Though he made his debut into the world in Bari, Italy, Antonio Napoletano was born on July 4, 1917, the day Americans everywhere were celebrating the 141st birthday of our nation -- the country he would one day call home.

While in his native town of Palo del Colle, the "birthday boy" was a police sergeant, and according to his granddaughter, Marie Pastena, the future S.I. transplant also served under Benito Mussolini during World War II. Antonio wed Damarida (Dora) Napoletano in the "old country" back in 1952 and in 1953 their daughter, Maria Antoinette was born.