Dario R. Berlucci

DARIO R. BERLUCCI

Dario Raffaele [aka Ralph] Berlucci was born in Brooklyn, NY on 18 September 1925 and accompanied his proud young mother on a trip to her native Italy (reference lines 22 and 23). The date of their departure from the U.S. is not known but Ida's immigration visa was issued on 16 February 1927 thereby giving a hint that the trip was no longer than four months long. They returned to New York Harbor aboard the SS Roma on 18 June 1927 when Dario was still but 18 months of age.

Dario enlisted in the Army at New York City, NY on 15 November 1943.

Pfc Berlucci, a member of Hq Hq, 508th PIR was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for the Rhineland Campaign, from 15 February 1945.

SAILING HOME ON AN AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-TO-BE

The SS Roma was launched in 1926 with a Baroque style interior. The ship could house 1700 passengers (375 first, 300 second, 300 intermediate, 700 third class).
When World War II broke out,

she was laid up and later taken over by the Italian Navy. She was then refitted and transformed into an aircraft carrier named Aquila ("Eagle").
She was never completed after being taken over by the German occupation forces in 1943 and was partially scuttled two years later. After the end of the conflict, her wreckage was raised and towed to La Spezia, where she was scrapped in 1951-1952.