My name is Andrea Gatti, I'm living in Scarperia a small village 30 km north from Florence Italy. My father Dino was enlisted in WW2 into the Royal Italian Army and fought in the Balkan area between Yugoslavia and Albania, my mother was born very close to the Riva Ridge, the area of 10th Mountain Division.
I find your web site in looking for information about the 169th Engineering Battalion who it first saw combat during the Allied Invasion of Italy in September 1944 and spent the winter 1944 in the North Apennines area.
I'm the president of "Gotica Toscana" a non-profit, non political, Italian military history association. Our goal is to record the History and the Memory of events during WWII.
We are located few kilometers from the Gothic Line in the Mount Altuzzo area. Our area is crossed by the famous Gothic Line, It is here that the Allied Army lost so many lives, a significant amount of their equipment, vehicles and a great deal of time. From the historic point of view, the Italian Campaign was a secondary front but for Italian people and for the soldiers involved the campaign was a tough and bitter struggle. Even today there are a considerable number of German, US and British positions and bunkers still to be seen. Our goal is to keep all WWII military sites accessible, this will enable us to take photographs, carry out historical research and arrange meetings with veterans and their families. It will also help us to keep records of the artifacts we have found including such items as Dog Tags identifying lost soldiers identities. From this background we are able to organise events like “A jump into History - An open air museum” and WWII vehicle rallies and meetings where we can remember and promote our history. Our association was created by collectors and historians to collate as much information as possible and share it with others, thereby stimulating further research and keeping alive the memories of our past.
All the USA soldiers were brave and great soldiers sacrificed their priceless lifes to protect the free world. We should be sincerely pay our in depth heart gratitude before their immense and sacred sacrifices let us can live in peace freedom and happiness . Thanks to you !! Great and noble soldiers salute to you !!
Because being so busy with basic training, the troops were unable to have much contact with their families. Instead, they sent out postcards just to keep in touch. At times, they weren’t even able to write anything on the back of them. It was hard for the troops because they would go weeks, sometimes months without speaking to any of their family members. In turn, funny military postcards were made to in a way make fun of what the troops go through on a daily basis. These postcards allow for their family members to get a view into what their life is like now and also allows them to have some humor during rough times.
Well this one hurts quite a bit, and it will be pretty painful to see his face and hear his words while I continue to work on the documentary. Shall miss you lots buddy, but you certainly won't be forgotten. Here's to Vito and my condolences to Helen.
I just got word from one of the firemen that used to come to the reunions with Vito Cupertino. Vito died and will be buried this Wednesday. Probably the worst thing I could do I keep doing, whenever I revise the roster or send out a letter I get the news that we lost another great Seahorse. We will certainly include him in our prayers and drink a toast to him and our other departed friends at the reunion. May he rest in peace!
36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.
