World War II Honoree

Joseph James Giallombardo

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Winnetka, Illinois

Honored By

Daughter

IN SPRING OF 1942, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY FROM HIS POSITION AS GYMNASTICS COACH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR AT NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL IN WINNETKA, ILLINOIS. AS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN 1940 AND NCAA CHAMPION IN GYMNASTICS, HE ENTERED THE NAVY AS AN ENSIGN, WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE AND FINALLY FINISHED HIS SERVICE AS LIEUTENANT. HE TRAINED THOUSANDS OF NAVY RECRUITS IN PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TO GET THEM READY TO FLY. HE WAS STATIONED AT A VARIETY OF NAVAL AIR STATIONS IN THE U.S. HE CO-AUTHORED A BOOK ON HIS TRAINING METHODS FOR THE U.S. NAVY.