CRANSTON, RI – A 94-year-old Providence native and World War II veteran received some long overdue medals and recognition for his exemplary service in combat above the skies of Italy more than seventy years ago. 

Today, during a special ceremony before family and well-wishers, U.S. Senator Jack Reed presented Mr. Benjamin Sebastian Carbone with medals he earned for his distinguished service during World War II. 

“Every Rhode Islander who answered the call to serve in World War II and fulfilled their duty with honor and distinction, as Mr. Carbone did, is a hero in my book.  They may not be household names, but they have earned their place in history.  We simply can’t thank them enough,” said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee and a West Point graduate. 

Mr. Carbone joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943 (the U.S. Air Force was not created as a separate branch of service until 1947) at the age of 19.  He served as a Staff Sergeant in the 15th Air Force, 98th Bomb Group, 344 Squadron in Lecce, Italy, and completed 50 combat missions as a ball turret gunner on a B-24 aircraft by the time he was 20 years old.  B-24s, known as “the Liberator” were long-range heavy bombers.  As a ball turret gunner, Staff Sgt. Carbone was responsible for protecting the plane from enemy fighter aircraft and operated out of a cramped glass bubble jutting out of the plane with two .50 caliber machine guns. 

“On behalf of a grateful nation and the state of Rhode Island, I want to express my enduring gratitude for Mr. Carbone’s faithful service,” said Senator Reed.  “We are so grateful to him and his fellow airmen.  They continue to inspire us and their contributions to our nation will not be forgotten.”

After being honorably discharged from the service on October 25, 1945 Mr. Carbone began his lifetime career as a Master Plumber where he started a company with his brother called the “Carbone Brothers.”  After ten years, he was approached to become the Plumbing Inspector for the City of Providence, a job he held for 25 years and retired in 1985.

Mr. Carbone has helped educate students about what life was like during the war, speaking to classes at Cranston West and Hope Highlands schools in Cranston to students learning about World War II.

He was married to the late Carolina Carbone for 64 years and has two children: Sharon and Steve; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

During today’s ceremony, Staff Sgt. Carbone received several medals and awards, including: the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star & Silver Star Attachment; World War II Victory Medal; Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII; Good Conduct medal; Marksmanship Badge & Rifle Bar; and the Army Aviation Badge Basic.

Senator Reed works with veterans, families, and caregivers to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they have earned.  Senator Reed can help veterans cut through red tape and access their files through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).  The NPRC does not make the awards as that is determined by the concerned branch of service, but Senator Reed’s office can work with the NPRC to determine if there are records or evidence of awards won, verify the awards, and then coordinate with the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served to obtain the medals.

For more information on how Senator Reed’s office can assist veterans in tracking down the service medals they are eligible for or replace medals that were lost or stolen, please call: (401) 943-3100.