Vernon missed celebrating his twenty-second birthday by one week.

Vernon Joseph Pesenti was born in San Francisco, California, on November 24, 1929, to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Pesenti. His sister Phyllis and brothers Victor and Norman joined him in the family. Vernon was raised in the San Lorenzo Valley where he attended San Lorenzo Valley High School and was a member of the Cougar football team.

Following his graduation from high school in 1948, Pesenti joined the US Air Force. After completing basic and advanced training at Lackland AFB, Texas, Airman Pesenti was assigned to a radar post in Alaska. During his USAF tour, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

While flying aboard a C-47 out of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, on November 7, 1951, Staff Sergeant Vernon J. Pesenti was killed when the plane crashed. His remains were returned to California and following a military funeral, were interred in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno.

(CBR; SCSn November 9, 1951 1:4, USDVA; SLVHS Yearbook)