Carlo Michael Vinci was born in Rome, Oneida County, New York on December 30, 1922 to Angelo Vinci and Anatolia Rossi. His parents were married on August 3, 1910. From the 1930 U.S. Census, we learned that his mother Anatolia, 40, had seven children living at home at this time; Carl, eight years old, was the fourth born. He had three sisters and three brothers. His father, Angelo, 39, owned a restaurant. Both parents were born in Italy. They all lived at 501 East Dominick Street in Rome.

Ten years later the family moved down East Dominick Street to house number 611, still in Rome. Most likely they needed a larger house. Anatolia added two more children; Josephine, nine and Henry, a one-year-old. In addition, the oldest son Joseph got married and his wife Concetta moved in. Carl, at 17, was in his second year of high school at Rome Free Academy. This information was found in the 1940 U.S. Census.

1946 Rome Free Academy Yearbook, pg. 3

After graduation from high school (what year he graduated is yet to be determined), Carlo Vinci joined the Navy on December 3, 1940, four days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After basic training at Sampson Naval Training Center in Romulus, New York, he was sent to Minnesota for specialized training in the operations and maintenance of diesel engines. He attained the rating of Machinist's Mate Second Class with a Navy Service Number of 234 30 29. After this training he was assigned to the destroyer USS Lansdale (DD-246).

The second USS Lansdale (DD-426) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Philip Lansdale. Lansdale was laid down on 19 December 1938 by Boston Navy Yard; launched on 30 October 1939 and commissioned on 17 September 1940 at Boston, Massachusetts.

From the History of War website, the following details were posted: “On 18 April she left Oran to join Convoy UGS-38, heading east to Bizerte (on the Mediterranean Sea at northern tip of Africa near Tunisia). The Lansdale was posted off the port bow of the convoy, to jam the signals controlling any radio-controlled bombs and as part of the anti-submarine screen.

At about 21.00 on 20 April [1944] the convoy was attacked by German aircraft off Cape Bengut. This time the force of 18-24 Junkers and Heinkels had more success. They flew low and close to short to evade radar, and caught the convoy by surprise. In the first attack torpedoes from Ju-88s damaged SS Samite and destroyed SS Paul Hamilton, which exploded with the loss of all 580 of her crew (and Army soldiers). The second wave, also of Junkers, sank another merchant ship.

The third way, of five He-111s, attacked towards the Lansdale. She was attacked from both sides, but was able to avoid two torpedoes and shoot down a Ju-88, before she was hit on the starboard side by a third torpedo at 21.06 (although she was able to shoot down the attacking aircraft). The torpedo destroyed the forward fire room and opened holes on both sides of the ship. She took on a 12 degree list to port and her rudder jammed to the right, so she ended up steaming in a clockwise circle. At 21.12 she was attacked again by two aircraft, which both dropped torpedoes, but the turning ship was a difficult target and both missed. She also claimed one of the attacks. By 21.20 she was moving straight, but the list was increasing. By 21.22 it had reached 45 degrees, and her commander, Lt. Commander D.M. Swift, gave the order to abandon ship. By 21.30 the list had reached 80 degrees, so she was almost on her side. At about 21.35 she split in two, and the stern section sank. The bow sections stayed afloat for another 20 minutes.

Forty-seven men were lost with the Lansdale, but most of her crew were rescued by the Menges (DE-320) and Newell (DD-322), which spent several hours searching for survivors. The Menges picked up 113 Americans and two German airmen, while the Newell rescued 119 men including Lt. Commander Swift.

Lansdale received four battle stars for World War II service, for Anzio, convoy UC-1, convoy UGS-37 and convoy UGS-38.

Tragically, Carl Vinci was NOT one of the survivors of the enemy attack. He and 46 other officers and crew were memorialized at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia. Their bodies were never recovered. All were awarded a Purple Heart Posthumously.

Carl’s father was given a Gold Star flag to hang in his window at 611 East Dominick Street in Rome. This was recorded in the U.S. Navy Casualties Books.

References:

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56251007/carl_micheal-vinci: accessed February 29, 2024), memorial page for MM2 Carl Micheal Vinci (29 Dec 1922–20 Apr 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56251007, citing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia; Maintained by Eric Ackerman (contributor 48445240).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Lansdale_(DD-426)

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Lansdale_DD426.html

US, World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/829/us-world-war-ii-navy-muster-rolls-1938-1949 : accessed Feb 29, 2024), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/829/us-world-war-ii-navy-muster-rolls-1938-1949

U.S. Casualties Books: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/90059:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=525beab0-143a-4e8b-93b1-3fdb8570a472&_phsrc=hWQ156&_phstart=successSource

United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

Bio & Family Link by: Russ Pickett: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56251007/carl-micheal-vinci

https://www.abmc.gov/print/certificate/458489

World War II Scrapbook from the estate of Army veteran Robert Albert Mieskiel (1930-2014) of Rome, NY. Donated to the Oriskany Museum Collection in May 2016.

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