{{Short description|American World War II veteran (1925–2023)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox military personnel | name = Vincent Speranza | image = Vincent Speranza, 2015.jpg | caption = Speranza in 2015 | birth_date = {{birth date|1925|3|23}} | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|8|2|1925|3|23}} | death_place = Springfield, Illinois, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Iva Leftwich|1948|2017|end = died}} | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = United States Army | rank = Private first class | service_years = 1943–1946 | battles = World War II | unit = 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division }}
'''Vincent J. Speranza''' (March 23, 1925 – August 2, 2023) was an American private who served in the United States Army during World War II.
Born in New York City, Speranza grew up on Staten Island with a large Italian family during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school in January 1943, he enrolled at City College of New York and enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18, after being previously rejected due to being 16. While in the Army, he was sent to Camp Upton in New York State, Suffolk County, Yaphank, before being sent to Fort Benning in Georgia, where he trained with the 87th Infantry Division. He volunteered for the Parachute Infantry and was sent overseas, with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, to Scotland, England, Belgium and France, where his unit would later fight in the Battle of the Bulge. His first engagement was in the Siege of Bastogne, where he operated a machine gun from a foxhole. During the siege, he visited a wounded comrade at a field hospital. The soldier asked for a drink, and Speranza, who had no containers for the drink, found a beer tap and used his helmet as a container. He was caught by the regimental surgeon and was reprimanded. He was discharged in January 1946, spending 144 days in combat. His highest rank was Private first class.
After the end of World War II, Speranza lived in Allied-occupied France and the Netherlands until moving back to New York in December 1945, becoming a teacher at Curtis High School. He received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and a Presidential Unit Citation. In 1948, he married Iva Leftwich, who was his wife until her death in 2017. They had three children. In 2014, he wrote a book, ''NUTS!: A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne''. He died on August 2, 2023, at the age of 98.
==Early life== Speranza was born on March 23, 1925, son of Francesco and Francesca Speranza,<ref>{{Cite web | title=Vincent Speranza Obituary {{!}} Aug 2, 2023 {{!}} Auburn, IL | url=https://www.bramleyfh.com/obituary/Vincent-Speranza#:~:text=He%20was%20born%20in%20Manhattan,Speranza%20on%20March%2023%2C%201925. | access-date=2024-12-22 | website=www.bramleyfh.com}}</ref> in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.<ref name=San>{{Cite web|first=Chris|last=Stone|date=September 24, 2022|title='You Could See Forever': WWII Veteran Parachutes to Coronado During Force-Con|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2022/09/24/you-could-see-forever-wwii-veterans-parachute-to-coronado-during-force-con/|accessdate=January 12, 2023|website=Times of San Diego|language=en-US}}</ref> He spent his childhood on Staten Island in a large and extended Italian family during the Great Depression. He had three brothers and four sisters. He graduated from high school in January 1943 and then enrolled at the City College of New York.
==Military service== Speranza in the early 1940s|thumb In 1943, after graduating from high school, Speranza enlisted in the United States Army.<ref name="StarsStripes">{{Cite web|first=Matthew |last=Burke|date=November 23, 2013|title=Former paratrooper recalls WWII incident that led to beer fame|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/former-paratrooper-recalls-wwii-incident-that-led-to-beer-fame-1.254178|accessdate=January 12, 2023|website=Stars and Stripes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128062150/https://www.stripes.com/news/former-paratrooper-recalls-wwii-incident-that-led-to-beer-fame-1.254178|archive-date=November 28, 2013|url-status=dead|language=en-US}}</ref> He had tried to join at the age of 16, but had to wait until he was 18.<ref name=San/> Speranza was sent to Camp Upton in Yaphank, Suffolk county, New York where he stayed until being sent to Fort Benning in Georgia where he trained for the infantry with the 87th Infantry Division, later volunteering for the Parachute Infantry, which he joined after completing a stint in Parachute School.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Pierre-Maxime|last=Leprovost|date=June 2, 2022|title=78e anniversaire du Débarquement. Le vétéran Vincent Speranza en visite pour le D-Day|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/d-day/78e-anniversaire-du-debarquement-le-veteran-vincent-speranza-en-visite-pour-le-d-day-d82d94ea-e24a-11ec-85b7-5019e6305619|accessdate=January 12, 2023|website=Ouest-France|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ameline |first1=Ludovic |title=78e anniversaire du Débarquement : Vince Speranza, vétéran superstar ! |url=https://actu.fr/debarquement/78e-anniversaire-du-debarquement-vince-speranza-veteran-superstar_51407181.html |access-date=January 19, 2023 |work=La Presse de la Manche |date=June 3, 2022 |language=French}}</ref>
Speranza was sent overseas with Company H, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byrne |first1=John |editor1-last=Dooley |editor1-first= Kelly |title=Vince Speranza: Bastogne Legend |url=https://news.va.gov/82747/vince-speranza-bastogne-legend/ |access-date=January 19, 2023 |work=VA News |publisher=U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |date=December 24, 2020}}</ref> from Camp Shanks on board the Queen Mary, landing in Scotland, later moving to England, Belgium and finally France.<ref name=Silive>{{Cite web|first=Carol Ann|last=Benanti|date=November 9, 2017|title=Decorated World War II veteran tells his 'buried' story after 65 years|url=https://www.silive.com/entertainment/2017/11/decorated_world_war_ii_veteran_tells_his_buried_story_after_65_years.html|accessdate=January 12, 2023|website=Staten Island Advance|language=en-US}}</ref> His unit arrived in France and would later fight in the Battle of the Bulge.<ref>{{Cite web |author=U. S. Embassy in Belgium|date=December 5, 2022 |title=Eyewitness - Vincent Speranza |url=https://be.usembassy.gov/eyewitness-vincent-speranza/ |accessdate=January 1, 2023 |website=U.S. Embassy in Belgium |language=en-US}}</ref> Speranza's first engagement was during the Siege of Bastogne where he operated a machine gun from a foxhole in a forward position outside of the town. During the siege, he visited a wounded comrade at the field hospital set up in a local church, where his friend asked for a drink. Searching through the ruins of the town, he found a working beer tap and filled his helmet for lack of any other container. On delivering the beverage and returning for a second load, he was discovered by a medical officer and reprimanded.<ref name="StarsStripes"/><ref name="FraNoi20230116">{{cite news |last1=Grisolia |first1=Linda |title=Army Private Vincent Speranza |url=https://franoi.com/profiles/army-private-vincent-speranza/ |access-date=January 18, 2023 |work=Fra Noi |publisher=Fra Noi Inc. |date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> He wouldn't learn until 65 years later, that this act of kindness was still remembered, and had inspired a local brew, Airborne Beer, which is served in ceramic pots shaped like helmets.<ref>{{cite web |title=A helmet full of beer |url=https://www.beachesofnormandy.com/articles/A_helmet_full_of_beer/?id=ed105a392a |website=Beaches of Normandy tours |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref>
Speranza spent a total of 144 days in combat<ref name=Silive/> and was discharged in January 1946.<ref name="FraNoi20230116"/> His highest rank was Private first class.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vincent J. Speranza Collection |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.98058/ |website=Library of Congress |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref>
==Life after the war== thumb|Speranza in 2020 After the end of World War II, Speranza stayed in Allied-occupied France and Netherlands until December 1945,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Resources/2e3b0b00-2549-457c-a55d-b3f6dbf575df/Speranza_Vin_IMG.pdf |website=Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum |accessdate=January 3, 2023|title=Vincent Speranza}}</ref> and then returned to New York, where he became a teacher at Curtis High School.<ref name=Silive/> For his service, he received both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star decorations along with a Presidential Unit Citation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.nau.edu/speranza/|title=World War II veteran shares advice, humor and tale that led to late-life fame|date=February 25, 2021|website=The NAU Review|author=Bauzá, Margarita}}</ref>
Speranza later married Iva in 1948, remaining together until her death in 2017.
As part of the 75th anniversary commemoration of Operation Market Garden in September 2019, Speranza was one of two veterans who participated in a parachute drop over North Brabant between Eerde and Schijndel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rietbergen |first1=Kirsten |title=En nóg een 90-plusser springt dinsdag boven Vlagheide uit vliegtuig |url=https://www.bd.nl/uden-veghel-e-o/en-nog-een-90-plusser-springt-dinsdag-boven-vlagheide-uit-vliegtuig~a5d20073/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |access-date=January 15, 2023 |work=Brabants Dagblad |date=September 12, 2019 |location='s-Hertogenbosch |language=Dutch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schoenmakers |first1=Ilse |title=[VIDEO] Jim (98) en Vincent (94) maakten nog één parachutesprong, bekijk hier hoe dat ging |url=https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/3069406/video-jim-98-en-vincent-94-maakten-nog-een-parachutesprong-bekijk-hier-hoe-dat-ging |access-date=January 15, 2023 |work=Omroep Brabant |date=September 17, 2019 |language=Dutch}}</ref>
In 2020, Vincent recorded his own version of the official Airborne song ''Blood on the risers''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Vincent J. Speranza's Full Original Version-BLOOD UPON THE RISERS & BAND of BROTHERS-Music From WWII | date=October 21, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDH2eLE2Zmk |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=en}}</ref>
During the 2021 Christmas period, Speranza was featured in an hour-long broadcast by the Overloon War Museum. This was one of a series of videos released by the museum while it was closed due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Janssen |first1=Leon |title=Oorlogsmuseum Overloon start digitale rondleidingen met Herman the Sherman |url=https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20211224_94274922 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |work=De Limburger |publisher=Mediahuis |date=December 25, 2021 |language=Dutch}}</ref>
In 2022, after participating in veteran events in Europe for 12 years, Speranza announced he would no longer make the journey from the U.S. to Europe, to preserve his health. The announcement came after he collapsed following a 28-hour journey home from Brussels to Springfield, Illinois.<ref>{{cite news |title=Débarquement. Apprécié dans le Cotentin, le vétéran Vince Speranza n'y reviendra plus |url=https://actu.fr/normandie/sainte-mere-eglise_50523/debarquement-apprecie-dans-le-cotentin-le-veteran-vince-speranza-n-y-reviendra-plus_54242091.html |access-date=January 15, 2023 |work=La Presse de la Manche |date=October 5, 2022 |language=French}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Speranza in 2015|thumb Speranza married Iva Leftwich in 1948. They had a son, Vincent, and two daughters, Katharine and Susan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vincent Speranza, popular WWII veteran and hero, passes away at 98|url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2023/08/03/auburn-iii-resident-vincent-speranza-fought-at-battle-of-the-bulge-dies/70519606007/# |author=Steven Spearie |newspaper=Springfield State Journal-Register |date=August 3, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Obituary for Iva Speranza|url=https://www.bramleyfh.com/obituary/Iva-Speranza |accessdate=December 31, 2022 |publisher= Bramley Funeral Home, Auburn, IL |language=en}}</ref> He published a book named ''NUTS!: A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spearie |first1=Steven |title=Veterans Day events still on for Wednesday |url=https://eu.sj-r.com/story/lifestyle/things-to-do/2020/11/10/veterans-day-events-still-on-for-wednesday/114817920/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |work=The State Journal-Register |location=Springfield, Illinois |publisher=Gannett |date=November 20, 2022}}</ref> in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuqua |first1=Brad |title=Philomath program features 96-year-old WWII veteran and his beer-in-the-helmet story |url=https://philomathnews.com/philomath-program-features-96-year-old-wwii-veteran-and-his-beer-in-the-helmet-story/ |access-date=January 19, 2023 |work=Philomath News |date=November 12, 2021}}</ref>
In July 2021, an interview he did for American Veterans Center was released; it has over 2.4 million views as of February 2026.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDHp9-kWd2g |title=101st Airborne Paratrooper's LEGENDARY Story of Combat and his Famed Beer Run {{!}} Vincent Speranza |language=en |access-date=2024-04-08 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> In February 2023, Speranza recorded a video sharing an inspiring message to future generations; {{as of|2024|03|lc=y}}, it has had over 3 million views on YouTube.<ref>{{Citation |title=Words of wisdom from a #WWII veteran | date=February 21, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG521c-f7Mc |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=en}}</ref>
Speranza died on August 2, 2023, at the Springfield Memorial Hospital, at the age of 98.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id693478/article/2023-08-03/bastogne-vince-speranza-le-heros-de-guerre-decore-de-la-legion-dhonneur-est |title=Bastogne : Vince Speranza, le héros de guerre décoré de la Légion d'honneur, est décédé |language=french |newspaper=Sud Info |date=August 3, 2023 |access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://actu.fr/societe/debarquement-bien-connu-dans-la-manche-le-veteran-vince-speranza-est-decede_59926592.html |title=Débarquement. Bien connu dans la Manche, le vétéran Vince Speranza est décédé |language=french |newspaper=La Presse de la Manche |date=August 3, 2023 |access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2023/08/03/auburn-iii-resident-vincent-speranza-fought-at-battle-of-the-bulge-dies/70519606007/ |title=Vincent Speranza, popular WWII veteran and hero, passes away at 98 |author=Steven Spearie |newspaper=Springfield State Journal-Register |date=August 3, 2023 |access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
Speranza has a beer and a limited-edition watch named after him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2020 |title=World War II Veteran Vincent Speranza and His Legendary Airborne Beer Story |url=https://www.coffeeordie.com/airborne-beer-vincent-speranza |accessdate=December 31, 2022 |website=Coffee or Die |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Matt|last=Sampson|title=Review: the Praesidus Vince Speranza is a unique tribute to the WWII A-11 field watch|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/gear/praesidus-vince-speranza-a-11-field-watch-review/|date=May 31, 2022|accessdate=January 12, 2023|website=Task & Purpose|language=en}}</ref>
==Awards and decorations== '''Awards and decorations''' *Combat Infantryman Badge *Parachutist Badge *Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC) *Purple Heart (1 OLC) *Army Good Conduct Medal *World War II Victory Medal *American Campaign Medal *European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with 2 campaign stars) *Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster *French Croix de Guerre *Legion of Honour *Fourragère *Honorary Medal in Bronze, municipality of Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Other notes ! Sources |- | 2019 || ''Libertas: 75th Anniversary of D-Day'' || Himself || ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Libertas 75th Anniversary of D-Day Normandy Jump 2019 Documentary |url=https://www.normandyjump2019.com/ |access-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120025956/https://www.normandyjump2019.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |}
==See also== *List of notable residents in the Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood *List of notable residents of Auburn, New York *List of notable members of the 101st Airborne Division
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/oral-history/collections/speranza-vincent-1-1/interview-detail/ Vincent Speranza, Oral history] from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Speranza, Vincent}} Category:1925 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Schoolteachers from New York (state) Category:Military personnel from Staten Island Category:American people of Italian descent Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:American recipients of the Legion of Honour Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France) Category:20th-century American educators