17 Nov 20 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Tale of suffering is related to Pvt. John Nanni of Harvey, Ill., by an Italian mother fleeing with her family from besieged Cassino. This family like many others, left the city seeking safety inside of 'quiet' Allied territory. Near Cassino, Italy. 21 January 1944

Information

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[fjruple]

Died young at 41.

[browningautorifle]

I'll bet he was one of the first gen Americans that spoke fluent Italian because his people came from there too. What would the odds be of the woman speaking enough English...looks like they're having a real conversation...bet it's in Italian.

[matthanne1]

I wonder why it reads California on his grave, but he would not recognize Harvey IL today.

[Ovidio]

I'll bet he was one of the first gen Americans that spoke fluent Italian because his people came from there too. What would the odds be of the woman speaking enough English...looks like they're having a real conversation...bet it's in Italian.

I bet you're 100% right.

[browningautorifle]

I wonder why it reads California on his grave

Maybe it's the wrong grave? I have a very unusual last name but on facebook there seems to be a plethora of me. During WW2 there could have been a half dozen of this guy's name.

[Mark in Rochester]

Maybe it's the wrong grave? I have a very unusual last name but on facebook there seems to be a plethora of me. During WW2 there could have been a half dozen of this guy's name.

There is only 9 John Nanni's listed in find a grave, posted image was of the only military marker of the 9, additionally the 363 inf reg served on the Italian front - there was a john Nanni 1889-1975 from illinois ( to Old) will never know for sure

the division, now under Major General William G. Livesay, departed for the European Continent on 3 April 1944. There, on the Italian Front, the 361st Regimental Combat Team was detached to participate in the battles for Rome and the Arno River. It became the first formation of the U.S. Fifth Army to reach the river. In September 1944, the division crossed the Sieve River, outflanked the famous Gothic Line, and captured the Futa Pass. For its part in combat, the division was awarded the North Apennines, Po Valley and Rome-Arno campaign streamers.

The division returned to the United States where it was inactivated at Camp Rucker, Alabama, in December 1945.[1][6] Two members were awarded the Medal of Honor during the war, Roy W. Harmon and Oscar G. Johnson

[browningautorifle]

will never know for sure

Would sure be easier if there was a service number involved.