This August, I made the journey again, this time with my cousin Michael D’Imperio to visit our famiglia ancestral roots in Comune di Biccari (Region of Puglia-Provincia of Foggia). My maternal grandparents Aniello and Elisa (Basile) Lucera emigrated from Biccari to America back in 1902/1910 as part of the Great Arrival.

My cousin Michael’s great-grandfather Ferdinando D’Imperio also emigrated from Biccari to America back in1889 and his great-grandmother Lucia (Basile) D’Imperio emigrated in 1895. They all settled in the Little Italy enclave of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (South Philly) where we were both born and raised.

We were able to stay in our close family friend Lucia (Galdi) Marone’s village house reminiscence of a typical hamlet (Borghi). A true medieval casa near the towns historic center and mother church of Biccari.  Our days were filled with visiting distant relatives, relaxing in the main piazza, and most notable participating in the historic annual festival/celebration of the town’s patron saint; San Donato. The parish priest Don Leonardo Catalano had me read a gospel passage during the novena mass of San Donato along with my cousin participating in the mass offerings. making for a truly memorable experience.

After our stay in Biccari we traveled to the seaside resort of Termoli (Region of Molise) on the Adriatic coast. Spending time at this beach area we knew we had found the “Italian Riveria.” This area was truly spectacular from the pristine waters of the Adriatic Sea to the historic castle (Castello Svevo of Termoli) just outside the door of our hotel Santa Lucia. Here in Termoli, in the provincia of Campobasso our trip takes us back to the role America and the Allied forces had in Italy during WWII.

Sometime ago by way of social media I had connected with Marco Altobello an author, journalist, and educator from Campomarino (Molise-Campobasso). I had expressed interested in meeting Marco since we were nearby him in Termoli. We shared a likening to his research regarding the WWII history of the Ramitelli airfield the Allied forces used during WWII. So, we met Marco in Termoli who then gave us a tour of the rare WWII history located at the now rural area of the former Ramitelli airfield and the WWII monuments now erected in the piazza of Campomarino.  

These monuments are dedicated to the various WWII Army Air Corps units stationed at Ramitelli airfield to include the famed Tuskegee Airmen. The photo above (left to right – my cousin Michael, Marco, and me) is the only remaining building at Ramitelli airfield, the operations center for the Tuskegee Airmen. There is no doubt in my mind, having the opportunity for Marco to allow us to visit this historic site was for us walking on hallowed ground. In my opinion, the heroic efforts of all those Allied forces who were part of this area of operations did their part in winning WWII.

Now, a slight twist in the journey here. My trip in Italy comes to an end and I fly back to Philadelphia where I was born and raised. It just so happens that Marco will be presenting his book (Red Tails Da Tuskegee a Ramitelli) on the Tuskegee Airmen - Ramitelli at the “History of Italian Immigration Museum” (HIIM) located in Philadelphia which is where my paesani friends of Filitalia International organization is headquartered and hosted the book presentation. So, on August-13, I attended the book presentation by Marco held at the HIIM. The event was well attended by the leadership of Filitalia International, the local Philadelphia Chapter president of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., and the President of the New Orleans Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. 

This recent trip to Italy where I was able to connect once again with my Italian family ancestral roots and along the way discover some rare WWII history, made for a truly memorable experience.

About me: 

 I was born and raised in the Italian enclave of South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (South Philly). I currently reside in Columbus, Ohio. As a proud third-generation Italian American, I enjoy informal writing as a hobbyist regarding the Italian American experience. I am the grandson of Italian immigrants who emigrated to America during the Great Arrival and settled in Philadelphia. On my paternal side my grandparents Francesco and Caterina (Tropiano) Leto emigrated (circa 1910) from Santa Caterina dello Ionio (Calabria). On my maternal side my grandparents Aniello and Elisa (Basile) Lucera emigrated (circa 1902/1910) from Comune di Biccari (Puglia).