Giovanni "John" Paterno

Monday, 13 July 2009, I received from the US Army the WWI Victory Medal and Label Button. Congrats Grandpa Paterno. Entry by: John Vincent Prater

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Entry by: John Vincent Prater (Grandson)

On June 19, 2009 while my wife and I were visiting her family in New Jersey, we took a trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I had the opportunity to search immagration records and found the Manifest of the arrival of My Grandfather "Giovanni", his Mother, Father and four Brothers. I have the Manifest (2 pages), Ship information & Photo and more.

Salvatore & Rosa (Trombino) Paterno with sons Andrea, Giovanni, Pietro, Guiseppe & Angelo arrived at Ellis Island, NY aboard Ship Germania on March 14, 1908.

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My Uncle John Paterno's War Story

When I was a young boy my Uncle John told me a story from WWI. But now

that I am getting up in years myself, I can't be sure ifhe was telling me about his brother,

Henry, or his own experience. They were both in the Great War of 1918.

During WWI, my uncle was in combat; most likely with the field artillery. Sometimes there were spells of quiet, with not much to do, and rations were short. On a day such as this, my uncle stumbled upon a single cigarette in his breast pocket. He put the cigarette in his mouth and then searched for a match. After checking all his pockets and finding no matches, he asked his buddies, but they had not one match between them. He took a few drags on the dead cigarette, finding no gratification. Then he looked up to the sky and said, " God I do wish I had a match " . Knowing my uncle, he probably said this in Italian.

Then, he told me, he lowered his head to say a prayer. As he did, he notices a single, wooden match at his feet. Quickly he bent down to pick it up. At that moment Uncle John heard a shot ring out. It seams a sniper's shot just whizzed over his head and missed. Wasting no time he said a quick prayer of thanks.

Now, I never asked ifhe smoked that fateful cigarette. However, I will always be

glad that God was watching over him and brought him home safe; for my life would have

been less full, not having known him.

Richard L Paterno

Dec. 18 - 2008

Giovanni was 13 years old when he came to the United States and was 4'9-1/2" tall.