Peruse the pages of The Herald during World War II and it won't take long to find the names of many Mercer County families who had three or more siblings serving.

John, Michael and Andrew Baran; Frank, Albert and John Such; Guy, Guido, Frank and James Zupo; and Frank, Chester and Albert Linonis and Henry Winslow are but a few.

And despite the fact that four of the children of Anthony and Lucille Perfett, both of whom are deceased, served overseas during the war, they would be the first to say their story is no more or no less special than the others. It, they might simply say, was just typically American of the families of that era.

Like millions before them, the Italian immigrants made their way to the shores of this nation, past the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, as kids because their parents were trying to make a better life for their families.

And like most families of the mid-20th century, it didn't take much prodding for them to give back to the country they so wholeheartedly felt had given them so much.

Within a blink of an eye of Anthony becoming an American citizen in 1940 and Lucille doing likewise in 1943, four of their children were in the U.S. armed forces as World War II raged in the European and Pacific theaters.

Sgt. Michael Perfett served in the Army, Maj. Constance Marie Perfett Knight in the Army Nurses Corp, 1st Lt. Raymond Perfett in the Army Air Force and Radioman 2nd Class Alfred Perfett in the Navy.

In addition, Cpl. William Perfett was in the Army during the Korean War and two other siblings -- Dorothy A. Perfett Toth and Rose M. Perfett Hattrup -- were married to men who also served in the military.

"As I recall, there was no question about it," Dr. Alfred Perfett, 78, of Sharpsville said. "You didn't question if you wanted to go. It was something you were almost obligated to do. ... And when it came your time you just accepted the reality of everything. You didn't question it. Very few people tried to get out. And those who did not volunteer of course were drafted."

Mrs. Knight, 85, of Hermitage agreed.

"We were all very patriotic and very willing to give the time," she recalled. "And I think a lot of it, as far as our family was concerned, was we were very anxious to do something for the fellas because our brother was already a prisoner of war."

That brother was Michael Perfett, who was attached to Company B of the 803rd Engineer Battalion in the Philippines when the Japanese overran the island in the weeks after Pearl Harbor.

He was reported missing in action on May 25, 1942, before a telegram from the War Department on Jan. 3, 1943, to the family indicated he was a prisoner of war. And he remained a POW until being liberated on Sept. 4, 1945.

So shortly after graduating from nursing school, Mrs. Knight joined the Army Nurses Corps on May 1, 1943, although her parents weren't particularly thrilled.

"She wasn't happy about the family breaking up or going separate ways, but I think both mom and dad were very proud that they were able to give their children and encourage their children to do their part," she said. "And we did. It broke their hearts to think the family was going in different directions and not knowing."

Mrs. Knight was the second sibling to enlist and was followed by Ray a month later and Alfred in November, just a few months after his 18th birthday and graduation from Sharpsville High School.

"I was just a kid and a lot of people in Sharpsville felt that way when the young people started to go that they were too young and not ready for it, to take on that responsibility," Alfred said. "But nobody questioned it. When your time came, you turned 18 and your number came up, you just accepted the reality of it."

It was easier to deal with the uncertainty of war, Alfred said, because his family wasn't the only one affected by it.

"It was the entire country," he said. "There were so many things happening and so many people involved; there was total support from society all the way around.."

At a family reunion this past summer, the Perfett family celebrated its veterans by compiling a brief history of each member's service and putting it into a book. A dozen people, including the five Perfett siblings, combined for more than 81 years of service to the country.

Alfred said the family decided on a patriotic theme for the reunion because of the war going on in Iraq. Then one of the family members came up with the idea of recognizing "Uncle Mike" because the younger kids knew very little about World War II and very little about Michael because he had passed away so long ago.

"We originally were going to honor his memory," he said. "Then somebody said, 'Why not include everybody who has served in military?' "

And so they did, putting together the notbook full of military history, placards and photos, all of which were displayed in the Hazen Road garage of Alfred at the reunion.

"I was a little bit concerned at first because I thought it might put people in a sad mood," said Michael's daughter, Mary Ellen Perfett Hilko, 54, of Pittsburgh, who was only 3 when he died. "But it turned out not to be and it actually served as an impetus for a new kind of discussion. My sons were very interested and they still talk about things they didn't know or that they came to realize, not only about their grandfather but about their great-uncles and aunts."

In addition to the seven siblings' connection to the service, all of whom are living except Raymond who died in 1977, other extended family members who were recognized (with their relationship to Anthony and Lucille Perfett, who died in 1978 and 1983, respectively) included: sons-in-law Joseph M. Knight, Andrew A. Toth, who died in 1999, and Gerald J. Hattrup, who died in 1996; grandson-in-law Raymond F. Stetz; brother-in-law Henry J. Saborsky; a husband of a daughter-in-law, Thomas J. Perjol; and nephew-in-law James S. Petrella.

"It was beautiful," Mrs. Toth, 80, of Sharpsville said about the reunion attended by 80 people. "It was a beautiful day."

Mrs. Knight concurred.

"That made it very interesting," she added. "The young people were so curious in asking questions."

"Everybody really had a good feeling about it and it opened up some discussion and it opened up some doors that had been closed for a long time," Alfred said. "It made it a little easier somewhat for people to talk. And my nieces and nephews said their children were asking a lot of questions. It was rather overwhelming. It did wake up memories and it was educational to those who had no knowledge before."