Friday, October 05, 2007

FIGLI DELLA COSTA - SUPREME SACRIFICE

NORMANDY MEMORIAL CEMETERY
(Photo courtesy of Norma and Al Wilson)




-- LIEUTENANT ATTILIO JOSEPH DOGLIOTTI c.1943 (Photo courtesy of Gino Campioni) --







PVT. AMEDEO LUCCHESI AND HIS BRIDE MARY (MODOLO) c. 1942. (Photo courtesy of the Modolo Family)


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THE WORLD WAR II TV MINISTRY ON PBS SHOULD REMIND US ALL THAT CERTAIN 'FIGLI DELLA COSTA' HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
I HAVE THEREFORE RE-PUBLISHED TWO ARTICLES FROM THE 'LA NOSTRA COSTA' BLOG.


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



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 PMSubject: 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 *

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(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.


*According to information from the Modolo Family, Pvt. Lucchesi was buried at the Normandy Cemetery (Top photo) and his body still remains there today in the company of his fallen comrades. ivn0
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Monday, December 04, 2006

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA - LIEUTENANT ATTILIO JOSEPH DOGLIOTTI REMEMBERED

THIS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, IS THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR. Immediately after the bombing, America declared war on the Empire of Japan. As a consequence Adolph Hitler declared war on the United States and Italy’s Benito Mussolini followed suit. As a result of Italy’s involvement in World War II on the side of Japan and Germany, many Italians without proper citizenship papers ‘su per la costa’ and elsewhere in America were declared to be ‘enemy aliens’ . As described by Norma (Dinelli) Wilson in her story (Part I,) and also in Chapter 3 of my book, "La Costa E La Guerra", severe restrictions were imposed on the Italians, causing some to be relocated and some to lose their jobs. In October of 1942, the Attorney General of the United States lifted the restrictions on the Italians, although the United States was still at war with Italy. One of the main reason this was done, was because so many sons of Italian aliens were in uniform and fighting for the United States in Europe and the Pacific . Attilio Joseph Dogliotti of Santa Cruz was one of those boys and he made the supreme sacrifice for his (our) Country.The following article was sent to me by Gino Campioni and was copied from the original appearing in the “Santa Cruz Riptide-Vol. 10- No. 20.
"In a window of a cozy home at 498 Bay street there proudly hangs a service flag with one star for all that family could give to its Flag.But today that star has turned to gold for that home has made the supreme sacrifice--it has given all it had for its Flag, and its walls never again will resound to a cheery "Hi, Mom,"from a happy, six-foot youth as he came bounding home from work.Saturday afternoon, May 8, Second Lieutenant Attilio Joseph Dogliotti, 22, was at the controls of a four-motored Liberator bomber when it crashed in the northern part of Arizona. Lieutenant Dogliotti was killed. Three others in the plane were also killed.The body of the young pilot was to be shipped to White's Mortuary some time this week where a military funeral will be held.Son of Mr. and Mrs. B. Dogliotti of 498 Bay street, Joseph was born in Santa Cruz and was the only child. He graduated from Santa Cruz high school in 1939. In 1938 he was captain of the heavy weight champion football team and was an outstanding tackle. In 1939 Joseph was captain of the champion baseball team. He was an honor student in agriculture in high school, and one of the most popular students in the school.After his graduation, Joseph was employed at the Coast Drum and Box company on Mission street and later he was employed with the Santa Cruz Portland Cement company in Davenport.It was in April of 1942 that Joseph enlisted as an aviation cadet and was sent to Santa Ana Air Base for pre-flight training. He progressed successfully through the various phases of training and finally, on January 4 of 1943, Joseph was awarded his wings and commission at Stockton. He was a bomber pilot.Lieutenant Dogliotti was en route to Pocatello, Idaho, from Gibbs Field, Texas, to get a new plane when the crash occurred. His was the second plane of the same type to have crashed in approximately the same area.Slated for promotion to first lieutenant within a few weeks and then a captaincy following quickly, Lieutenant Dogliotti had written his proud parents that he would be home for a furlough the first of June.But Joseph came home earlier on an eternal furlough granted by his Supreme Commander-in Chief. And the little star in that service flag has turned to gold. "






THROUGH THE LORD'S MERCY, I AM CERTAIN THAT THE TWO FALLEN HEROS ARE TOGETHER AGAIN 'ACROSS IL ULTIMO PONTE'. IVNO











1 comment:

Ivano Franco Comelli said...

Editor San Jose Mercury-News
Re: Mr Ruiz's article on the lack of Hispanic WW II Veterans stories on Ken Burns' PBS TV Program.

Last week I attended an Italian- American function in Santa Cruz. I had a “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast) photo display at the event. Two of the photos were of Italo-Americanos from Santa Cruz who gave their lives during WWII.

A young Hispanic gentleman, who was viewing the photos, spoke to me and proudly said, “You know the Hispanics did a lot in that War. Not too many people know this. Tune in tonight to the PBS special and you will see what we did”. He then added, “They (?) didn’t what to do this, but our Hispanic Groups lobbied hard and long to get the piece included in the program.”

I did tune in that evening. Like Mr. Ruiz, I too noticed the paucity of Hispanic War veteran stories. The piece seemed to concentrate more on Cesare Chavez, and the accomplishments of the United Farm Workers, rather than the accomplishments of Hispanic War Veterans.

I wonder, was this the fault of Ken Burns, PBS or the Hispanic groups who “lobbied hard and long to get the piece included in the program”? It (the TV program) seemed to lose its way and that was indeed a shame.