Vincent N. Mobilia, age 87, of Erie, died Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was born in Erie on July 12, 1922, son of the late Charles and Fortunata Bongiovanni Mobilia.

Vincent was a 26 year veteran having served in both the U.S. Army and Air Force. He had served in WWII, the Korean conflict and Vietnam Wars. Vincent was on of the 16 Rangers out of 1200 from the Second Ranger Battalion to have survived the D-Day Invasion of WWII. For his service to the country he was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Heart medals.

Throughout his military service, Vincent specialized in radio communication as well as sonar and radar technology. He had been selected to participate in a Peace Mission to Central and South America for 3-1/2 years. He had arrived for the mission aboard the Presidential plane, “Sacred Cow”. Part of the mission was to bring radio free communication into these developing countries to thwart the advance of communist ideology.

Vincent was also the first American citizen to be awarded a French Amateur Radio Call Sign (F7CA) in recognition of his vast expertise in the field of radio communication. As a ham radio operator Stateside, Vincent’s call sign was W3UMN.

He had also been employed by the General Electric Co. for 20 years prior to his retirement. Vincent was a member of St. James R.C. Church. He was also a member of the VFW Post 3390 and the DAV.

Preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Caulfield Mobilia; two brothers, Nicholas and Anthony Mobilia; and two sisters, Carmella Hake and Josephine Moore. Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Mobilia , Marie Mobilia and Therese Mobilia, all of Erie; one son, Robert J. Mobilia of Erie; two brothers, Joseph Mobilia of Erie and Louis Mobilia of Ripley, NY; two sisters, Angela Monti (Louis) of Bradford, PA and Mary Mobilia of Cleveland, OH; seven grandchildren, Michael, Patrick, Julie, Christine, Breanna, Roger Vincent and Maura; five great-grandchildren many nieces and nephews.

No calling hours will be observed. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at St. James R.C. Church on Saturday at 2 p.m. Private Inurnment, Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospice Fund, 135 East 38th St., Erie, PA 16504 or the Erie Zoo, P.O. Box 3268, Erie, PA 16508. The Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., East, 2607 Buffalo Road is handling funeral arrangements. To send condolences, visit www.dusckasfuneralhome.com .