D-Day survivor Henry Salmaggi dies at 88

After he served in the Army during World War II, Henry Salmaggi of New Hyde Park entertained his children by sticking magnets on his hand and chin -- the byproduct of having wartime shrapnel in his body.

But in addition to the shards of metal, Salmaggi brought home memories about his two years in the war too painful to discuss, including the carnage he witnessed in the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, in June 1944.

"When it was being done, it was horrible," Salmaggi said in a 2009 interview with Newsday. "When I came home, my father said, 'What did you do?'

" 'I didn't do nothing, Pa,' " Salmaggi said. "I just didn't want to talk about it."

Salmaggi, a retired printer who was one of seven brothers who served in the war, died Monday from heart illness at the Northport VA Medical Center. He was 88.

One of 13 children raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Salmaggi used his printing skills to assemble scrapbooks about his family and World War II.

"He relived that war every day," said his son, Henry, of Lake Ronkonkoma. "He helped to liberate concentration camps. . . . It never really left him: The smells, the people that he saved."

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Salmaggi was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, his family said.

He was diagnosed five years ago with post-traumatic stress disorder, the apparent result of suppressing his war memories, his family said. The younger Salmaggi said his father feared he may not get into heaven because of his role in the conflict.

"He lost a lot of friends, and I think he said, 'Why did I live and they didn't?' " Henry Salmaggi said.

Elisa Salmaggi of Levittown said her father took pride in his wartime service and was equally proud of his family. He enjoyed visiting his grown grandchildren.

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"He loved to go to their homes and say, 'This is all mine,' " she said.

In addition to his son and daughter, Salmaggi is survived by his wife, Myra; a sister, Dora Truzzolino of New Hyde Park; two brothers, Guido of Sarasota, Fla., and Robert of Hampton Bays; a daughter, Elvira Salmaggi of Aquebogue; a son, Edward of Lindenhurst; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours are from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, and 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at New Hyde Park Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be said at 9:15 a.m. Friday at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church in New Hyde Park. Interment will be at Calverton National Cemetery.