For decades after his death in the Vietnam War, Allan Altieri’s resting place lay bare with no grave marker.
But on Friday, exactly half a century after he was killed, his family, friends and several fellow soldiers gathered at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery to commemorate the installation of a new bronze headstone.
An Army private first class, Altieri was a local resident who had graduated from Glendale High School.
His family was so distraught after his death that they moved to the East Coast and intentionally left his grave unmarked, said childhood friend and classmate David Persson.
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A plaque has been installed at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Family friends Heather McCarthy, left, her mother Charlynn McCarthy, second from left, Barbara Neff and her son Joey Bulgarino arrive for unveiling of plaque at the unmarked grave site for Neff’s brother and Glendale resident US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Patriot Guard riders stand next to covered plaque that was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Family friends Heather McCarthy, left, her mother Charlynn McCarthy, second from left, Barbara Neff and her son Joey Bulgarino, right, arrive for unveiling of plaque at the unmarked grave site for Neff’s brother and Glendale resident US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Barbara Neff reflects during ceremony to unveil a plaque at the unmarked grave site for her brother and Glendale resident US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Marine Corps League Detachment #597 color guard does a 21-gun salute after plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Marine Corps League Detachment #597 color guard bugler plays taps after plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Barbara Neff receives an American Flag from event organizer and family friend David Persson during ceremony to unveil a plaque at the unmarked grave site for her brother and Glendale resident US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Friend and event organizer David Persson after plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. Persson visited the unmarked grave site often until last year when he asked Altieri’s sister if she wanted to place a plaque at the site. She agreed and he decided to unveil it 50 years to the day of Altieri’s death to honor him. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Patriot Guard Riders SoCal ride captain Scotty Wiles presents a commemorative plaque to family members after a grave site plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Barbara Neff reflects during ceremony to unveil a plaque at the unmarked grave site for her brother and Glendale resident US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Glendale High School choir members, back row, left director Grace Sheldon-Williams, Brian Sahcnez and Kian Sidi, and from row left to right, Franz Valerio, Allela Ortin and Isabella Caballero sing the National Anthem before plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Marine Corps League Detachment #597 color guard place flags at the spot where a plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
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Patriot Guard riders and guests at ceremony where plaque was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016. PFC Altieri, a graduate of Glendale High School, died at age 19 during a battle in Vietnam. His family moved to the East Coast after Altieri died because, according to a friend, his parents couldn’t take the loss. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
It wasn’t until last year that Persson found out there was no marker and told Altieri’s sister, who lives in North Carolina. She gave him her blessings to order one, courtesy of the Veterans Administration.
Persson said the effort wasn’t about closure, but rather survivor’s guilt.
“It’s the duty of all of us who return to remember our fallen heroes who served their country so valiantly and gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said Friday. He was surrounded by other veterans, including those of the 35th Infantry Regiment, Altieri’s outfit.
Altieri was given many honors after his death, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for valor, both of which are noted on his marker.
Persson remembered Altieri as a good friend with a sense of humor who wrote him twice during the war.
He’s getting what he died for -- his honors.
— Barbara Neff, sister of Allan Altieri
Back in Glendale, Altieri’s family owned the since-closed Roxy Cinema, where Persson got his first job.
Richard Hunter, a combat veteran who served with Altieri, remembered the day he died.
He said Altieri was part of a battle in Pleiku Province, where his party was greatly outnumbered, but continued to fight.
When his body was found, Altieri’s finger was still on the trigger of his machine gun, Hunter said.
Hunter spoke of how young he and many other men were at the time.
“Allan and I were the same age,” he said. “I graduated high school in 1964; I was 19 years old when this happened. We were children. I don’t wish that upon anybody.”
Patriot Guard riders stand next to covered plaque that was unveiled at the unmarked grave site for Glendale resident and US Army PFC Allan J. Altieri 50 years to the day after he was killed in Vietnam, at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Friday, June 24, 2016.
(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Barbara Neff, Altieri’s sister, was presented with an American flag from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol.
For Neff, Friday’s ceremony was almost déjà vu because it reminded her of her brother’s funeral. But she pointed out a key difference.
“It’s as though we buried him 50 years ago, but without the military here to honor him. That wasn’t thought of at the time, it was just family friends,” Neff said.
Having fellow veterans at Altieri’s freshly placed marker and saluting him was a long time coming, she said.
“I never expected all of this, he’s getting what he died for — his honors,” Neff said.
Arin Mikailian was a city hall reporter for the Glendale News-Press. Aside from covering issues like development and the local impact of the drought, he also wrote about business and features. A Glendale native, he graduated from the University of Southern California.
