Italian Alpini Cap, Bringback Of The "Last Man" Of the 87th Mountain Infantry, 10th Mtn

[AustinO]

I don't generally keep bring backs, let alone WW2 ones, but this one was just too unique to not keep (it is NFS so don't ask). 

 

I purchased it from an estate sale picker, who had bought it just that morning.  There was no name or anything in it, but I asked for the sale's address and was able to tie a name to it basis property tax records.  The veteran who brought it back was an original member of the 87th, who had worked as a ski instructor before the war.  He was wounded twice, and received a Bronze Star in addition to his CIB.  He first saw combat at Kiska, where he had a very wet landing (their craft sprung a leak on the way in), and ended the war in the hospital after having been shot through the shoulder while leading a patrol in Italy. When he came back from the war, he had a 30+ year career with the same company I work for (another reason why I'm keeping it!) 

 

I was able to find quite a few details on him online and in the unit history, and he was a very public figure who spoke often on his experiences up until his passing (just last year).  He was the last living WW2 member of the 87th. I connected with his grandson this summer, and he provided me with some additional photos (digital) of the veteran as well as a nice memorial video he had put together for his grandfather's visitation.  He's shown returning to Italy with the family in the early 2000s and revisiting his battlefields.  In one segment of the video, he says "let me show you my foxhole" - they walk about 20 feet and he jumps in the same exact hole he dug 60+ years prior.  

 

Though I never got to meet the man, or talk to him on the phone, I'm privileged to have this piece in my collection. 

 

Cap is the standard Italian alpini mountain troops cap, with a bullion engineers badge on the front.  To this, our veteran has added Italian made 87 numerals in the center (where the Italian unit would have had their number).  His 87th DIs are on the cap, as are two of the small Italian made 10th Mtn cap pins, and a single ski pin (this was probably originally a pair, but only the one was on the cap when purchased). 

 

 

The same picker had also grabbed the ski goggles pictured, as well as another pair of first pattern goggles (similar, but with folding side flaps), I was able to purchase both sets from her as well. 

[Bryant U.]

Excellent 

[USCapturephotos]

That’s an unusual bring back. My friends grandfather was an Italian mountain trooper.

Paul

[Brian Keith]

Very nice souvenir!

Thanks for posting it'
BKW

[katieony]

A really interesting and unique bring-back!

 

Mike

[doyler]

Very Nice Austin. Great to have a local item with its history . 

[sundance]

That's neat. Sort of a business-casual look. Thanks for showing.

[Salvage Sailor]

There's a lot of memories in that bringback and I'm certain it was a treasured memento of his service.

 

As an aside, my cousin was in L Company 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment throughout the Italian campaign

 

[Red Devil]

That is truly an awesome piece of history!

[Salvage Sailor]

Another aside...

 

I also recently read Sacrifice on the Steppe, by Hope Hamilton, The Italian Alpine Corps in the Stalingrad Campaign, 1942-1943.

 

In the book is, among many others, the story of Carlo Vicentini of the Monte Cervino Battalion.  His original Alpine hat miraculously arrived in Italy in his cassetta (sent to Rome in December 1942), four years before he returned from a Russian prisoner of war camp in 1946.  He wore it proudly to reunions well into his nineties.

 

 

 

 

[268th C.A.]

That maybe a tribute cap for him, but not the one pictured....still nice insignia on it... 

[Salvage Sailor]

It's the same one he's wearing in the photo in the book, which I did not scan.  These photos were from the web.

 

Carlo Vicentini, l’ultimo ufficiale alpino reduce della campagna di Russia

[RobS.]

Austin O, that is a great Hat.  The eagle on the front is in the style of the milizia forestale, but without the blade of the fascio.  I always have an eye out for alpini hats and I have been lucky enough to find only 1 other hat that was made for a US soldier, either as a souvenir or perhaps presented to him.  As yet, I have not been able to get much information on who owned this one, but there is the possibility still.  I think the hats are quite rare.

 

Regarding the book "Sacrifice on the Steppe", this was also well done.  I think the title downplays the truly heroic event that it covers.  3 alpini divisions and a few other units were trapped on the banks of the Don river covering the right flank of the Germans in Stalingrad.  The Italians were ordered to withdraw and fight their way through encirclement 200 kilometers back east to the Axis lines in January 1943. They faced armored units that were better armed and equipped as well as temperatures 40 degrees below zero and very few vehicles of their own (mostly mules).  Fighting from village to village so as to not die from exposure at night.  I won't tell you how it ends, but the alpini soldiers, with leaders like Nasci and Reverberi, demonstrate Audie Murphy like bravery in their near impossible task.

 

As far as the hat on Carlo Vicentini, when in Russia, the officers were ordered to wear black eagles and remove the finish on the feather holders, or just wear enlisted feather holders. This should be obvious not to stand out to snipers.  It is hard to find officer hats with black eagles, I have only two.  I was told that veterans discarded them and returned the gold bullion eagles to their hats when they returned to Italy.  The Italians also had a hard time getting insignia to the Russian front and sometimes had to improvise.