‘Remarkable saga of family service’

6 brothers, Navy veterans to be honored in D.C.

By Cora Higgins

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A dedication ceremony is set for Saturday, July 15 to honor the six Oddo brothers, of Bellevue, at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington D.C.

It’s significant to note that, to date, the largest number of siblings to all enlist in the Navy is five, the famous Sullivan Brothers. Since the military branches haven’t kept a record of familial connections, it is impossible to know for certain, but the six Oddo brothers could be a record.

“What a remarkable saga of family service, and even if this level of commitment is not unique, it is certainly exceptional,” said Robert Smith, the Navy Memorial historian.

While visiting the memorial in March, Roger Oddo, originally from Bellevue, discovered a plaque wall in remembrance of sailors. The wall, having an elegance and moving presence, inspired him to initiate fundraising efforts to pay tribute to his father and uncles. While gathering information from the memorial to see this come to fruition, the story of the brothers was told to Smith.

Roger’s father, Richard, was the last of the six Oddo brothers to pass away in November 2022.

Charles Oddo, an immigrant from Sicily, came to America and settled in Bellevue at just 18 years old. He married Mary Grace Baptista, the daughter of a Sicilian immigrant. They instilled a deep love for country and family in all six of their sons who then went on to each join the Navy, making them both brothers by blood and brothers by sea.

While the Oddo brothers may have been scattered around the world during their times of service, they each returned to the Bellevue area.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our fathers, and their dedication to both their service to our country and to our family. It felt appropriate after my father passed away to do something that honored them with the same level of significance that they brought to every life they touched,” Roger Oddo said.

“These were exceptional men, neighbors, comrades, sons, brothers, spouses, and mostly, fathers. Leaving a legacy that will remain part of history for others to see at the U.S. Navy Memorial helps us share with others who visit the memorial a bit of what they gave to us. The effort put into making this dedication happen wouldn’t have come to fruition without the lesson of rallying together that we learned from them.”

The last surviving spouse, Sherron (Dick) Oddo, will lay a wreath at the foot of the Lone Sailor statue during the July 15 ceremony. While in D.C., the family has been granted White House tours and are excited to take their Italian/American family gathering all the way to our nation’s capital.

“This was a combined effort of family, friends, community, and the VFW posts 1238 and 6067. It’s inspirational to see the groups they dedicated themselves to, giving back in honor of them. Our fathers were unintentionally inspirational. They just had a way of positively impacting others without expecting anything in return. We hope their story inspires those who read it to live the way they did, putting service above self,” Roger Oddo said.