List of Italian-American Medal of Honor recipients

Medal of Honor
Three medals, side by side, consisting of an inverted 5-pointed star hanging from a light blue ribbon with 13 white stars in the center. Left medal has a laurel wreath around the star and an eagle emblem above the star; central medal has an anchor emblem attaching the medal to the ribbon; rightmost medal has a laurel wreath around the star and an emblem with wings, lightning bolts and the word "VALOR" connecting the medal to the ribbon.
All recipients
American Civil War
By surname
  • A–F
  • G–L
  • M–P
  • Q–S
  • T–Z
By battle
Others
Other wars and conflicts
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Post-Vietnam
  • Non-combat
    		•
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    The following is a list of Italian-American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who were awarded the American military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force." The medal is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of the Congress.

    This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

    Medal of Honor

    The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[1]

    Civil War

    Luigi Palma di Cesnola
    Rank and organization: Colonel, 4th New York Cavalry
    Date and place of action: 17 June 1863, Battle of Aldie, Virginia
    Entered service at: New York, New York
    Date and place of birth: 29 June 1832, Rivarola, Piedmont, Italy

    Indian Wars

    George Ferrari
    Rank and organization: Corporal, 8th U.S. Cavalry
    Date and place of action: 23 September 1869, Red Creek, Arizona Territory
    Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio
    Date and place of birth: 1845, New York City, New York

    Spanish–American War

    Frank O. Fournia
    Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry
    Date and place of action: 1 July 1898, Santiago, Cuba
    Entered service at: Plattsburgh, New York
    Date and place of birth: January 1873, Rome, New York

    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

    World War II

    John Basilone
    John Basilone
    Rank and organization: Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
    Date and place of action: 24 and 25 October 1942, Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
    Entered service at: New Jersey
    Date and place of birth: 4 November 1916, Buffalo, New York
    Vito R. Bertoldo
    Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, United States Army, Company A, 242nd Infantry, 42nd Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 9 and 10 January 1945, Hatten, France
    Entered service at: Decatur, Illinois
    Date and place of birth: 1 December 1916, Decatur, Illinois
    Willibald C. Bianchi
    Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, United States Army, 45th Infantry Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts
    Date and place of action: 3 February 1942, near Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands
    Entered service at: New Ulm, Minnesota
    Date and place of birth: New Ulm, Minnesota
    Anthony Casamento
    Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
    Date and place of action: 1 November 1942, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
    Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York
    Date and place of birth: 16 November 1920, Brooklyn, New York
    Ralph Cheli
    Rank and organization: Major, United States Army Air Corps
    Date and place of action: 18 August 1943, near Wewak, New Guinea
    Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York
    Date and place of birth: San Francisco, California
    Joseph J. Cicchetti
    Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company A, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 9 February 1945, south Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands
    Entered service at: Waynesburg, Ohio
    Date and place of birth: Waynesburg, Ohio
    Mike Colalillo
    Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company C, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 7 April 1945, near Untergriesheim, Germany
    Entered service at: Duluth, Minnesota
    Date and place of birth: Hibbing, Minnesota
    Peter J. Dalessondro
    Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, United States Army, Company E, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 22 December 1944, near Kalterherberg, Germany
    Entered service at: Watervliet, New York
    Date and place of birth: 19 May 1918, Watervliet, New York
    Anthony P. Damato
    Anthony P. Damato
    Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps
    Date and place of action: 19 and 20 February 1944, Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands
    Entered service at: Pennsylvania
    Date and place of birth: 28 March 1922, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
    Arthur F. DeFranzo
    Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, 1st Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 10 June 1944, near Vaubadon, France
    Entered service at: Saugus, Massachusetts
    Date and place of birth: Saugus, Massachusetts
    Gino J. Merli
    Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 4 and 5 September 1944, near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium
    Entered service at: Peckville, Pennsylvania
    Date and place of birth: Scranton, Pennsylvania
    Frank J. Petrarca
    Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Medical Detachment, 145th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 27 July 1943, Horseshoe Hill, New Georgia, Solomon Islands
    Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio
    Date and place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio
    Robert M. Viale
    Second Lieutenant, United States Army, Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: 5 February 1945, Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands
    Entered service at: Ukiah, California
    Date and place of birth: Bayside, California

    Korean War

    Reginald B. Desiderio
    Rank and organization: Captain, United States Army, commanding officer, Company E, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: Near Ipsok, Korea, 27 November 1950
    Entered service at: Gilroy, California
    Date and place of birth: 12 September 1918, Clairton, Pennsylvania
    Joseph Vittori
    Joseph Vittori
    Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced)
    Date and place of action: 15 and 16 September 1951, Hill 749, Korea
    Entered service at: Beverly, Massachusetts
    Date and place of birth: 1 August 1929, Beverly, Massachusetts

    Vietnam War

    Lewis Albanese
    Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company B, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
    Date and place of action: 1 December 1966, Republic of Vietnam
    Entered service at: Seattle, Washington
    Date and place of birth: 27 April 1946, Cornedo Vicentino - Province of Vicenza, Italy
    Vincent R. Capodanno
    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
    Jon R. Cavaiani
    Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, Vietnam Training Advisory Group
    Date and place of action: 4 and 5 June 1971, Republic of Vietnam
    Entered service at: Fresno, California
    Date and place of birth: 2 August 1943, Royston, England
    Frank R. Fratellenico
    Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Army, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
    Date and place of action: 19 August 1970, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam
    Entered service at: Albany, New York
    Date and place of birth: 14 July 1951, Sharon, Connecticut
    Gary W. Martini
    Gary W. Martini
    Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Marine Corps, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
    Date and place of action: 21 April 1967, Binh Son, Republic of Vietnam
    Entered service at: Portland, Oregon
    Date and place of birth: 21 September 1948, Lexington, Virginia
    Louis R. Rocco
    Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, United States Army, Advisory Team 162, Military Assistance Command
    Date and place of action: 24 May 1970, northeast of Katum, Republic of Vietnam
    Entered service at: Los Angeles, California
    Date and place of birth: 19 November 1938, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    Humbert R. Versace
    Humbert R. Versace
    Rank and organization: Captain, United States Army, Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group, Army Special Forces, Intelligence Advisor to Military Assistance Advisory Group, Ca Mau, Republic of Vietnam
    Date and place of action: 29 October 1963 to 26 September 1965, Vietnam
    Entered service at: Norfolk, Virginia
    Date and place of birth: 2 July 1937, Honolulu, Hawaii
    Salvatore A. Giunta

    War in Afghanistan

    Jared C. Monti[2]
    Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, United States Army, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
    Date and place of action: 21 June 2006, Gowardesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
    Entered service at: Fort Sill, Oklahoma
    Date and place of birth: 20 September 1975, Abington, Massachusetts
    Salvatore Giunta
    Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
    Date and place of action: 27 October 2007, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan
    Entered service at: Fort Benning, Georgia
    Date and place of birth: 21 January 1985, Clinton, Iowa

    War in Iraq

    David Bellavia
    Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
    Date and place of action: November 10, 2004, Fallujah, Iraq
    Entered service at: Buffalo, New York
    Date and place of birth: 10 November 1975, Buffalo, New York


    See also

    References

    1. ^ "A Brief History — The Medal of Honor". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Department of Defense. August 8, 2006. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
    2. ^ Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom.
    • Aldo E. Salerno. "Medal of Honor Winners." In The American Italian Experience: An Encyclopedia, ed. Salvatore J. LaGumina (New York: Garland, 2000) 365–366.
    • "Who's Who list of Marines". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
    • "Medal of Honor recipients". Listing of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who received the Medal of Honor during World War II. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.