Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Aristeo
V.
Simoni
March 16, 1879

–

February 18, 1958

Cemetery:

Queen of Angels Cemetery

Aristeo Simoni was born in Rome, Italy, and his education was obtained in Europe. Degrees were conferred upon him by the Gregorian University, Rome, and Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, after emigrating to the United States. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1901. He was teaching modern and classical languages in Chicago when the United States entered World War I, and because he was fluent in six languages, the War Department invited him to join the Army ChaplainÕs Corp. Simoni quickly accepted was commissioned a first lieutenant on January 3, 1918, and was transferred almost immediately overseas and participated in the campaigns at Aisne-Marne, Champagne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Sommes, and Saint Mihiel. He was decorated by France, and Italy presented him the rare Order of the Crown. After the war he served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort Hancock, New Jersey; the Panama Canal Zone; and the Philippine Islands. He retired at Camp Grant, Illinois, after 25 years of continuous military service.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    111th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 3, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 44 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Aristeo V. Simoni, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near La Chene Tondu, France, 3 October 1918. Upon learning that there were six wounded men in front of our lines, Chaplain Simoni asked for two volunteers and with the aid of these men successfully brought the wounded men to our own lines through a terrific machine-gun and grenade fire.