06/04/2026
Sayville VFW Post 433 was honored to attend the 100th Birthday Celebration of
World War II Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Vincent ‘Vinny’ Impallomeni, a Sayville resident. Sayville Post Commander Bill Borthwick and Post Quartermaster Russell Gobetz presented Vinny with a VFW Certificate of Recognition for his extraordinary courage and sacrifice while serving in the United States Army and his attaining his 100th birthday. Additionally, Vinny was made a Lifetime Member of The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Sayville Post 433.
“We celebrate the 100th birthday of World War II veteran Vincent “Vinny” Impallomeni, a proud U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and beloved member of the Greatest Generation.
Vinny was born in Manhattan on May 28, 1926, the youngest of five children. He grew up on 14th Street, where his parents owned a bakery with an apartment building above it. Surrounded by his brothers John and Guy, his sisters Julia and Rae, and a large extended family, Vinny’s childhood was filled with the warmth of Sunday dinners, stories shared by aunts and uncles, and the unforgettable Italian specialties prepared by his mother, including her own cured olives.
He loved growing up in New York City. As a boy, Vinny and his friends would sell bags for two cents to earn a little money, then head to Katz’s Delicatessen to buy a pastrami or corned beef sandwich to share. At just 16 years old, he met Josie, the young woman who would become the love of his life.
In Oct 1944, Vinny was called to serve his country. He entered the U.S. Army and served with the 6th Infantry Division, 63rd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company C, 2nd Platoon. He served first in the Philippines and later in Korea, rising to the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged. His service in the Philippines included grueling jungle fighting. Vinny was wounded in combat and still carries a piece of shrapnel in his leg. He also endured malaria, jungle rot, and yellow jaundice. For his sacrifice and courage, he received the Purple Heart.
When Vinny returned home, he was thin and his skin was raw from all he had endured. Yet through the hardships of war, one constant remained: he and Josie had continued writing to one another. After his return, they resumed their courtship, enjoying 10-cent movies, tar beach, and visits to Coney Island. On June 27, 1948, Vinny and Josie were married, beginning a life together rooted in love, family, devotion, and resilience.
Vinny and Josie raised four children, one daughter and three sons. Over the years, Vinny worked a variety of jobs, including at Kollsman Instruments and in catering, before beginning a career with the New York City Transit Authority. There, he worked on the Number 7 subway line, repairing heating and air conditioning units on the trains until his retirement.
Today, Vinny takes great pride in the family he helped build and inspire. He is the proud grandfather of eight, great-grandfather of seven, with one more great-grandchild expected in July. His life stands as a powerful testament to service, sacrifice, hard work, love, and the enduring strength of family.
Happy 100th Birthday, Vincent “Vinny” Impallomeni!
From a boyhood on 14th Street in Manhattan to courageous service in the jungles of the Philippines, from the hardship of war to a lifetime of love, work, family, and devotion, your journey reflects the very best of the Greatest Generation. Your life reminds us that true strength is found not only in courage under fire, but also in perseverance, humility, faithfulness, and the love passed from one generation to the next.
A grateful nation honors your service. Your family celebrates the extraordinary life you have built. And all of us are inspired by the remarkable example of a century so fully and faithfully lived.”
(Credit- Friends of the National WW II Memorial )
