Changing positions three or four times a day as part of a mobile unit in Vietnam, Calogero Lombardo survived relentless marches, blistering heat, crippling diseases, and wounds to his leg, knee and back during a 12-month tour of duty. The fourth of six children, Calogero Lombardo was born in Altavilla Milicia, Sicily, to Onofrio and Maria (Bucaro) Lombardo. The family immigrated to Chicago in 1956 when Lombardo was 6 years old, settling into the Little Sicily neighborhood of St. Philip Benizi Parish on the city’s Near North Side. In 1961, they bought a home in the neighborhood near Riverview Park. …

As the head of a machine-gun crew, Ralph Bertolacini helped safeguard Alaska during World War II. The older of two sons, Ralph Bertolacini was born in Aug. 8, 1925, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Pietro and Mary Cardosi Bertolacini. His father emigrated from Barga, Italy, with an older brother. His mother’s family was also from Tuscany. Bertolacini grew up near his maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. “I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. In fact, that’s where I learned to speak Italian,” Bertolacini says. “My father had the attitude like a lot of other Italians. You should …

Having lived through the Nazi occupation of Italy during World War II as a child, Edward Pasquesi helped keep the North Koreans on the far side of the 38th Parallel after the Korean War. The middle of three children, Edward Pasquesi was born in Bomporto, Italy, to Angelo and Antonietta Santi Pasquesi. His parents had been working on a farm in the Modena valley and returned to Cadagnolo, their family village in the Apennine Mountains, when Pasquesi was 4 or 5 years old. “We were poor, but we really didn’t know it,” he says. Pasquesi lived among relatives from both …

Having joined the Army Reserves while in dental school, Richard Munaretto opted for three years of active duty as a dentist in Germany rather than one year in Vietnam and one in the States. The oldest of four sons, Richard Munaretto was born in Chicago to Frank and Adelina Peruzzo Munaretto. The family lived near Western and Ohio and later moved to 3750 W. Chicago Ave., living behind his father’s business, Alamo Barber Shop. Munaretto’s maternal grandparents emigrated from Carmignano di Brenta, Padua, and his mother was born in Chicago. His father, born in Tresche Conca, Vicenza, came to America …

As a member of the National Guard working on a Counterdrug task force, Eric Pulia uses his computer skills to help law enforcement agencies track firearms purchased by non-felons on behalf of drug traffickers. Eric Pulia is the youngest of three sons born in Hinsdale, Illinois, to James and Karen (Murrin) Pulia. He grew up in Westchester with his uncle and family nearby and his paternal grandparents living down the block. Pulia’s great-grandparents emigrated from the Sicily and Naples regions of Italy. Pulia formed a close bond with his grandparents while staying with them after school. He remembers the newspaper …

One of the select few to qualify for and successfully complete Navy SEAL training, Anthony Lanzillotti embarked on an illustrious career that spanned 37 years and included five deployments, tours of duty in 10 countries and an assignment at the Pentagon. The older of two children, Anthony Lanzillotti was born in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago to Carmen and Ann (Corbin) Lanzillotti. The family moved from the North Side to Deerfield, where Lanzillotti grew up. His great-grandparents emigrated from the Calabria and Abruzzo regions of Italy. Lanzillotti’s father, proprietor of Carmen’s Restaurant in Edgewater, worked six days a week. Sunday …

A team-sport player from grade school through college, he felt drawn to the military because of the similar opportunity it provided to be a part of something bigger than oneself. The middle of five children, Mark Evangelista was born in Wheaton, Illinois, to Mark and Suzanne Logan Evangelista. His great-grandparents emigrated from the Abruzzo region. Evangelista grew up close to his large extended family. “We were always by family,” he says. “Sundays were either at our house, Grandma’s or my aunt’s house.” His aunt and grandmother wrote down their recipes and their descendants had the good sense to preserve them. …

As Chief of Medical Logistics for the Army’s 92nd Evacuation Hospital, Greg Padovani was prepared at a moment’s notice to deploy on behalf of troops on the battlefield and allied nations in crisis. The eldest of four boys, Greg Padovani was born in Chicago to Gregory and Rose (Bianco) Padovani. The family moved from their attic apartment on Leavitt Street to a house in Mount Prospect shortly after Padovani’s birth. His father’s family emigrated from Padua, Italy and his mother’s family came from Naples and Palermo. Every Sunday, family gathered at his paternal grandparents’ home for dinner. “Grandma loved to …

During a stellar 38-year military career, Eric Marella served in the Marine and Army Reserves, as an enlisted man and officer, in a dozen countries during times of peace and war. The youngest of four sons, Eric Marella was born in Melrose Park to Dominic and GraceAnn (Russo) Marella. He grew up surrounded by family on both sides. His father’s parents emigrated from Marche and Tuscany, and his mother’s family from Basilicata. The family sat down to Sunday dinners of pasta with neck bones and sausage, never knowing who might stop in. “It’s always great when you hear a knock …

Assigned to a motor transport unit in Vietnam, Michael Pawelek drove a variety of vehicles while tackling other duties such as working the switchboard, manning bunkers on night duty and setting up ambush sites. Michael Pawelek was born in Chicago to Edward and Marie Sartor Pawelek. The family lived in an apartment behind Edward’s barbershop on the South Side until moving to Park Ridge when Pawelek was 5 years old. His maternal grandparents emigrated from a town near Venice, Italy, settling in Eveleth, Minnesota, and his paternal grandparents from the area around Warsaw, Poland, settling in Summit, Illinois. “In the …