The following is a list of Italian-American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who were awarded the American military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force." The medal is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of the Congress.

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.

Civil War Luigi Palma di Cesnola Rank and organization: Colonel, 4th New York Cavalry Date and place of action: 17 June 1863, Battle of Aldie, Virginia Entered service at: New York, New York Date and place of birth: 29 June 1832, Rivarola, Piedmont, Italy

Indian Wars

George Ferrari Rank and organization: Corporal, 8th U.S. Cavalry Date and place of action: 23 September 1869, Red Creek, Arizona Territory Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio Date and place of birth: 1845, New York City, New York

Spanish–American War

Frank O. Fournia Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry Date and place of action: 1 July 1898, Santiago, Cuba Entered service at: Plattsburgh, New York Date and place of birth: January 1873, Rome, New York

World War I Michael Valente Rank and organization: Private, United States Army, Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division Date and place of action: 29 September 1918, east of Ronssoy, France Entered service at: Ogdensburg, New York Date and place of birth: 5 February 1895, Cassino, Italy

World War II

John Basilone Rank and organization: Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division Date and place of action: 24 and 25 October 1942, Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Entered service at: New Jersey Date and place of birth: 4 November 1916, Buffalo, New York

Vito R. Bertoldo Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, United States Army, Company A, 242nd Infantry, 42nd Infantry Division Date and place of action: 9 and 10 January 1945, Hatten, France Entered service at: Decatur, Illinois Date and place of birth: 1 December 1916, Decatur, Illinois

Willibald C. Bianchi Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, United States Army, 45th Infantry Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts Date and place of action: 3 February 1942, near Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands Entered service at: New Ulm, Minnesota Date and place of birth: New Ulm, Minnesota

Anthony Casamento Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division Date and place of action: 1 November 1942, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York Date and place of birth: 16 November 1920, Brooklyn, New York

Ralph Cheli Rank and organization: Major, United States Army Air Corps Date and place of action: 18 August 1943, near Wewak, New Guinea Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York Date and place of birth: San Francisco, California

Joseph J. Cicchetti Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company A, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 9 February 1945, south Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands Entered service at: Waynesburg, Ohio Date and place of birth: Waynesburg, Ohio

Mike Colalillo Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company C, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 7 April 1945, near Untergriesheim, Germany Entered service at: Duluth, Minnesota Date and place of birth: Hibbing, Minnesota

Peter J. Dalessondro Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, United States Army, Company E, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 22 December 1944, near Kalterherberg, Germany Entered service at: Watervliet, New York Date and place of birth: 19 May 1918, Watervliet, New York

Anthony P. Damato

Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps Date and place of action: 19 and 20 February 1944, Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands Entered service at: Pennsylvania Date and place of birth: 28 March 1922, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania

Arthur F. DeFranzo Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, 1st Infantry Division Date and place of action: 10 June 1944, near Vaubadon, France Entered service at: Saugus, Massachusetts Date and place of birth: Saugus, Massachusetts

Gino J. Merli Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division Date and place of action: 4 and 5 September 1944, near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium Entered service at: Peckville, Pennsylvania Date and place of birth: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Frank J. Petrarca Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Medical Detachment, 145th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 27 July 1943, Horseshoe Hill, New Georgia, Solomon Islands Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio Date and place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio

Robert M. Viale Second Lieutenant, United States Army, Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 5 February 1945, Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands Entered service at: Ukiah, California Date and place of birth: Bayside, California

Korean War Reginald B. Desiderio Rank and organization: Captain, United States Army, commanding officer, Company E, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Date and place of action: Near Ipsok, Korea, 27 November 1950 Entered service at: Gilroy, California Date and place of birth: 12 September 1918, Clairton, Pennsylvania

Joseph Vittori Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) Date and place of action: 15 and 16 September 1951, Hill 749, Korea Entered service at: Beverly, Massachusetts Date and place of birth: 1 August 1929, Beverly, Massachusetts

Vietnam War Lewis Albanese Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company B, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Date and place of action: 1 December 1966, Republic of Vietnam Entered service at: Seattle, Washington Date and place of birth: 27 April 1946, Cornedo Vicentino - Province of Vicenza, Italy

Vincent R. Capodanno Rank and organization: Lieutenant, United States Navy, Chaplain Corps, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF Date and place of action: 4 September 1967, Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam Entered service at: Staten Island, New York Date and place of birth: 13 February 1929, Staten Island, New York

Jon R. Cavaiani Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, Vietnam Training Advisory Group Date and place of action: 4 and 5 June 1971, Republic of Vietnam Entered service at: Fresno, California Date and place of birth: 2 August 1943, Royston, England

Frank R. Fratellenico Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Army, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Date and place of action: 19 August 1970, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam Entered service at: Albany, New York Date and place of birth: 14 July 1951, Sharon, Connecticut

Gary W. Martini Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Marine Corps, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division Date and place of action: 21 April 1967, Binh Son, Republic of Vietnam Entered service at: Portland, Oregon Date and place of birth: 21 September 1948, Lexington, Virginia

Louis R. Rocco Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, United States Army, Advisory Team 162, Military Assistance Command Date and place of action: 24 May 1970, northeast of Katum, Republic of Vietnam Entered service at: Los Angeles, California Date and place of birth: 19 November 1938, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Humbert R. Versace Rank and organization: Captain, United States Army, Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group, Army Special Forces, Intelligence Advisor to Military Assistance Advisory Group, Ca Mau, Republic of Vietnam Date and place of action: 29 October 1963 to 26 September 1965, Vietnam Entered service at: Norfolk, Virginia Date and place of birth: 2 July 1937, Honolulu, Hawaii

War in Afghanistan Jared C. MontiFallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom. Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, United States Army, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Date and place of action: 21 June 2006, Gowardesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan Entered service at: Fort Sill, Oklahoma Date and place of birth: 20 September 1975, Abington, Massachusetts

Salvatore Giunta Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Date and place of action: 27 October 2007, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan Entered service at: Fort Benning, Georgia Date and place of birth: 21 January 1985, Clinton, Iowa

War in Iraq David Bellavia Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division Date and place of action: November 10, 2004, Fallujah, Iraq Entered service at: Buffalo, New York Date and place of birth: 10 November 1975, Buffalo, New York

See also List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Italian Americans

References

Aldo E. Salerno. "Medal of Honor Winners." In The American Italian Experience: An Encyclopedia, ed. Salvatore J. LaGumina (New York: Garland, 2000) 365–366.