PAUL VENDETTI: A WORLD WAR II VETERAN
Written by: Julana M., Justin P., Jordan K., and Michelle W.
Mr. Paul Vendetti, a former WWII fighter, was born on August 17, 1926. Born and raised in Elmira, he set off for the war when he was 17. “ I was sitting in a grocery store
one day and I heard the radio news first talk about the bombing of Pearl harbor and the war,” said Mr. Vendetti. He rushed off to sign up and wanted his part in the war. He left
behind friends, and family to live in horrible conditions to try and fight for his countries freedom.
Paul Vendetti joined the war at age seventeen. He was born on August 17,1926 in Elmira N.Y. Before he joined the war he was a delivery truck driver for many companies.
He lived with three other siblings in his family, including his mother and father. His mother had told him to wait and get drafted into the war but Paul wanted to join right away,
which he did. When Paul first heard about Pearl Harbor he was standing in a grocery store. He was the only one that had gone off and fought, out of his many friends. All though he
was going to miss his family and friends. He knew that he should go and support his country. When he joined the service he had to eat horrible food. He got up at the crack of
dawn each day and slept horrible.
Paul Vendetti entered the war after ambitious training when he was seventeen years old. He left the United States and headed for the Philippines. He didn’t expect the
conditions to be so horrible. They had no good food, no pure water and had to sleep on uncomfortable cots. Paul was involved in the invasion of Leyte. That was where General
McCarthy was stationed. Paul was part of the naval security. He rode on a security ship where he was the 3rd loader on a 5-inch gun. He was also on a big supply base. The base
had food and a lot of ammunition. Paul’s best memory of the war was when he was told it was over.
Paul lived in Elmira after the war. His job was working at a cemetery, the cemetery many veterans were buried at. The most memorable thing about the war was when he
was told it had finally ended. He won’t forget the war, and we shouldn’t either. He was glad to fight for our countries freedom, but the experience was awful. “War is hell” That is
how Mr. Vendetti felt about the war.
Mr. Vendetti soon learned a lot of discipline, what war really was like, and he had to grow up fast. He left the life he knew it to fight for his country. He was 19 years old
when he returned home, seeing his family for the first time in two years. He would like us to remember all the men who gave their lives for our county’s freedom, and to enjoy that
freedom as long as we live. He says, “We are all human beings, it’s a shame we have to fight with each other and cause wars.”