Published Jun 29, 2026, 9:07 AM EDT

It was a full-circle moment for Dominick Critelli and Brig. Gen. Stephen Case.

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Published Jun 29, 2026, 9:07 AM EDT

A chance reunion produced a heartfelt moment recently between a grizzled World War II veteran and a strait-laced brigadier general. Dominick Critelli, 105, was attending the 2026 Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville, Tenn., when he met Brig. Gen. Stephen P. Case and struck up a conversation. The two men met thanks to Case’s son, Stephen, a future West Point cadet who noticed a distinct pin on Critelli’s World War II veteran cap. The emblem was the division insignia his father commands, the 95th Training Division. Stephen invited Critelli to chat with his dad, and in a matter of moments, eight decades of Army division history connected between two soldiers who knew the meaning of service and sacrifice. Critelli, a staff sergeant in World War II, served with the Army from Oct. 28, 1942 to Nov. 21, 1945. Military uniforms have changed a lot in 80 years, and as Case talked to Critelli, the World War II veteran noticed something odd about the brigadier general’s attire. He wasn’t wearing non-commissioned officer chevrons on his sleeves. “Why aren’t you wearing any stripes?” he asked. Case wasn’t offended. He simply explained to Critelli the difference in rank insignia and took the opportunity to honor a true war hero. Or maybe it was the other way around. Critelli, realizing he was chatting with the division’s commander, began to slowly stand, pulling his 105-year-old body up to salute Case. But the commander politely put his hand on Critelli’s shoulder, signifying that wouldn’t be necessary. Case then removed his division’s patch from his left sleeve, placing it on Critelli’s right sleeve, a warm gesture that honored his combat service and devotion to the 95th. “It was a profound honor to meet and speak with one of the living legends of our division,” Case said in a press release. “Staff Sgt. Critelli embodies the spirit and legacy of the Iron Men of Metz, and his presence reminds us of the responsibility we carry to uphold their standard.”