Nearly 79 years after Seaman Second Class Carmine J. Lombardi joined the U.S. Navy, U.S. Senator Jack Reed gathered with Lombardi and his family today to celebrate the 96-year-old’s military service and present him with medals he earned at the close of World War II.
A New Jersey native who moved to Providence as a child, Lombardi received training at the U.S. Naval Training Center (USNTC) Bainbridge in Maryland. He later joined the crew of the USS Little Rock, a Cleveland-class cruiser commissioned in 1945. Serving in the U.S. Navy, Lombardi and his fellow sailors spent time performing exercises along the East Coast and Caribbean before deploying to aid war-ravaged nations in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
As World War II ended, Lombardi remained in service, standing post and contributing to U.S. missions globally. “We will forever be grateful for the service and sacrifice of men like Carmine Lombardi, who, at a young age, embarked on an incredible voyage,” said Senator Reed. “He and his shipmates deployed halfway around the world at a time of great turmoil and transition. It is a privilege to recognize Mr. Lombardi’s outstanding service.”
Following his medical discharge from the Navy in 1947, Lombardi returned to Providence, where he worked in the local jewelry industry. A blind date led to a marriage that lasted nearly seven decades until the passing of his wife, Adelaide, in 2022. Together, they raised two children, Sandra and Glen, and ran their own jewelry business, Adjo Soldering.
During the ceremony, Lombardi was awarded four military honors for his service, including the World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Discharge Button, Honorable Service Lapel Pin (Ruptured Duck), and the American Campaign Medal.
Lombardi’s service remains a testament to the dedication and resilience of those who stood watch for freedom during one of the most challenging periods in history.
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