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World War II, Italy
Italy
Date: 1940s
Notes: Here is a picture of Vincenzo Di Tullio. He joined the navy as a volunteer. He was lost in action. His mother never lost faith he would return home (He didn't).
Contributed by: Madeleine

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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: ca. 1940s
Notes: Zio Pietro, my mother's brother, was a POW. He worked on a farm in the UK during his imprisonment.
Contributed by: Joanne Pietrantonio

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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy
Date: 1944
Notes: Giuseppe Melfi, the contributor's father, was too young to be recruited into Mussolini's army, but shortly after the dictatorship was overturned, the new government in Rome ordered the young man to report for duty. He was given an army uniform and immediately sent to the front. Like most Italians who grew up in the countryside, he abhorred violence. To avoid being on the front lines, he volunteered to take care of his unit's mules and horses. When the war was over, the top echelon in Italy's new government ordered the army recruits home, but did not provide them with transportation. Giuseppe Melfi, who was then stationed in Northern Italy, had no choice but to walk home. It took him nearly a month to get to Molise -- luckily, along the way he was given food by local farmers. When he finally arrived in his hometown of Casacalenda someone reported to his parents that their son had come home, but that he was "half naked." And the reason, it turns out that he was "half naked" was because he get rid of his army uniform the moment peace was declared. He didn't want to be identified as a soldier, first of all, because there were still lots of enemy soldiers hiding out in the bushes, and second of all, Italians, on the whole, were friendlier to civilians.
Contributed by: Mary Melfi

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Campobasso, Molise, Italy
Date: October 1943
Notes: "Company Sergeant-Major Irene Roy distributing rum ration to infantrymen of the Royal 22e Regiment, who are in weapon pits along the main road between Gildone and Campobasso, Italy, October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Alex M. Stirton / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-190296

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Campobasso, Molise, Italy
Date: October 1943
Notes: "An unidentified Canadian dispatch rider near Campobasso, Italy, October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Jack H. Smith/ Canada. Dept. of National Defence/ Library and Archives Canada/ PA-166938

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Campobasso, Molise, Italy
Date: October 1943
Notes: "Pte. P. Jacques of Le Royal 22e Regiment looking at his shrapnel-riddled backpack, near Campobasso, Italy, October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Alexander M. Stirton/ Canada. Dept. of National Defence/ Library and Archives Canada/ PA-115196

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Campochiaro, Molise, Italy
Date: October 23 1943
Notes: "Soldiers of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade run into snipers and machine gun fire, Campochiaro, Italy, 23 October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Alexander Mackenzie Stirton/ Canada. Dept. National Defence / Library and Archives Canada/ PA-129774

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Manacilione, Abbruzi, Italy
Date: ca. October 9-18, 1943
Notes: "Personnel of the Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.) in Universal Carriers, Monacilione, Italy, ca. 9-18 October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Alex M. Stirton / Canada. Dept. of National Defence/ Library and Archives Canada / PA-197952

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Castropignano, Molise, Italy
Date: October 23 1943
Notes: "Private L.G. Kenny, Royal Canadian Regiment. Castropignano, Italy, 23 October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Jack H. Smith/ Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada/ PA-114483

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Campochiaro, Molise, Italy
Date: October 23 1943
Notes: "Infantrymen of The Carleton and York Regiment preparing to lob a hand grenade into a sniper's hideout, Campochiaro, Italy, 23 October 1943."
Contributed by: Courtesy of Lieut. Alexander M. Stirton/ Canada. Dept. of National Defence/ Library and Archives Canada/ PA-136198

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