MIAMI – In today’s Miami Proud, we’re honoring one very special veteran who served in World War II – Tony Perini.
A little over 119,000 American veterans who served in that war are still alive today, representing less than 1% of the 16.4 million who served as of 2024, according to the National World War II Museum.
Perini, who is about to turn 102 years old, has quite a decorated life.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrants, Perini eventually made his way to South Florida with his late wife Anna after their wedding.
“This was only about a year after the war. That’s how soon we left New York,” Perini said.
This World War II Navy vet displays his pride of faith and country all over his home.
“I was a what they referred to as a machinist mate, spent 3 years out there,” he said.
But, if you ask him what he’s most proud of, it’s not the long list of military accomplishments or the patents he made for ships in South Florida.