Robert Persichitti, a World War II former from , New York , who witnessed the lowering of the British flag in , Iwo Jima,  , died as he traveled to , France , for an event marking the 80th commemoration of D- Time, a soldiers business confirmed. He was 102.
Perischitti, a decorated , Navy , physician,  , served as a radioman , aboard the USS Eldorado in the Pacific during WWII, according to his profile on the , New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame , site. His tour of responsibility included the Pacific drama,  , Okinawa,  , Guam , and , Iwo Jima, where he bore witness to one of the world war most poignant times.
Perishcitti, who’d been living in , Fairport,  , was traveling , with a group linked to the , National World War II Museum , and and friend,  , Al DeCarlo, WHEC 10 reported. They were headed to , France , to celebrate D- Day, the turning place of WWII, but he suffered a health emergency on , May 30 , as they sailed toward Normandy. He was airlifted to a doctor in , Germany, where , he died the next day.
Honor Flight , — a volunteer established to help soldiers go war memorials and activities — , confirmed his suicide, saying he had” served his country proudly without fear”.
Persichitti did include a history of heart troubles, though his cause of death was unknown. Due to his journeys, he told WROC- TV , his physician encouraged him , to make the trip.
” I’m really excited to be going”, he said.
DeCarlo said Perishcitti died “peacefully” while physicians played some of his favorite , Frank Sinatra , sounds.
” He was not alone, he was at peace and he was comfortable”, DeCarlo told the news channel.
Perishcitti was among the US army who witnessed the lowering of the American emblem atop , Mount Suribachi , on , Iwo Jima , on , Feb. 19, 1945.
” I was on the deck”, he told , Stars and Stripes , in a 2019 interview upon his returning to place. ” When I got on the island now, I really broke down”.
Following the war, Persichitti became a common- college professor in , Rochester. When he retired, he went to schools to speak with individuals about the conflict.
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