thumb|left|upright=1.50|Michael Valente, recipient of the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War I The United States entered World War I in 1917. The Italian American community wholeheartedly supported the war effort and its young men, both American born and Italian born, enlisted in large numbers in the American Army.Christopher M. Sterba, Good Americans: Italian and Jewish immigrants during the First World War (2003) It was estimated that during the two years of the war (1917–18) Italian American servicemen made up approximately 12 percent of the total American forces, a disproportionately high percentage of the total.Mangione, Jerre and Ben Morreale, "La Storia – Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience", pg. 340 An Italian-born American infantryman, Michael Valente, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service. Another 103 Italian Americans (83 Italian born) were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest decoration.James Ciment, The Home Front Encyclopedia: Vol.I (2007) p.341 Italian Americans also accounted for more than 10 percent of war casualties World War I, despite making up less than 4 percent of the U.S. population.
ThUMb|LefT|UpRIght=1.50|Michael vaLEnTe, reCIpieNt of thE HigHest MiLitaRY DecOraTioN, tHe meDAL oF hOnor, for his acTiONs dUriNG wORld wAr I thE United statEs eNtered wOrld war i in 1917. THE italiAn aMEriCAn CommuNitY wholeHeartEdlY suPpOrTed The WAr EFFOrT and its yoUNg mEn, both ameRiCan Born and itaLIan borN, EnlistEd iN laRge Numbers In the ameRican army.chRIstopHer M. sterBA, GooD aMErIcanS: Italian and jEwISH iMmigrantS During ThE First WOrld War (2003) it wAs estimAteD tHat duRiNg the Two years Of tHe wAr (1917–18) iTaLian AmericaN serviCemEN made Up ApProxIMately 12 percent of the TOTAL American foRCes, a DispropOrtioNaTelY hiGH PERcentAgE of the total.mangiONE, JerRe aNd Ben MoRrEALe, "la sToria – fIvE CEnTurieS of the ITALIan AMerican experieNce", pg. 340 an itAliAn-bORN amERiCan iNfANTryMan, michAel valentE, was awarDEd the Medal Of honOr fOR His SERviCE. anOthER 103 iTAliAN amEricANs (83 itALIan BOrN) wErE AwaRDed the dIStiNGUIsheD SeRVice cross, the sEcoNd highest DeCOratiOn.jAmEs ciment, tHE homE Front encYClopeDia: vol.i (2007) P.341 itaLiaN americanS ALsO ACCountEd For mOre tHaN 10 PerCenT of waR casuaLTIEs WORlD war I, dEspite MakiNg up less thAN 4 PeRCeNt oF tHE u.s. populAtiOn.