World War II Memorabilia

Like many men and women of my father's generation, they served proudly in World War II.  For many it was their first trip outside of the continental United States; for others, it was their first travels outside of their local communities.  Such was the case with my father.

Again, like many of his generation, he refused to talk much, if at all, about his experiences during the war.  I knew that he had been wounded during the war and spend six months in a Parisian hospital, but he didn't provide much information.  "Where were you?"  I've asked on multiple occasions.  "Somewhere near the Rhine River, I think."

So, to help me piece together some of what is now fading from his memory, I'm looking for someone to help me identify the ribbons, medals, and other memorabilia.

Constabulary Force

I know that he served in the Constabulatory Force after the end of the war.  He also serves in both the 4th and 11th Armored Battalions as evidenced by the patches with the lightning bolts.  If you can add to my knowledge, please post your comments here.  I'd love to hear from you. If you have any sources or personal connections that may benefit from knowing my father's name, please send me an email to brs1227@gmail.com.

Yes, Purple Heart, Marksman, others?

4th and 11th Armored Battalions

People end up looking like their dogs

This biker and his dog were riding through Annapolis, Maryland.  As I crossed the street in front of him, I asked if I could take his picture. Despite the other drivers blowing their horns, I took a few seconds to get this shot of them.

Respect the citizens where you visit

Our taxi driver surprised us on the way to the Rome Airport with a side trip to Avertine Hill. As we tried to speak in our broken Italian on the way to the airport, he showed his appreciation by saying that he wanted to show us something that he "Showed his best friends."  He wanted us to see "la buco."  Try as we might, we couldn't find this word in our abridged Italian-English dictionary.  So, as we drove through Rome, the three of us chatted in Italian and English, anticipating our finding "la buco."  When we got to the top of the Hill, we parked at an area that was founded by the "Knights of Malta." 
.
Our driver promptly jumped out of the car, opened our doors, and walked across the parking lot saying, "buco, buco, buco."  As we quickly discovered, "buco" was the "Key Hole in the Door..."  If you look closely through the key hole, you can see an archway.  I looked through the key hole and saw the Vatican in the distance -- the only thing that you could see.  I grabbed my camera, held it up to the key hole and took several shots, trying to capture the amazing sight.  My picture did not come out very clearly.  So, the sight that you see below is the "Vatican Through the Key Hole" that I found online.  It was taken with the doors open, but the shot is amazing.  Bottom line -- speak the language no matter how little you know or how bad your pronunciation.  You are a visitor in another land and you will be blessed with amazing opportunities.

Knights of Malta...

Key Hole in the Door...

Vatican Thru the Key Hole!

Passo San Boldo

Welcome to Passo San Boldo! This is the top 10% of the mountain referenced in the earlier posting.

If you look closely, you will see a series of 10 tunnels, connected by a single lane road. The tunnels are wide enough for a small European car. Traffic lights (2 of them) are located at the top and bottom of this series of tunnels. When the light is green at the top, the light at the bottom is red so that traffic can only go down the mountain; when, it changes to red at the top (and green at the bottom), cars can come up the mountain. You get the idea.
.

While stopped at the light at the bottom of the tunnels, I was anxiously awaiting the light to change. With the clutch pushed to the floor and the brake firmly pressed, both of my legs were shaking uncontrollably. Although up to this point, I had gotten the car out of first gear only one time, the traffic behind me consisted of only one car. When the light changed, I waved this car around me.
.

Sensing that my life was in the balance, I firmly pulled the emergency brake, pressed the gas pedal to rev the engine, let out the clutch, moved my foot off of the brake pedal, eased off the emergency brake and -- you guessed it -- the car promptly stalled. We drifted backwards a few inches although it felt like miles. We thought that we were going to fall off the edge of the mountain -- to die on our honeymoon! Fortunately, we lived to tell about it. Onward and upward to Gosaldo...

In February, 1898, my grandmother, Rachele Carosella (nee Marcon) was baptized in this church located in Gosaldo, Italy. It is located north of Venice in the Belluno region in the Dolomites. While on our honeymoon in May 2008, Midge and I drove up the Passo San Baldo to get to this church which is no longer used. A "new" church was built directly across the street.

The ascent to Gosaldo was 2,500 feet straight up -- 13 miles along a 2-lane, unmarked road. Yes, there was an 8-inch stone wall to keep me from driving over the edge! Although the Chesapeake Bay Bridge used to scare me, the drive up this road scared me to death! Needless to say, we found another way down the mountain.

This shot was taken at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. The man in the picture was taking a photo of Sacre Coeur in the distance. I waited and waited and waited, but he never left.