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CNN: World War II veteran Robert Persichitti dies at 102 while traveling to France for D-Day’s 80th anniversary

June 06, 2024 12:49PM
World War II veteran Robert Persichitti dies at 102 while traveling to France for D-Day’s 80th anniversary

By Dakin Andone, CNN
Updated 3:11 PM EDT, Thu June 6, 2024


US Navy veteran Robert Persichitti, seen here in March 2019, passed away while on his way to Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Sgt. Mark Gibson/US Marine Corps


Robert Persichitti, a 102-year-old World War II US Navy veteran, died last week while on his way to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, according to Honor Flight Rochester, a veteran’s organization.

Persichitti was a “wonderful, pleasant, humble guy,” who was “easy know, easy to talk to,” said Honor Flight Rochester President and CEO Richard Stewart, who told CNN he learned of his friend’s death last Friday.

“We miss him,” said Stewart.

While Persichitti passed away bound for Normandy — where the Allied forces’ landing on June 6, 1944, laid the foundation for the defeat of Nazi Germany — he served in the Pacific as a radioman aboard the USS Eldorado, Stewart said. His tour of duty included Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Guam, according to Stewart and the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, into which Persichitti was inducted in 2020.

Persichitti fell ill last week during a stop in Germany while headed for Normandy, Al DeCarlo, a friend who was traveling with Persichitti, told CNN affiliate WHAM. Persichitti was airlifted to the hospital and died soon after, DeCarlo said.

“The doctor was with him. He was not alone, he was at peace and he was comfortable,” DeCarlo said. “She put his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, on her phone and he peacefully left us.”

Persichitti had heart problems in the past, “but for 102, I would say he was in superb health,” Stewart told CNN.

Persichitti was born in a coal mining town outside Pittsburgh, Stewart said, describing his friend Bob’s “humble, poor beginnings.” After the war, Persichitti worked as a carpentry teacher in Rochester, New York, according to the Veterans Hall of Fame, and in 1972 received a degree from SUNY Buffalo.

Persichitti enjoyed traveling and speaking with younger generations about his experiences, often visiting schools to talk with students about World War II, his friend, Pastor William Leone, told WHAM.

“It was a privilege to know him, and I will miss him,” Leone told the station.

Persichitti was one of the few surviving Americans who served in World War II, a population that is rapidly waning. As of 2023, just 119,550 of the 16.4 million who served – less than one percent – were still alive, according to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. At that time, about 131 World War II veterans were dying each day, the museum said.

US President Joe Biden underscored this point Thursday, telling those gathered at this year’s D-Day commemoration in Normandy that it may be the last to involve living veterans. That fact, he said, should push Americans to continue the fight against tyranny.

“We’re not far off from the time when the last living voices of those who fought and bled on D-Day will no longer be with us,” Biden said. “So we have a special obligation. We cannot let what happened here be lost in the silence of the years to come.”

[www.cnn.com]




SubjectAuthorViewsPosted

  June 6th D-day

SeattleRam265June 05, 2024 03:36PM

  Re: June 6th D-day

JamesJM150June 05, 2024 04:41PM

  Agree. Shows respect and most of all...

Ramgator165June 06, 2024 04:00AM

  CNN: World War II veteran Robert Persichitti dies at 102 while traveling to France for D-Day’s 80th anniversary Attachments

MamaRAMa174June 06, 2024 12:49PM

  well thats to bad

IowaRam154June 06, 2024 01:12PM

  I like The Longest Day more than Saving Private Ryan.

Ramgator142June 06, 2024 04:13PM

  Re: I like The Longest Day more than Saving Private Ryan.

SeattleRam115June 06, 2024 04:31PM

  Re: I like The Longest Day more than Saving Private Ryan.

MamaRAMa176June 06, 2024 05:48PM

  A TON of very big name Actors and they played their roles well.

Ramgator163June 07, 2024 03:34AM

  As a film

IowaRam157June 07, 2024 01:50PM

  Red Buttons...That very scene crossed my mind.....

Ramgator146June 07, 2024 05:10PM

  and not a Lead amongst them

IowaRam126June 07, 2024 01:37PM

  Eisenhower in The Longest Day

MamaRAMa155June 07, 2024 02:02PM

  I can get that

IowaRam103June 08, 2024 07:51AM

  My Eisenhower story Attachments

MamaRAMa156June 09, 2024 06:13AM

  great story Mama!

ferragamo7992June 09, 2024 06:40AM

  That is so cool, Mama!

Ramgator128June 09, 2024 09:57AM

  Fantastic story....

JamesJM124June 09, 2024 09:58AM

  that was beautiful nm

Atlantic Ram105June 09, 2024 01:34PM

  did you ever learn how many of those were handed out

IowaRam82June 13, 2024 12:50PM

  Re: did you ever learn how many of those were handed out

MamaRAMa65June 13, 2024 04:25PM

  love that story.....what a memory nm

21Dog75June 15, 2024 04:53AM