Mike was born in New York City on May 26, 1925. At the age of three, his parents, Nicola and Angela Circello and his brother Vincent took a trip to Italy for a visit to the town of Torremaggiore. When they decided to return to the USA they were unable to do so because Mussolini imposed immigration restrictions to the USA and this affected his mother who was a non-United States Citizen at the time. As a result, Mike and his brother completed their high school education in Italy.
In 1945, Mike and his brother received United States Army Draft Notices through the American Consulate in Naples, Italy. They both reported to the United States Army command in Naples and were assigned to the 88th infantry division in northern Italy. Mike was then assigned to “K” Company 350th INF REGT, 88th INF DIV located in Gorizia, Italy where he underwent intensive combat training in the mountain regions north of Udine. He was selected and attended the non-commissioned officers’ academy located in an old fort in Lido, Venice, Italy.
In 1946, Mike was promoted to Sergeant and due to his extensive knowledge of the Italian language he was assigned to the Division G-2 Section (Military Intelligence). After rotating back to the USA in 1947 he enlisted in the Reserves and was discharged. In 1948, he re-enlisted and was sent to Trieste, Italy where a contingency of Americans and British troops kept control of the borders between Italy and Yugoslavia. Mike was subsequently reassigned to the USA.
In 1953, Mike was assigned to Korea, from there he was sent to Okinawa and after a tour of duty was reassigned to the United States Army Command in Alaska. Upon completing that tour he was sent to the HQ, Third Army in Atlanta, Georgia for two years. From 1965 to 1966 he served in Vietnam. After Vietnam he was assigned to the 5th PSYOP BN (ABN) near Stuttgart, Germany. Mike returned to the USA in 1970 where he retired from the military as a Command Sergeant Major.
In the next phase of his life, Mike worked as an Office Manager with a major insurance company in Boston, MA. He moved to Florida in 1972 and worked in a Savings and Loan Association as a teller. After he completed banking courses, Mike was promoted to Branch Manager of the Security Saving and Loan Association in Clearwater, Florida.
Mike finally settled in Fresno, CA in order to be closer to his daughter, Angela. In Fresno, he obtained a trainee job as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Examiner. He completed the necessary course work to obtain his California State Certification and became Director of Claims with Keenan & Associates. Later, Mike applied for and obtained a job with Fresno Unified School District as a Risk Manager and retired after eight years in 1991.
Mike was a member of the United States Army Association, President of the California Chapter, 88th Infantry Division Association. He was also a member of the Central California Big Band Dance Society and attended the monthly ballroom dances.
In 2006, his wife, Liliana, a war bride preceded him in death.
Mike leaves behind his daughter, Angela Sorrentino and son-in-law Raffaele; sons, Nicholas Circello and daughter-in-law Kim and Anthony Circello and Debbie; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A visitation for Mike will be held Monday, June 20, 2022 from 9:00 a.m to 9:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 355 E Champlain Dr, Fresno, CA 93730. A Recitation of Holy Rosary will follow at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m.
Mike will be laid to rest in San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, 32053 W. McCabe Rd., Santa Nella, CA.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Circello family.
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