War Stories

Fascinated with airplanes from an early age, Dennis Santi lost two pounds in a week to pass the physical and embark on a quarter-century career in the Naval Reverse’s aviation program. The younger of two boys, Dennis Santi was born in Highwood, Illinois, to Ernest and Victoria Baldi Santi. His maternal and paternal grandparents emigrated from the Modena region of Italy. Santi’s father died when he was 1 year old, and his mother worked as the city clerk in Highwood. “We were lucky to grow up in Highwood in an Italian neighborhood,” Santi says. “It was close-knit. If I got …

As an analyst for the Air National Guard, Paul Lauricella was tasked with tracking the spread of COVID in Illinois and helped to identify locations for testing centers and then vaccination sites. The older of two children, Paul Lauricella was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, to Paul and Christine Ackerman Lauricella. His paternal great-grandparents emigrated separately from Agrigento, Sicily, with their families, met in Chicago and married. Lauricella grew up in Bloomingdale enjoying family gatherings and a combination of Italian, German and American cultures and foods. His paternal grandparents lived in Chicago Ridge. “For me, growing up in the suburbs and …

Built at Camp Atterbury during its three-year stint as an internment camp for Italian POWs during World War II, the chapel stands today as a testament to the perseverance and faith of its creators. Nestled among the 40,351 acres that encompass Camp Atterbury in Indiana is a tiny chapel built in a meadow. This is no ordinary chapel, not because of anything strange or unusual, but because of who built it and how it was built. Camp Atterbury is a military complex used by the National Guard, 30 miles south of Indianapolis off U.S. Route 31 near Edinburgh. From 1943 …

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 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 …

A tough kid from the Taylor Street neighborhood, Louis Grippo ended up sparring under the tutelage of a world champion while training at Ft. Riley during World War II. This is a story about Pfc. Louis Grippo and his travels during World War II. But a little background first. I grew up in my father’s family building on West Taylor Street in one of the Italian enclaves of Chicago. My mom’s family lived on South May Street, two blocks away. In my early years, we went over there almost every day. When I was in grammar school, I was there …

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. …