Sunday, June 10, 2007

PVT, AMEDEO LUCCHESI - INFORMATION REQUESTED ON WWII VETERAN KILLED IN ACTION













Photo above is of 'Figlio Della Costa" Attilio Dogliottie who also was killed in World War II. Please see related article in December 2006 archives. Photo courtesy of Gino Campioni.

Photos of Nomandy Beach Head, Memorial, Map and Graveyard, courtesy of Norma and Al Wilson. (Click on Photos for enlarged image.)
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Alverda Orlando forwards a request from Robert and Joan Nelson, seeking information on 'Figlio Della Costa' Amedeo Lucchesi who was killed inWWII.


Hi Ivan.

Do you know where this soldier was buried. I was not aware of this man living in Davenport. I have an incomplete list of coastside men killed in WW 2 and he is not among them.
Thanks for any information you can give me and I will pass it on to the inquirer.
Alverda

From: Robert and Joan Nelson

Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:22 PM
Subject: Amadeo Lucchesi

Good Afternoon Alverda, Below you will find the main source of information which I have on Amedeo Lucchesi, the soldier from Davenport who was killed at Normandy.
If you are able to locate any additional information on Lucchesi, his burial location and hopefully a photograph (ideally in uniform) that would be of great assistance. This information is being accumulated for a project I am working on in conjunction with the Central Library. Thanks in advance for any information which you migh provide.
nels


(Santa Cruz, Sentinel August 10, 1944 1:3)



Amadeo Lucchesi Killed in Action on Normandy Front
Pvt. Amadeo Lucchesi, a member of the 314th infantry, was killed in action in France June 20, his widow, Mrs. Mary Lucchesi of Davenport, learned in a telegram from the war department this week.


Pvt. Lucchesi entered the army June 15, 1943. He got his training at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, and Camp Phillips, Kansas, and was first assigned to the 42nd or Rainbow division. He later was transferred to the 314th infantry, Mrs. Lucchesi told the Sentinel-News today.
He lived in Sunnyvale before going into the service. His parents still reside there. Mrs. Lucchesi is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Modolo of Davenport.


The telegram gave no details, but it is presumed he died on the Normandy battlefront.

LNC: I don't have any information on Pvt. Lucchesi although the last name is very familiar. Perhaps some of our 'Blaggatori" do. I know that the Modolo name mentioned in the article was/is well known 'su per la costa.' Please write any information you might have in the space provide after clicking on "comments" below. Mille Grazie. ivn0
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Wish to comment on this article??? Click on ‘comments’ below -- which will take you to the “Comments” page. Then write your comments in space provided. When done, check off ‘Other’ or ‘Anonymous’ ( NOT 'google/blogger -- and IGNORE ‘Goggle Password Section’). If you check off ‘Other’ write your name in space provided and then click on ‘Publish’. (Note: ‘Other’ must be checked off BEFORE you write your name. ‘Anonymous’ writer: Leave name space blank --just click on Publish.) Ivn0

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know whether this will help or not.


The genealogy web site, www.ancestry.com, has made millions of military records available for free through D-Day (June 6). I found, for example, the World War I draft registration forms for both of my grandfathers: Henry John Klempnauer and Ernest William Steuck. Draft forms of two of my grandfather Klempnauer's brothers also were available but the form for the youngest brother, the one who actually served in WWI, was not. Both of my grandfather Steuck's brothers also were listed. The records available go all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Len

Anonymous said...

Ivano:

I do not remember Amedeo Lucchesi –however, if the Frank Modolos were
his in-laws it probably is Johnny Modolo’s family. The wife would be Johnny’s sister. This is mere speculation. Who would know probably is Tony Franceschini and his sister Rita Giannandrea. I have a phone call into Flora Bargiacchi Anecito – she may know as well.

Al(my husband) had an uncle that
was killed in the Normandy invasion and is buried in France at the site. (So touching -- have fotos my Italian cousins took when visiting the site.)

Maybe Amedo is buried there also??!! That is all I can come up with – I was only 3 at the time and only remember the Modolo (Johnny) accident in l945 slightly.

I will let you know when I hear from Flora.

Ciao per ora – Norma (Dinelli) Wilson

LNC: Thanks 'LaNorma'. About a month ago I ran into Ralph Jellison and his wife Antonetta at Len Klempnauer's SCHS Class of '54 luncheon. Ralph went to SCHS with me. Antonetta is a Modolo and was related to Johnny. She may have some useful information.

BTW: As I write in "La Nostra Costa", the freak accident that killed Johnny Modolo occurred in 1948. He was only 21 years of age.
ivn0

Anonymous said...

Ivano:

Come stai? Io credo bene perche sei sempre avanti con la storia "su per la costa."

The only thing I remember about Amedeo Lucchesi is that I saw him just before he shipped out overseas. He and his family were at the hotel and he was telling everyone that he was shipping out. he was there that day as I remember in his uniform. Subsequent to that my mother had indicated to me that he was killed in the European Theatre. My mother thought that he had a premonition that he would not return.

Another one of our boys from "su per la costa" Johnny Nelson was killed in action. I really don't know what Theatre. Perhaps Leo Caiocca might know because he worked for the Davenport Bakery delivering bread "su per la costa" to all the rancieri. He was killed very early in the war.

Mandi -

thelma

Anonymous said...

Hi Ivan
Here is information on Robert Nelson. He is working with the Santa Cruz Library and also writing two books on Santa Cruz History. One book is called "Santa Cruz went to war". It is about all periods of mobilization from the civil war to the present and talks about what it was like to live here during each of these wars.
The second book is "They never returned". It seems that 450 men and two women went to war and never came back for whatever reason--killed in the wars or in an auto accident or disease.
He says the government has extensive listing of all burials, foreign and domestic but in 1946-48 the government gave the survivors the opportunity to bring their sons back to the states for local burial. This is where Mr. Nelson loses the trail.
Thanks for any help you can give to help a new author. Thanks. Alverda

LNC: We stand ready to help in anyway we can. ivn0

Anonymous said...

This is great! I actually think this beach party was in the summer of 1955 before we all went off to college. Thanks for including it. Chris

LNC: You could be right Chris. Do you have any idea who the guy is that is lying on the sand?? Bruce Hansen? Don Binsacca?? ivn0

Anonymous said...

Ivano:

Thanks for the foto of the beach party – precious! What memories.

It just makes me feel so good when a subject is brought up and so many
People respond with memories. Hoping to hear more from Lori Landino.
Was neat hearing from her as she is from the younger generation and so maybe we can keep this wonderful thing going! Hope more people come forward with memories and stories of the Scaroni’s and other parts of La Costa.

About the war(s) – should be good reading when book is complete (by Nelson).

Also did you talk to Ralph Jellison and Antoinette (Modolo) Jellison? Are they living in Santa Cruz? Would love to be in touch with her as we graduated
Together in l958. You can give her my e-mail and/or phone number. We are
Planning out ’58 reunion for next year.

RE:fotos of Normandy in France. My cousin from Italy (Silvana – who
Has read your book) was there and took these.

So many of our brave soldies are buried here.

Ciao per ora – Norma and Al

LNC: Thanks Norma and Al for those wonderful photos. We shall not forget. ivn0

Anonymous said...

Aldo Penniman said...

Ivano,
The "Service Cardinal" shows that there were 66 young men from Santa Cruz that were killed or missing during their service to our Country.. There are pictures of all but three.
Through the years I couldn't help to look at Attilio "Tillie" picture. Such a handsome young man.. there two other Italiani that never came home... one was Gilbert Camarlinghi, his parents had Adolph's ristorante, he had 2 brothers Rudy and Bobby, he was 23 when he died, the other that was lost was Walter Morelli, he lived on the Westside, he was 22 years old...

God bless them all..

Aldo

Anonymous said...

I remember the day when I was at home, and saw an olive drab car with a white star on the front door stop in front of the Dogliotti home. I told my mother, and she exclaimed, "O Dio! Attilio รจ morto!

Two men in army uniform went to the door and delivered an American flag neatly folded.

My mother, who could have been an opera singer, had she been able to have lessons, never sang aloud again, out of respect for Pete and Mary. The loss of Attilio affected all our lives, and continues to do so. Yes, we must be thankful for so many young men who gave their lives for our country.

Gino

Anonymous said...

I also remember the day (can't exactly remember the date) in the 40's that a yellow cab driver came to the Hotel D'Italia in Davenport to inquire where the Silvio Moro family lived.

This was a telegram delivery to the family that Fernando Moro was missing in action. He was in the European Theatre. This was a sad day.

For a couple of years, I believe, nothing was heard of Ferd's whereabouts and the particulars of his missing in action. Fortunately it was learned later that Ferd was held captive by the Germans and returned home safely.

I agree with Gino that we must be thankful for so many young men who fought and gave up their lives for our country.

Thelma(Micossi)Gill

Ivano Franco Comelli said...

Some of the comments above have been re-published from the Attilio Dogliottie Article (Archives Dec 2006). I felt them to be most appropriate for the Amedio Lucchesi article. BTW. I spoke with Antonietta (Modolo) Jellison. She has spoken with one of her Modolo cousins, who has informed her that she believes that Amedeo is still buried at Normandy. She is attempting to get more information and perhaps a photo of Amedeo.

Ivn0