ITALIAN AMERICANS IN U.S. MILITARY HISTORY

From the Revolutionary War through modern times, Italian Americans have fought to protect the United States.

During the American Revolution, three Italian regiments totaling 1,500 men assisted the colonists. Also, Italian names are found on the rolls of colonial American regiments.

An estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Italians fought in the American Civil War for both the North and the South. The exact number is not known since many names were Americanized.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, who led Italy to unification in 1861, was offered a command as Major General in the Union Army by President Lincoln. Garibaldi declined, but to honor him, the 39th New York Infantry was known as the Garibaldi Guard. About 150 of its 850 men were Italian. It fought in the Union Army from Bull Run to Appomattox.

More than 100 Italian Americans served as officers in the Union forces during the Civil War including 4 generals; 2 naval commanders; 11 naval officers; 9 colonels and lieutenant colonels; and 28 majors and captains. The exact number is unknown because of the Americanization of Italian surnames and mixed marriages.

Four Italian Americans became generals during or following their Civil War service: Luigi Palma di Cesnola; Enrico Fardella; Eduardo Ferrero; and Francis Spinola. Gen. Ferrero of the 51^st N.Y. Regiment, was among the first Union officers to command black troops. Col. di Cesnola, commander of the 4^th NY Cavalry, received the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor. It was awarded in 1897.

Among the handful of survivors of the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 were four Italian Americans: Lieutenant Charles De Rudio, and enlisted men Augusto De Voto, Giovanni Casella (listed as "John James") and John Martin, (born "Giovanni Martini")

Giovanni Martini was the last man to see Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer alive. At the battle of the Little Big Horn, Custer had divided his command into three segments, one under Major Marcus Reno, a second consisting of a small reserve force and the pack train under Captain Frederick Benteen and the final one under his own command. When Custer realized the strength of the enemy forces he set orders to Captain Benteen to bring up more ammunition via Martini. Adjutant Lt. W. W. Cooke, uneasy about Martini's poor English, hastily wrote the order down, and handed it to the courier. It read:

Benteen
Come on. Big Village.
Be quick. Bring packs.
W. W. Cooke
P.S. Bring Packs

In carrying this message to Benteen, Martini’s life was spared. He lived until December 29, 1922 when died in Brooklyn, New York.

Bancroft Gerardi was the first Italian American to attain the rank of U.S. Admiral. He and Louis Sartori were U.S. naval commodores during the U.S.-Mexican War.

Over 300,000 Italian Americans, including 87,000 Italian nationals, served in the U.S. military during World War I. Among them was Lieutenant Fiorello La Guardia, one of the first soldiers in the new U.S. Army Air Service, the forerunner of the Air Force.

Among the first U.S. casualties in World War I was John Eopolucci, an Navy guard, who perished after his steamer, "Aztec" was torpedoed near France on April 1, 1917.

The first Italian American to receive the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor was Luigi Palma di Cesnola, a Union general in the Civil War, who later became the first director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

At least 39 Italian Americans have received the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award given by the U.S. government for bravery "above and beyond the call of duty:" six in the Civil War; two in the Indian War; one for the Spanish-American War; one for the China Boxer Rebellion; one during peacetime service (1889-1911); one in World War I; fourteen for World War II; three for the Korean Conflict; and ten in the Vietnam War.

More than 1. 5 million Italian Americans served in World War II, according to the late Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. In a speech to the Italian American War Veterans of America August 25, 1961, Rockefeller said that Italian Americans constituted "more than 10 percent of the might of the American forces in World War II.

World War I

Michael Valente

Rank and organization: Private, United States Army, Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division

Date and place of action: 29 September 1918, east of Ronssoy, France

Entered service at: Ogdensburg, New York

Date and place of birth: 5 February 1895, Cassino, Italy

(5 February 1895 (Cassino, Italy) - 10 January 1976) was a soldier in the U.S. Army who served in World War I. He received the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions in France on 29 September 1918.

Valente died at age 80 and is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy during the operations against the Hindenburg line, east of Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918. Finding the advance of his organization held up by a withering enemy machinegun fire, Pvt. Valente volunteered to go forward. With utter disregard of his own personal danger, accompanied by another soldier, Pvt. Valente rushed forward through an intense machinegun fire directly upon the enemy nest, killing 2 and capturing 5 of the enemy and silencing the gun. Discovering another machinegun nest close by which was pouring a deadly fire on the American forces, preventing their advance, Pvt. Valente and his companion charged upon this strong point, killing the gunner and putting this machine gun out of action. Without hesitation they jumped into the enemy's trench, killed 2 and captured 16 German soldiers. Pvt. Valente was later wounded and sent to the rear.

Vietnam War

Vincent R. Capodanno

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, United States Navy, Chaplain Corps, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF

Date and place of action: 4 September 1967, Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Staten Island, New York

Date and place of birth: 13 February 1929, Staten Island, New York Vincent Robert CapodannoVincent Robert Capodanno (13 February 1929 - 4 September 1967) was a United States Navy chaplain and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor - for actions during the Vietnam War.

Vincent Capodanno was born in Staten Island, New York, on 13 February 1929. He was educated at Fordham University for a year before entering the Maryknoll Missionary seminary in New York. Ordained a Catholic priest in June 1957, he served as a missionary in Taiwan and Hong Kong from 1958 to 1965. In December 1965, Father Capodanno received his commission as a Lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps. He was assigned to the First Marine Division in Vietnam in April 1966. While serving as Chaplain with the Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, during combat with enemy forces in Quang Tin Province on 4 September 1967, he lost his life as he provided assistance and comfort to Marine casualties. For his actions on that occasion, Lieutenant Vincent R. Capodanno was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His body was recovered and interred in his family's plot in Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York. On May 19, 2002, Capodanno's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, and so he is now referred to as a Servant of God.

The USS Capodanno (FF-1093) was named in honor of Lieutenant Capodanno.

Medal of Honor citation

Father Capodanno's official Medal of Honor citation is as follows:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, in connection with operations against enemy forces. In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lt. Capodanno left the relative safety of the company command post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsmen to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant Marines. Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately 15 yards away, Lt. Capodanno rushed a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine gun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, Lt. Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom."

Note: All information above was obtained from several sources including: http://www.niaf.org/research/contribution.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Italian_American_Medal_of_Honor_recipients