- author, Hafsa Khalil
- role, BBC News
A US Navy veteran from World War II who was visiting France for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings has died, a veterans’ group has confirmed.
Robert “Al” Persichitti, of Rochester, New York, suffered a medical emergency on a ship bound for Europe and was airlifted to a hospital in Germany on May 30.
He died the next day at the age of 102.
Remembered as a “great but humble man,” Persichitti served in Allied operations in Japan.
Honor Flight, a veterans’ organization of which Perusic was a member, confirmed his death on social media, saying he “bravely served his country without hesitation.”
The nonprofit helps transport former U.S. military personnel to memorials for each of the wars they fought in.
The 102-year-old was selected to attend the event in Normandy by the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, which covered her travel expenses and organised the trip, reported the local affiliate of CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
“I’m really excited to go,” he told broadcaster WROC-TV the day before his departure.
His cardiologist had advised against traveling, he added.
Al DeCarlo, who served with Perusic in Japan, was also on the trip and told local media in Rochester that his friend did not die alone.
“Medics were with him… he was at peace and comfortable,” he said, according to ABC affiliate WHAM-TV.
“She typed the name of his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, into her phone and he quietly left us.”
The two served together on Iwo Jima, which the United States seized from Imperial Japanese forces in 1945.
“He had a real passion for life,” the Rev. William Leone, a friend of Persichitti’s for 46 years, told WHAM-TV, adding that he would visit local schools and speak to children about his experiences.
The veteran was also a former teacher, and in April students at a local school organized a birthday celebration in his honor.
In 2020, he was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame by then-Senator Rich Funke.
The local chapter of Honor Flight in Rochester said he will be greatly missed.
