US veteran, 102, dies on journey to France for D-Day anniversary

World War Two US Navy veteran, Robert “Al” Persichitti, has passed away at the age of 102 while en route to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The veteran, hailing from Rochester, New York, suffered a medical emergency aboard a ship heading to Europe and was airlifted to a hospital in Germany on May 30, where he passed away the following day.

Mr. Persichitti, remembered as a “great, humble man,” was part of the allied operation in Japan and was a member of the Honor Flight organization, which helps transport former US servicemen to war memorials. He was selected to attend the event in Normandy by the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans, which organized and funded the trip.

His friend and fellow veteran, Al DeCarlo, who served alongside Mr. Persichitti in Japan, shared that the doctor was with him in his final moments, playing his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, as he peacefully passed away. The pair had served together in Iwo Jima, a Japanese island captured by the US in 1945.

Mr. Persichitti, a former teacher, was known for his zest for life and dedication to sharing his experiences with younger generations. In 2020, he was honored by the New York State Senate’s Veteran Hall of Fame. His local chapter of Honor Flight in Rochester expressed their sadness at his passing, stating that they will miss him dearly.