The Early Years
![](media/image7.jpeg)
John at 2 and a half years old.
![](media/image6.jpeg)
Son of Joseph and Mary Simonetti, immigrants from a small village in Italy. The family crossed the ocean to achieve the American Dream.
![](media/image11.jpeg)
John was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was mainly engaged in restoring national parks and tree conservation, road construction, and foresting activities.
![](media/image10.jpeg)
Forest reclamation.
![](media/image9.jpeg)
![](media/image12.jpeg)
John at Base Camp.
![](media/image14.jpeg)
Cousins John and Ben both enjoyed sports thoroughly. One of their favorites was hockey. Here is John before a football game.
![](media/image15.jpeg)
Ben Simonetti in a Rangers Jersey.
![](media/image18.jpeg)
John and Ben at the beach.
![](media/image21.jpeg)
The boys relaxing.
![](media/image22.jpeg)
Family time.
![](media/image25.jpeg)
![](media/image24.jpeg)
John lived life to the fullest. He enjoyed family time, hanging out with his best friend Cousin Ben, and especially bringing their girlfriends out for a night on the town.
Enlistment and Training
![](media/image27-join.jpg)
John and Ben Simonetti joined the army at almost the same time. John went first and fought in Europe. Ben followed and fought in the Pacific theater.
![](media/image46.jpeg)
Typical company at Fort Sam Houston.
![](media/image45.jpeg)
John at bayonet training.
![](media/image48.jpeg)
Cold weather training for the Second Infantry Division.
![](media/image43-join.jpg)
John stood at 5'8", 158lbs. His army buddies referred to John as an easy-going, happy individual with a strong sense of duty.
Deployment and War
![](media/image58.jpeg)
The Ninth Infantry Division boarded the ship USAT, Susan B. Anthony in October 7, 1943.
![](media/image59.jpeg)
Ten days later, the troops arrived on the shores of Northern Ireland. All soldiers were given a "Pocket Guide to Northern Ireland". this was due to the fact that American soldiers weren't familiar with most of the beliefs and customs under British rule.
![](media/image33.jpeg)
John's sister Lee Simonetti on her wedding day.
![](media/image32.jpeg)
John and Ben would constantly write letters to home and were always present in their family's thoughts. This letter was sent from John Christmas of 1943.
![](media/image64.jpeg)
Colonel Chester hirschfelder, Commander of the Ninth Regiment, called to all his troops to hear his final speech. He told them that a lot of them would not return, and he "was proud to be with them all". He ended his speech with "Boys, this is it!"
![](media/image65.gif)
The USAT, George W. Goethals. The convoy set sail along the southern coast of england at 9:20pm June 5, 1944. Their next stop would be Omaha Beach in France to face the Germans.
![](media/image74.jpeg)
D-Day June 6, 1944. All gave some, but some gave all.
![](media/image79.jpeg)
D-Day + 1. Infantry division moving out at Omaha Beach. Sgt. Henry Doar was pictured here. According to sources, John and Henry knew each other.
![](media/image28-join.jpg)
Both John and Ben Simonetti died honorably in battle, John in Normandy and Ben in the Phillipines. The men died 6 months apart. John on June 16, 1944 and Ben on December 21, 1944.
![](media/image86.jpeg)
Sgt. John R. Simonetti was killed in action on Friday, June 16th 1944, at approximately 5pm in the town of St. Germain-d'Elle, Normandy.