By Scarlett Richards
A decorated World War II veteran died earlier this week while on his way to the 80th D-Day anniversary commemorations in France.
American Robert 'Al' Persichitti, aged 102, fell sick while on a boat in the North Sea on his way to Normanby for the event, the BBC reported.
He was airlifted to Germany by helicopter but died in hospital.
Persichitti had been looking forward to attending, telling WROC-TV "I'm really excited to be going".
He had been travelling with other war veterans from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
His friend Al DeCarlo, who served alongside Persichitti in Japan and was travelling with him to Normanby, said he did not die alone.
"The doctor was with him... he was at peace and he was comfortable," DeCarlo told WHAM-TV.
Persichitti had a history of heart complications, but had been encouraged to travel by his cardiologist.
The navy veteran served in the Japan during the war.
He witnessed the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima by US Marines, an event which would produce one of the world's most widely recognised photographs.
In 2020 Persichitti was recognised by the New York State Senate’s Veterans Hall of Fame for the work he did as a radio operator during the war.
