BOARDMAN — When Daniel Rossi, 97, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1945, he was following the example set by his father, August Rossi, who emigrated to America from San Vito Romano, Italy, when he was 16.

August quickly learned English and became an American citizen, then was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War I. That legacy was then passed on to his son, Daniel. August Rossi achieved the rank of private and served in World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Force that fought against the German army in the Forest of Argonne in France. During combat, August was gassed and lost his sense of smell.

His father survived the war and came home to America to start a family. Daniel Rossi still has his father’s helmet, which he keeps with other memorabilia.

“He served America and was very proud to do it. He thought America was wonderful and he served with allegiance to America,” Rossi said.

He said it was the work ethic and pride in his country his father instilled in him that set him on a successful path in life.

Rossi grew up on the East Side of Youngstown. Since his father and mother were Italian immigrants, he learned to speak English while attending the former Madison Elementary School in Youngstown and then taught his mother enough so she could become a U.S. citizen.

As he got older, he attended East High School and was discharged at 2 p.m. daily to work at the Youngstown Municipal Railroad Co., where he brought water to the workers who tore railroad tracks apart so the iron could be recycled and used for the war effort.

In 1944, when Rossi turned 17, he wanted to enlist, but because he was still a minor, he needed his father’s permission, which August initially wouldn’t give.

“He had been through it all,” Rossi said. “He was opposed to my going into the service because he felt that war was hell. And it is hell. He wanted to prevent me from going into the service. But there was no way of doing that.”

Knowing his son would be drafted when he turned 18, August signed off for Daniel to enlist in the U.S. Navy, and he enlisted two days before his 18th birthday in 1945.

“I was worried I would be drafted into the Army, and I wanted to avoid that,” Rossi said.

Initially, he wanted to join the Army Air Corps to become a pilot, but at 6 foot 3 inches tall and 182 pounds, he was too big to fit in the cockpit of a fighter plane, he said.

As a Navy recruit, Rossi demonstrated a proclivity toward math. His superiors suggested he attend radar school, which he thought was a great idea because he would get an education, Rossi recalled.

However, to attend radar school, he would have had to commit six years in the Navy, so he declined the offer.

“I didn’t want to tie up six years of my life as a sailor,” he said.

Rossi completed boot camp at the Great Lakes Training Facility in Chicago and was sent to California on a train, where he was then shipped out to sea. Rossi served 13 months on the USS Cape Johnson, a naval transport boat, mostly during peacetime. He operated the landing craft on the ship that transported soldiers to the Philippines and other small islands in the South Pacific. The soldiers were sent to root out the Japanese still hiding on these islands fighting, even after the war was over.

“I had no greater joy (than serving). Everyone should serve their country for a year. Everyone should have that opportunity. In the service, you learn how to be responsible for your actions and how to advance in any area you choose. It teaches you to perform any task, no matter what, to the best of your ability,” Rossi said.

“What I learned when I was 17 and 18 on behalf of my country is irreplaceable,” Rossi says. “It helped me significantly in the development of my future.”

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, or the G.I. Bill, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, enabled Rossi to pursue an education in law following his military service. Rossi enrolled at then-Youngstown College and attended law school at Ohio Northern University.

During this time, he continued serving in the Naval Reserve for six years.

After graduation, he returned to Youngstown to practice law. It was then he met his future wife, Mary Rossvanes, who worked as a secretary for a lawyer in the office next door. The couple had five children. There are now also eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In 1952, he founded the Rossi and Rossi law firm. His law practice was originally in the Central Tower building and then moved to the Mahoning National Bank building, both in downtown Youngstown. He specialized in personal injury cases. Rossi practiced law until he was 81, when he tried his final jury case. His son, Gregg, now runs the law firm.