Calendar photo revives memories of Korean War

The Coitsville man received the Purple Heart during his service in Korea.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
COITSVILLE -- When Domenic Lentini saw his picture in the 25th Infantry Division Association's 2006 calendar, it transported him back 56 years to a freezing winter day near the Manchurian border during the danger and dying that was the Korean War.
"We could hear the Chinese army digging in the frozen ground," said Lentini, an Army veteran.
Lentini joined the 25th Infantry Division Association about a year ago. He was surprised when on Feb. 28, 2006, he received the association's calendar, which features archival military photos from various wars for each month.
He turned to March -- because his birthday is March 15 -- and got an even greater surprise. He saw the picture and immediately knew what he was looking at.
"When I saw the picture, I said, 'Oh Lord.' It took me right back," Lentini said.
"It's bizarre, that out of all the thousands and thousands of war photos, mine should show up," Lentini said.
The gritty black-and-white photo shows Lentini, of County Line Road, between two other men in a foxhole with their weapons all pointed in the same direction -- toward the Chinese.
Others in photo
Lentini, a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Regiment of the Army's 25th Division, said the soldier to his left, 38 at the time, was from Manhattan, N.Y. He was in the Army hiding from the mob, Lentini said with a smile.
Lentini said he is not sure, but that he thinks the name of the soldier to his right was Gary Collins, and that he was from Akron or Canton.
The picture in the calendar does not list names, dates or location, so Lentini had to confirm with the 25th Division Association when and where the picture was taken, and that it was him.
He said it was taken in the Suwon vicinity close to the Hahn River, where they were dug in in support of the 1st Marine Division. He remembers the picture's being taken.
Lentini, 75, served in Korea in 1950 and 1951. His feet were frostbitten, and he received the Purple Heart for multiple shrapnel wounds suffered when a grenade exploded near him as he was standing behind a tank for protection.
"If there had not been a foot of mud in the road that compacted the explosion, I wouldn't be here today," Lentini said.
After he was wounded, he stayed at a M.A.S.H. unit for a couple of days, and then was evacuated to a hospital in Osaka, Japan, where he spent "seven months and 14" days recovering. He still carries some of the metal fragments in his body.
Background
Lentini's parents, Tony and Anne Lentine, lived on Calvin Street in Youngstown's Brier Hill area, when he was born. The family moved to Second Street in Campbell, where he grew up and attended Campbell Memorial High School. In 1948 at age 16, he lied about his age and enlisted in the Army for two years. He was discharged, but re-enlisted in 1950 after the Korean War began. He was sent from Japan to Korea in August 1950 and was immediately moved to the front lines. In addition to the Purple Heart, he received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Korea War Service Medal and a citation from the president of South Korea.
"A lot of my friends died. I still think about it. That's why I go to post traumatic stress disorder classes twice a week [at the Youngstown Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic]. It helps," he said.
Lentini credits his good friend John Pariza of West Middlesex, Pa., who served in the Army in Korea from August 1950 to November 1951, for getting him and other veterans involved in the PTSD classes.
Pariza has gotten many veterans to got to the VA to pursue benefits. He really cares about veterans, Lentini said.
Postwar life
After he was discharged Aug. 8, 1953, Lentini came back home and resumed working for the railroad. However, because he was on partial disability, the VA didn't want him to work outside. So, he took a job with Ohio Bell Telephone, which became AT & amp;T, from which he retired in 1985 after 29 1/2 years. He then worked for the Gasser Chair Co. in Hubbard for 10 years.
These days he enjoys gardening and his grandsons, Dillon and Jeffrey Marx, and stays involved in veterans affairs as a member of the Korean War Veterans Chapter 137 and other veterans organizations. He is also a member of the Hubbard Optimist Club, Hubbard Knights of Columbus and St. Patrick Church in Hubbard.
Lentini and his wife, the former Marian Mikan, originally of Hubbard, were married on June 15, 1963. They lived on Chestnut Ridge Road in Hubbard Township until 1965 when they built the home in which they still live.
The couple has two daughters: Lisa Ann Marx of Hubbard and Diana Winfrey of Fullerton, Calif.
Siblings
Lentini has several siblings, including his brother Thomas in Texas, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War; and four sisters, Catherine Scaperotto of Youngstown, Antonette DeGennaro of Columbus, Theresa DeLisio of Berlin Center and Mary Dillon of Coitsville. A brother, Anthony, died two years ago.
Lentini's entire family was expected at a 75th birthday party Sunday organized by his wife and daughters.
"I appreciate what my family is doing. I've got a lot of pride, but I'm not looking for glory. The guys who deserve the honor died over there or are missing in action," Lentini said.
alcorn@vindy.com