World War II Honoree

Salvatore J. Cucinotta

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

SERVED IN THE NAVY AS A MEDICAL OFFICER IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY. IN SEPTEMBER 1943, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF SALERNO AND TREATED BRITISH AND AMERICAN TROOPS ON THE BEACH UNDER HEAVY FIRE. HE LATER SET UP A SICKBAY AND FIRST-AID STATION ABOARD A LANDING CRAFT IN THE PORT OF NAPLES. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR FOR VALOR. WHILE HE WAS CARING FOR THE WOUNDED IN ITALY, HIS FAMILY IN PHILADELPHIA RECEIVED A TELEGRAM FROM THE NAVY SAYING HE WAS MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD. HIS RELATIVES WERE SURPRISED WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT THEIR DOOR SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.