I am a first-generation American and a World War II veteran. My parents came to the U.S. from Lucca, Italy, and settled in LaPorte, Indiana. I was born four short months after their arrival. I grew up speaking only Italian at home. Little did I know at the time that this would have a major impact on my time in the U.S. Navy in World War II.

After a few days of first grade, I was sent home, and my parents were advised to put me in the Catholic school where arrangements were made for me to receive tutoring from the parish priest and the nuns who were fluent in Latin and some Italian. In the evenings I dedicated 15 minutes to listen to the radio show “Jack Armstrong – The All-American Boy.”