by Guido Rossi

I am an historian and researcher at the University of Southern Mississippi, and I am conducting a research project aimed at collecting and preserving the historical memory of Italian-American soldiers, sailors, and airmen that were sent to fight in Italy during World War II. The result of these research will result in my Master's Degree thesis, and hopefully in further research.

The aim of my study is that of exploring the experiences of Italian-American GIs and servicemen, often Italian-born or grown up in Italian families, in Italian culture, speaking Italian, that were sent to fight in their country of origin. This, of course, created mixed emotions and contrasts, especially when the prospect of having to fight or kill fellow Italians was likely. In the midst of a bloody campaign, thousands of Italian-American GIs and military personnel went back to their native villages, had a chance to meet relatives they had not seen for a long time or never seen at all, but heard of through letters and family stories. Many Italian-American GIs fought for their country, the United States, but were also animated by a desire to free from totalitarianism a country they also felt as theirs.

It is, in short, a very complex and intriguing topic, that I would like to explore, being myself Italian, born and raised. I am therefore looking for any Italian-American World War II Veteran that, having fought in Italy, is willing to share his experiences. In addition, I am in search of any legacy that Italian-American WWII Veterans that sadly are no longer with us, might have left behind to their families and relatives: letters, diaries, interviews, articles from local magazines and newspapers, and memoirs. Even just a simple memory of the veteran from friends or relatives matters. No memory is tiny enough to be unimportant. I encourage those who once knew, were friends with, or are sons, daughters, nephews of, or related in any way to an Italian-American World War II veterans to contact me.

Thank you all,
Guido Rossi,
Graduate student History Dept., University of Southern Mississippi
[email protected]