102-year-old WWII vet from New York dies traveling to France for D-Day commemoration

NY Post ^ | 06/06/2024 | Emily Crane

[ChicagoConservative27]

A 102-year-old American World War II veteran who witnessed the raising of the US flag at Iwo Jima tragically died while he was en route to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Robert Persichitti, of Fairport, NY, suffered a medical emergency and died in a hospital in Germany last Friday, a veterans organization said.

The Navy vet, who had flown oversees with a group tied to the National World War II Museum, was on a ship sailing down the coast to Normandy ahead of Thursday’s D-Day events when he suddenly fell ill and had to be airlifted to the hospital.

He was among the dwindling number of surviving US veterans who were making the pilgrimage to the Normandy beaches this week to mark the anniversary of the June 6, 1944 invasion that helped bring about the end of World War II.

“I’m really excited to be going,” Persichitti, who had a history of heart problems, had told WROC-TV a day before setting off.

[ChicagoConservative27]

102! God Bless him. RIP sir.

[FreedomPoster]

My thoughts exactly on reading the headline.

I’ve a friend who is a recent veteran (sandbox) who is in Normandy now helping the few remaining Normandy veterans get around for this 80th anniversary. He’s a good man.

[BipolarBob]

Robert Persichitti, of Fairport, NY, suffered a medical emergency and died in a hospital in Germany last Friday, a veterans organization said.

The Germans finally got him.

[janetjanet998]

God bless him

Meanwhile total internationally embarrassment continues
I wonder what Jill whispered to him behind her Hand

What is Biden doing here?

Video; Biden seems confused when to sit during 80th anniversary of D-Day Commemoration
https://rumble.com/v4zxejw-biden-seems-confused-when-to-sit.html

[cyclotic]

I heard a story a few years ago of a WWII vet on an Honor Flight to the WWII Memorial. He was with his wife and passed away on the plane. His wife realized he had died and sat with him on the plane until everyone else had deplaned. She’s as heroic as he was.

[equaviator]

He deserves a medal just for trying to get there. RIP

[Steven Scharf]

who witnessed the raising of the US flag at Iwo Jima

Except he probably never fought in Europe.

[BipolarBob]

Absolutely. A true patriot.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I can’t think of a better way for a WW II vet to go than traveling to the 80th anniversary celebration. And at 102, to boot!

[gloryblaze]

...

[caww]

[caww]

Persichetti said he was aboard a ship at Iwo Jima when the iconic WWII photo was taken there...... “I was the radio operator aboard the ship, and we were offshore a little ways and when they raised that flag, I was on deck that day, and watched them raise that flag twice,” Persichitti said.

Iwo Jima, 23 February 1945: Marines risk sniper fire atop 'Mount Suribachi' as they gather to the great attraction of the day—5th Division Marines raise the American flag.

'Mount Suribachi', on the southern end of Iwo Jima, during the pre-invasion bombardment, circa 17-19 February 1945.

[caww]

Marines landig on the beach...

[MinorityRepublican]

Bless him. But it’s interesting because that was not his theater.

[caww]

Members of the 1st Battalion 23rd Marines burrow in the volcanic sand on Yellow Beach 1. A beached LCI is visible upper left with 'Mount Suribachi' upper right.

[caww]

The memorial on top of Suribachi

[caww]

Lieutenant Wade discusses the overall importance of the target at a pre-invasion briefing.

[caww]

"A flamethrower operator of E Company, 2nd Battalion 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, runs under fire on Iwo Jima.

[caww]

U.S. Army Soldiers engaging heavily fortified Japanese positions

[caww]

U.S. Marines of the Second Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Regiment,

wait to move inland on Iwo Jima, soon after going ashore on 19 February 1945.

An LVT(A)-5 amphibious tractor is in the background. Red Beach One.