Remembering the Puniello brothers — five siblings, five veterans

One family produced five brothers who served in the Armed Forces and left an imprint on Bristol

Posted 11/10/18

Carmine Puniello immigrated to the USA in 1909 from Frosolone, Italy. Thirteen years later he and his wife Anna built their home on 76 Richmond St, Bristol, RI. They had six children. The five boys …

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Remembering the Puniello brothers — five siblings, five veterans

One family produced five brothers who served in the Armed Forces and left an imprint on Bristol

Posted

Carmine Puniello immigrated to the USA in 1909 from Frosolone, Italy. Thirteen years later he and his wife Anna built their home on 76 Richmond St, Bristol, RI. They had six children. The five boys lived in Bristol all their lives. Four of them served in the Navy during World War II and the other in the Army during the Korean War. Their daughter Mary taught secondary education in the Bristol school system for over 36 years.

Dominick (1919-1994): The eldest son served in the U.S. Navy for three years as an Electrician Mate Third Class. In his last year of service, he was assigned to a photographic laboratory, which is where his passion for photography began. After discharged, he returned to Bristol and opened Puniello Studios, which was the premier photographic studio in the Bristol County area for more than 30 years. He married Philomena Cupolo and they had two sons, Carmine and Anthony.

Nick (1921 – 2011): He served in the U.S. Navy, reaching the rank of Electronics Technicians Mate Petty Officer Second Class. He was first assigned to the USS Murphy, participating in the invasion of North Africa and the Naval Battle of Casablanca. Following the end of the invasion of Sicily, while escorting a convoy out of New York harbor in 1943, the ship was struck and split in two about 75 miles off the coast of New Jersey.  Nick was in the forward part of the ship that sank, and he looked up and “swam for the light.” He was hospitalized for weeks with jellyfish stings in New York, where Frank visited him several times. He was later assigned to the Battleship USS New York, participating in the battle for Okinawa.  He worked for many years as a dental repair service technician. He married Ann St. George and had three sons, Nick, Mike and Paul.

Frank “Sabu” (1925-2018): Frank served his country as a Seaman First Class in World War II in the U.S. Navy with the “Seabee’s,” receiving the European-African Middle Eastern Theatre Metal, the American Theatre Metal and the Eastern Theatre Metal, the American Theatre Metal and the WWII Victory Medal. Upon returning to Bristol, Frank worked as a carpenter and later started the Puniello Construction Company. He then worked as a carpenter for the Raytheon Company for more than years. He was inducted into the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame and was a lifetime member of Engine 4 of the Bristol Volunteer Fire Department. Frank passed away earlier this year. All his brothers and sister preceded him in death.

John (1927 - 1985): John followed his brother Frank in the U.S. Navy “Seabees” organization. He served with the 31st Battalion in Kyushu, Japan, earning the Victory medal and the Asian Pacific medal. He was discharged in 1946 as a Seaman First Class. He brought home a Japanese rifle as a souvenir. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum and was also a talented stone mason. He married Hortense “Tancy” Carreira and had two children, John and Frances Ann.

Felix (1929 – 2009): Felix enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 after the end of World War II and served in the beginning of the Korean War in 1950. He enlisted at Fort Banks in Boston and was assigned to the Panama Canal Department. He was discharged in 1950 as a Private. He worked for Carr-Fulflex and owned an Ice Cream and Sandwich business. He was a talented bridge player and an avid golfer. He has one son, Joseph.

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