Aneli came to the United States from Italy while still a young boy. He fell in love with America. He enlisted in the Army in August 1966 after graduating from Monsignor Bonner High School, and began the long process of becoming a U.S. citizen. The private first class, a radio telephone operator and cannoneer with B Battery of the 18th Battalion, 6th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, died Aug., 7, 1967, in Vietnam after being hit by an Army truck. He was 20 years old. Audi was posthumously granted citizenship four months later. He was survived by his parents and a sister.