Tag Archives: Ralph Bertolacini

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 …