Every year on memorial day I think back of growing up at Camp Darby in Livorno,Italy for 10 years Our elementary school would drive us to put red poppies and small american flags on the graves at the Florence cemetery. My memories have faded but I remember its where I 1st learned of what a Jewish star was and the kool aid never had enough sugar and the P&G sandwiches not enough jelly when we had lunch. I remember the grass was always so green and cut so nice. around the 3rd row on the left side there was a soldier from Texas . I would look at his grave and wonder "did anybody ever come visit his grave " from the US. The army guys from camp Darby would have to serve duty there at the cemetery every week Our school would always have a field trip there. Its such a beautiful cemetery and about 10 miles outside of Florence. The auto strada { higway} goes right by it.. but the tour buses never stop.. They will mention " if you look on your left hand side we are coming up to the American World War 2 cemetery where many Americans were killed in 44' and 45 ' But the buses never stop ever. Its just a blip on the map because everyone want to see Florence . And I always think.. that is where everyone should stop even for a few minutes and pay their respect ...4,500 hundred Americans gave their life for freedom and never went home. I have come in for many years on memorial day and still can't paste the you tube video can some please post the tribute from you tube
There are a few videos flight of honor is one https: 11 youtu.be/re ogwglimz
or just go to You tube and type Florence american cemetery they are a few videos I like " Flight of honor" Its a nice memory for us here now in the US to look back on what is really memorial day . again thank you for posting and down loading a video. Maybe one of you can paste the you tubes video its pretty powerful and a nice way to think of Memorial Day thank you and hope everyone has a nice and safe weekend
box and one
2
To remove first post, remove entire topic.
Every year on memorial day I think back of growing up at Camp Darby in Livorno,Italy for 10 years Our elementary school would drive us to put red poppies and small american flags on the graves at the Florence cemetery. My memories have faded but I remember its where I 1st learned of what a Jewish star was and the kool aid never had enough sugar and the P&G sandwiches not enough jelly when we had lunch. I remember the grass was always so green and cut so nice. around the 3rd row on the left side there was a soldier from Texas . I would look at his grave and wonder "did anybody ever come visit his grave " from the US. The army guys from camp Darby would have to serve duty there at the cemetery every week Our school would always have a field trip there. Its such a beautiful cemetery and about 10 miles outside of Florence. The auto strada { higway} goes right by it.. but the tour buses never stop.. They will mention " if you look on your left hand side we are coming up to the American World War 2 cemetery where many Americans were killed in 44' and 45 ' But the buses never stop ever. Its just a blip on the map because everyone want to see Florence . And I always think.. that is where everyone should stop even for a few minutes and pay their respect ...4,500 hundred Americans gave their life for freedom and never went home. I have come in for many years on memorial day and still can't paste the you tube video can some please post the tribute from you tube
There are a few videos flight of honor is one https: 11 youtu.be/re ogwglimz
or just go to You tube and type Florence american cemetery they are a few videos I like " Flight of honor" Its a nice memory for us here now in the US to look back on what is really memorial day . again thank you for posting and down loading a video. Maybe one of you can paste the you tubes video its pretty powerful and a nice way to think of Memorial Day thank you and hope everyone has a nice and safe weekend
Thx for sharing and well said. God bless all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. You're ALL my heroes and I am a proud USAF veteran who's father had purple hearts from both Korea and Vietnam. Bless the soldiers!!!
"I'm afraid all we may have done is awakened a sleeping giant."
2
@Box and one
Thx for sharing and well said. God bless all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. You're ALL my heroes and I am a proud USAF veteran who's father had purple hearts from both Korea and Vietnam. Bless the soldiers!!!
Thanks for sharing. It's always been said the true heroes never came home.
In the next couple of months we will have more soldiers coming home & as a country we need to take care of these men & women. A new job & housing for all would be a well deserved thank you to all of them.
2
@Box and one
Thanks for sharing. It's always been said the true heroes never came home.
In the next couple of months we will have more soldiers coming home & as a country we need to take care of these men & women. A new job & housing for all would be a well deserved thank you to all of them.
thank you guys can someone download the you tube and paste here..I can't.. its pretty easy and once you watch it you will understand how powerful it is
box and one
2
thank you guys can someone download the you tube and paste here..I can't.. its pretty easy and once you watch it you will understand how powerful it is
I was in Livorno in 1972 while serving in the USMC. Although it was only for a few days, I wish I had been aware of the Florence cemetery as I certainly would have visited. My interest in history has brought me to numerous military cemeteries throughout the USA and other countries as well. I watched the Youtube video, nicely done, thanks for posting.
2
I was in Livorno in 1972 while serving in the USMC. Although it was only for a few days, I wish I had been aware of the Florence cemetery as I certainly would have visited. My interest in history has brought me to numerous military cemeteries throughout the USA and other countries as well. I watched the Youtube video, nicely done, thanks for posting.
masspike were you stationed on a ship that came into Livorno harbor We used to get the 6th fleet 2 times a month .. they would come up from naples which was the home of 6th fleet. We were always warned when the navy and Marines were coming.. we had to go to the PX and buy what we needed// when the navy came in it was always an air craft carrier some cruisers about 10 destroyers mine sweepers and other support ships If you showed up on a monday at our PX is was wiped out . Our schools always went on field trips to the air craft carriers I was on the USS Randolf, Forrestall air craft carriers Also I remember the Navy and marines which had softball,baseball basketball teams playing the army on our fields.. The rivalry was very intense. I was behind the stands once when during a softball game and the navy fastpitch pitcher hit and Army batter. I was only 9 or 10 but the benches emptied and a few fists were thrown .. the game had MP's and SP's in the stands ... even at my age I could see the rivalry.. I always thought it was hate but it really wasn't hate I don't think But I do remember Marines because they didn't dress up in the Navy whites and wear bell bottoms.
Most of the sailors or Marines that came to Camp Darby from the Navy visiting would go to either Pisa or Florence. Its to bad you missed the cemetery.. Don't think it was ever on anybody's " to do list".
My father who was in Gen Clarks 5th Army in 1944-45 as an AMG officer always said most of these soldiers buried here in Florence were killed after June 6 th and the capture of Rome. I remember him saying " if Clark bypassed Rome he could of encircled the entire retreating German army and saved 1,000 of lives Many amercian soldiers were killed after the Germans retreated from Rome and buried here in Florence. It was great listening to my father tell stories about the Italian campaign..Clark was almost court martial ed because he disobeyed orders and entered Rome. Letting the entire German escape. On june 5th Clarks 5th Army entered Rome and captured it.. My father was in the 12th jeep in the parade as the thousands of Italians cheered the 5th Army.. only there was one major problem The next day was June 6th D-day and the invasion on Normandy. Studs Turkel the great american writer said about Clark in the newspapers " headlines for a day,back pages for a lifetime". The ink on the headlines were still wet about Romes capture because D-day got all the press
box and one
2
masspike were you stationed on a ship that came into Livorno harbor We used to get the 6th fleet 2 times a month .. they would come up from naples which was the home of 6th fleet. We were always warned when the navy and Marines were coming.. we had to go to the PX and buy what we needed// when the navy came in it was always an air craft carrier some cruisers about 10 destroyers mine sweepers and other support ships If you showed up on a monday at our PX is was wiped out . Our schools always went on field trips to the air craft carriers I was on the USS Randolf, Forrestall air craft carriers Also I remember the Navy and marines which had softball,baseball basketball teams playing the army on our fields.. The rivalry was very intense. I was behind the stands once when during a softball game and the navy fastpitch pitcher hit and Army batter. I was only 9 or 10 but the benches emptied and a few fists were thrown .. the game had MP's and SP's in the stands ... even at my age I could see the rivalry.. I always thought it was hate but it really wasn't hate I don't think But I do remember Marines because they didn't dress up in the Navy whites and wear bell bottoms.
Most of the sailors or Marines that came to Camp Darby from the Navy visiting would go to either Pisa or Florence. Its to bad you missed the cemetery.. Don't think it was ever on anybody's " to do list".
My father who was in Gen Clarks 5th Army in 1944-45 as an AMG officer always said most of these soldiers buried here in Florence were killed after June 6 th and the capture of Rome. I remember him saying " if Clark bypassed Rome he could of encircled the entire retreating German army and saved 1,000 of lives Many amercian soldiers were killed after the Germans retreated from Rome and buried here in Florence. It was great listening to my father tell stories about the Italian campaign..Clark was almost court martial ed because he disobeyed orders and entered Rome. Letting the entire German escape. On june 5th Clarks 5th Army entered Rome and captured it.. My father was in the 12th jeep in the parade as the thousands of Italians cheered the 5th Army.. only there was one major problem The next day was June 6th D-day and the invasion on Normandy. Studs Turkel the great american writer said about Clark in the newspapers " headlines for a day,back pages for a lifetime". The ink on the headlines were still wet about Romes capture because D-day got all the press
Yes Box, I was a part of the 6th Fleet aboard the USS Raleigh with 2/2 2nd Marine Division during our six months location on the Mediterranean Sea. Regarding Clark's Italian campaign, to say it was controversial would be a great understatement. I can understand your father's frustration, given Rome was not a military necessity. Patton was quite critical of Clark also, as well as many others.
On a side note, I seem to recall you being on the RX site years ago. I looked forward to your Atlantic Conference (not sure if that's correct) coverage. St. Bonaventure, Marist, Niagara, Siena, Iona etc.
2
Yes Box, I was a part of the 6th Fleet aboard the USS Raleigh with 2/2 2nd Marine Division during our six months location on the Mediterranean Sea. Regarding Clark's Italian campaign, to say it was controversial would be a great understatement. I can understand your father's frustration, given Rome was not a military necessity. Patton was quite critical of Clark also, as well as many others.
On a side note, I seem to recall you being on the RX site years ago. I looked forward to your Atlantic Conference (not sure if that's correct) coverage. St. Bonaventure, Marist, Niagara, Siena, Iona etc.
thank you golden goose for down loading that . masspike I figured you had to be with the Navy and 6th fleet and stationed in Naples. My father was born in Italy and came over when he was 5. He grew up in little Italy on Belmont-Fordham and Arthur ave.Where I was born. He graduated top of his class at Teddy Roosevelt HS and then graduated at Manhattan College in 1936. He majored in Italian and Spanish and in 1937-42 taught those 2 subjects at Teddy Roosevelt. When the war broke out he went to officers training school and became part of Clarks 5th Army in North Africa,Sicily and Italy. Because he spoke the language he became part of the AMG.. allied military government .. as the Germans were retreating from town to town his group of soldiers entered each Italian city and created a government..The fascist were arrested and democracy was re-established . John Hersey wrote "A bell for Adano " that won the pulitzer about someone like my father. Major Popolito and Italian-American officer . The story was romanticized and made into a movie . My father did know the officer that Hersey shawdowed to get ideas about his story. He got married in 44 and left the next day for the war.. When they entered Rome he was re-assigned and became a part of an investigated team that looked into the Creatine Cave Massacre and other cases. He never left Rome and then became part of a group of educators they worked on the Italian education system changing all of Mussolini's teachings back to democracy . when the war was over he stayed another 6 months in Rome.. when he got back to NY he got his teaching job back but something called the United Nations was created. He served in the UN for over 40 years.. the reason we grew up in Italy and lived at Camp Darby was my father was a part of the UNEF. United nations emergency force. Pisa was the airport and the US Army supplied all the planes and ammunition's for UNEF. He was at the Gaza strip between Israel and Egypt and in 65 the Congo When he retired from the UN he wrote Albany and they gave him his teachers certification back He was a permanent sub at his HS and was there for 10 years. He passed away at 89 and had worked the day before he had a stroke.. I became a teacher also and two of my daughters are teachers now. He had some good DNA .. I loved hearing his opinions and war stories. He hated Clark and yes Patton also hated Clark . The anzio invasion was a catastrophe as the Americans almost were pushed back into the ocean . He was not a Patton fan either. But always said Patton was right about Germany. Stalin was just as bad as Hitler and they should of listened to patton and taken Berlin and keep going . Sorry I know this is boring but my nephews taped my father in a 2 hour video about the war. I knew most of the stories but it was classic to hear them . In the middle of of the 2 hour video my mother enters the living room and is yelling at her grandsons and my father.. You hear her say : " enough, I have the pasta ready " it was classic
anyway hope everybody had a nice memorial day
box and one
2
thank you golden goose for down loading that . masspike I figured you had to be with the Navy and 6th fleet and stationed in Naples. My father was born in Italy and came over when he was 5. He grew up in little Italy on Belmont-Fordham and Arthur ave.Where I was born. He graduated top of his class at Teddy Roosevelt HS and then graduated at Manhattan College in 1936. He majored in Italian and Spanish and in 1937-42 taught those 2 subjects at Teddy Roosevelt. When the war broke out he went to officers training school and became part of Clarks 5th Army in North Africa,Sicily and Italy. Because he spoke the language he became part of the AMG.. allied military government .. as the Germans were retreating from town to town his group of soldiers entered each Italian city and created a government..The fascist were arrested and democracy was re-established . John Hersey wrote "A bell for Adano " that won the pulitzer about someone like my father. Major Popolito and Italian-American officer . The story was romanticized and made into a movie . My father did know the officer that Hersey shawdowed to get ideas about his story. He got married in 44 and left the next day for the war.. When they entered Rome he was re-assigned and became a part of an investigated team that looked into the Creatine Cave Massacre and other cases. He never left Rome and then became part of a group of educators they worked on the Italian education system changing all of Mussolini's teachings back to democracy . when the war was over he stayed another 6 months in Rome.. when he got back to NY he got his teaching job back but something called the United Nations was created. He served in the UN for over 40 years.. the reason we grew up in Italy and lived at Camp Darby was my father was a part of the UNEF. United nations emergency force. Pisa was the airport and the US Army supplied all the planes and ammunition's for UNEF. He was at the Gaza strip between Israel and Egypt and in 65 the Congo When he retired from the UN he wrote Albany and they gave him his teachers certification back He was a permanent sub at his HS and was there for 10 years. He passed away at 89 and had worked the day before he had a stroke.. I became a teacher also and two of my daughters are teachers now. He had some good DNA .. I loved hearing his opinions and war stories. He hated Clark and yes Patton also hated Clark . The anzio invasion was a catastrophe as the Americans almost were pushed back into the ocean . He was not a Patton fan either. But always said Patton was right about Germany. Stalin was just as bad as Hitler and they should of listened to patton and taken Berlin and keep going . Sorry I know this is boring but my nephews taped my father in a 2 hour video about the war. I knew most of the stories but it was classic to hear them . In the middle of of the 2 hour video my mother enters the living room and is yelling at her grandsons and my father.. You hear her say : " enough, I have the pasta ready " it was classic
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