charmer seen in a movie of the era. Berra spent countless hours of his youth playing baseball in the sandlots of St. Louis, enjoying t...

1942

While growing up in the Taylor Street neighborhood, Ralph Triggiano dreamed of becoming a photographer. That dream became a reality during World War II, when the Navy trained him to be its eye in the sky over the Pacific. For two years, he took reconnaissance photos of enemy positions from 10,000 feet in the air, helping to turn the tide in the war...

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World War II, the war to end all wars — more than any other event in U.S. history — exhibited the love, loyalty and patriotism Italian Americans held in their hearts for our nation. Italian Americans rushed to enlist to defend the U.S., and more than 1.5 million Italian Americans served in the armed forces during World War II, amounting to some 10%...

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Fox Meadow Road is now symbolically Bocchieri Way, while the intersection of Tremont Avenue and Stelle Avenue bears the name of Pingatore Way, as part of North Brunswick’s veteran street naming program. Salvatore “Sam” J. Bocchieri was born on Dec. 21, 1927, in Newark. He served in the Korean War as a member of the United States Army from 1951-53....

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Michael Tudino led an adventurous life that took him from the small Italian town of Sant'Ambrogio sul Garigliano to the jungles of Brazil, the textile factories of Industrial New England and the front lines of World War 1. On July 13, during a warm summer weekend in Warwick, roots that the man probably never imagined to have planted culminated in a...

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Anthony "Tony" Joseph Cucuzella, 92, passed away July 5th at Lancaster General Hospital. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Theresa Randisi Cucuzella. He was World War II Navy Veteran serving on the USS Benevolent from 1944-1947. He owned his own barber shop until the time he passed away. He was a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus...

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