American Heroes, Aged 18 to 23
From time to time my Italian friends will criticize the United States, which I understand. We’re not above criticism. But I always ask those who live in Rome if they’ve ever made a visit to the American cemetery at Nettuno, home to nearly 8,000 graves of young American soldiers who died in World War II.
Left-wing Italians like to propagate the idea that it was the “Partigiani” or Partisans, who liberated the country. That’s the politically correct version of things. I’m sure the Partisans did what they could, but let’s not fool ourselves. The might of the American Armed Forces and a lot of kids from Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri freed this country.
Here’s a video from when Rome producer Mario Biasetti and I visited Nettuno, about 40 miles south of Rome. Most of the video is silent, which is fitting for a cemetery, although it starts with cemetery superintendent Joe Bevilacqua talking about just how young these heroes were.
done
Greg Burke has been with the FNC Rome Bureau since 2001. He has covered
a number of major stories including the death of Pope John Paul II, the
Madrid train bombings, the Paris riots, and the war in Lebanon. 
Thank you Greg for this reminder of America’s “Greatest Generation” … as a Navy Vet (Vietnam) I appreciate it very much!
As always on Memorial day, I remember our brave and unselfish men and women who have served in our countries armed forces. May god bless all of you and our sons, daughters, neighbors, classmates so paid the ultimate sacrifice. We are here because of you.
Many Italians like me are grateful to America and her brave sons. Though a great part of my family was loyal to Mussolini, I was brought up by my parents to honor the American and British liberators: the real liberators, who also saved us from the communist elements in the partisan movement, who meant to lead our country into the hands of the Soviets and who - soon after the war was over - fought a sort of cowardly war (for a long time gone unreported by history books over here) against Catholics, liberals, ex-fascists, killing about 30,000 of them especially in the “red” region of Emilia-Romagna. America saved us from fascism, nazism and communism, there can be no doubt about it: and it should be more widely recognized in Italy.
God Bless the U.S.A. and all of those who sacrificed to keep us and so many of our fellow human beings all over the world - Free. Thank you, we are eternally grateful.
My brother went to see this cemetery- very sad and also very well kept and beautiful in a weird way. Someone accused us of wanting always to conquer countries and grab what we need. Someone- a general said: “All we ever take or want is some decent ground to bury our soldiers, who died in this land” So much for our wanting to capture and run the world!
My father was a 25 year old PFC from Mississippi when he served in Italy. He caught pneumonia twice, was shell shocked once and was awarded the bronze star for valor. It was men like him from all 48 of the United States who liberated Italy and I am sure that all of them would take issue with these Left-wing extremists. My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy for next year to visit some of the places that my father talked of. I did not know of the cemetery at Nettuno but if we are able to make the trip, it now will be one of our stops.
There are tens of thousands of American heros buried all over the world; ie; 8000+ in England, 10000 above Omaha Beach in France, 18000 in the Phillipines, as well as thousands who were buried at sea, and the MIAs still unaccounted for. The young non-military Americans of today have no concept of the sacrifice that so many have made, and most are so illiterate that they can’t even sit down and read a book about these heros.
“We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in.” -Colin Powell
Greg -
Did you attend the Memorial Day Ceremony? Always a great event and the Italians who certainly do appreciate their sacrifice do attend the event. Usually the Defense Minister and other high ranking government and local officials. The event is organized by the Rome Embassy Military Attache office (of which I was a former member) every year. I recall meeting you several times while stationed there as well. Good luck!
My cousin, Robert Briscoe,was killed the day befoer Rome fell. I believe he is buried in Nettuno, it is nice to view this beautiful resting place on Memorial Day. God Bless them all.
Thank You for posting this story Greg. I always enjoy your reports. Keep up the good work!
I WAS PLESENTLY SURPRISED TO SEE THIS POSTED.
MY CHILDREN THEY WERE PLEASED TO SEE IT AS WELL.
BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES,IN A STRANGE WAY NICE ONES, WHEN WE WERE THERE WE OFTEN WENT TO VISIT.
MY CHILDREN DESCRIBE IT AS ONE THE MOST SOMBER PEACEFULL AND FULL OF BEAUTY, I MUST AGREE,BUT MANY OF THE AMERICAN CEMETERY IN ITALY ARE ALL SOMETHING TO SEE AND APPRECIATE.
THOSE ARE SACRED GROUNDS FILLED WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST AND THE GREATEST HEROS.
GOD BLESSED THEM ALL STILL TODAY.
SOME OF THE OLD PEOPLE LEFT SPECIALY IN THE SMALL TOWNS, STILL HAVE FUND MEMORIES OF THOSE JOUNG MEN AND THE LIBERATION DAYS.
BEAUTY, PEACE, HEROS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PICTURES AND THE MEMORIES