“War has a distinguishing thing: It’s something you don’t want to do again but it’s something that you’re proud you did.” (Video Interview, 48:44.8)

Jack J. Valenti

Jack Valenti [2003] War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Army Air Forces/Corps Unit: 448th Bomb Squadron, 321st Bomb Group, 57th Bomb Wing, 12th Air Force Service Location: Corsica; Ancona, Italy; European Theater Rank: First Lieutenant

Jack Valenti was working his way through college night school when he enlisted, one month after the Pearl Harbor attack. Though he had never flown, he had aspirations to serve as a pilot and became one, flying 51 bombing missions over Italy. Valenti and the crew of his B-25 never backed down from enemy fire. Only bad weather could deter them from their primary targets, but they always found alternative drop sites. In this 2003 interview, admitting he has never talked so extensively about his war experiences, he is honest about the fear he experienced on every mission and how his training helped him deal with that emotion.