‘This is a great American’

Tim Forsberg

Posted 7/1/15

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‘This is a great American’

PROUD FAMILY: Members of Astillodore St. Angelo’s family join him and Sen. Jack Reed in celebrating his remarkable military career. They are, from left, are St. Angelo’s children Jerilynn Lombardi, Gerald St. Angelo, Roseann Libassi and Eileen Renaud, and his wife, Eileen St. Angelo.

Photos by Tim Forsberg

DECORATED VETERAN: Sen. Jack Reed pins the National Defense Service Medal on Sgt. Astillodore St. Angelo, 84, of Cranston, for his service during the Korean War.

Posted Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:33 pm

Tim Forsberg

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed hosted a special medal ceremony Monday to honor a Korean War veteran, Sgt. Astillodore St. Angelo, 84, of Cranston. St. Angelo was presented with military honors, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and the United Nations Service Medal, among others that he earned but never received during his service in the U.S. Army.

“This is a great honor for me to be here to give you these awards. I don’t have to tell you, this is a great American, a great hero, someone who was a combat infantryman in the Korean War, who served his country,” Reed said. “More than that, he came home and built an incredible family, contributed to his community, and was a role model for all of us growing up about what we could be and what we had to be. We’re celebrating a great gentleman today and a great hero, and I’m honored to be able to do that.”

St. Angelo was 21 years old when he joined the Army in the summer of 1952.

“My husband is the most patriotic person I’ve ever known,” said his wife, Eileen.