Author Archives: Dennis Hill

A Belated Bronze Star for Joe Mandese

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This is the second article about Joe Mandese that Joe’s grandson Bobby Cannon shared with me.

The article is followed by an interview that Bobby’s mother, Bernadette Cannon, conducted with Joe in 1993.

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World War II Escapee Honored
Bronze Star for ex-POW

By Don Stancavish
Staff Writer
Bergen Record
Circa 1998

Caption: Joseph Mandese of Lyndhurst in the Hackensack office of Rep. Steve Rothman, who helped him get a military decoration.

HACKENSACK [New Jersey]—Joseph Mandese was a 22-year-old infantryman in the U.S. Army when he landed in North Africa to fight for the American cause in World War II.

But it wasn’t long after he landed that things—in his words—turned really bad.

Three months after he arrived, Mandese was captured in Tunisia by a German tank division and flown to Italy as a prisoner of war. For the next eight months, he battled dysentery, starvation, and emotional torment. He was certain he would die.

“It was a hellhole,” Mandese remembers.

But on Sept. 14, 1943—a date that is seared into the veteran’s memory—Mandese escaped into the Italian countryside with five other U.S. soldiers. [Joe actually escaped with four other men; he was the fifth escapee in the group.] It was another year before Mandese found his way home to America.

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Joe Mandese—The Burden of Remembrance

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Last month Bobby Cannon commented on “Felice “Phil” Vacca, Part 2—Camp 59 and Escape.”

“This is an amazing story.” he wrote. “My grandfather is Joe Mandese. He is alive and well at age 94. Mario, Jim, and Tony [Vacca] visited their house in the ’60s in Union City, NJ. My grandfather now resides in Lyndhurst, NJ with his wife of 68 years. My whole family thanks you for this story and we can add some additional details if you are interested.”

I wrote that I was very interested, and Bobby then sent two newspaper clippings, photos, and a short interview his mother, Bernadette Cannon, did with Joe 20 years ago.

Here is the first article:

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In memory of lost war heroes
Lyndhurst holds 24-hour POW vigil

By C. Rae Jung
Managing Editor

October 2002
South Bergenite (New Jersey)

Caption: The burden of remembrance—Commissioner Tom Graffam, a Vietnam War veteran, delivers a speech at a vigil honoring American POW/MIAs, below. Those who came back, such as Joe Mandese of Lyndhurst, above, often have to carry the memories of war alone in pain. Staff photos/Jaimie Winters & C. Rae Jung

LYNDHURST—The table was set for one, but the chair remained empty. The glass on the table was put upside down; it stayed that way for 24 hours. And local veterans stood guard into the wee hours, in memory of those who did not come home.

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Marco Soggetto—Western Alpine Escapes

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Cover of Marco Soggetto’s new book on prisoner escapes through the Western Alps; at right, the author

In April 2012, while researching escapes of Allied prisoners of war who travelled from Italy to Switzerland through the grand Western Alps, Marco Soggetto shared a message with visitors to this site in “A Daring Escape through the Alps.”

At least one of the prisoners who escaped over the mountains had been interned in Camp 59 at Servigliano—British rifleman Charles John P. Bradford.

Marco’s book is now in print. I asked him to write a summary of the work that I could post on this site:

Braccati. Prigionieri di guerra alleati in Piemonte e Valle d’Aosta
By Marco Soggetto

Aviani & Aviani Editori, Udine, December 2013

They were frantic, alone, starving, and abandoned in a foreign land overturned by a terrible civil war and occupied by a cruel enemy. Words can scarcely describe the incredible odyssey of the 80,000 prisoners of war who escaped from Italian camps after the Armistice.

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Unexpected Letter—News of Tom Ager

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Beginning of a four-page letter from Victor Parkin to Gladys Wash.

Early last year I heard from Gillian Pink about the experiences of her father, Tom Ager, who was an escapee from Camp 82 at Laterina, Italy.

His story and the story of Gill’s discovery of the family who protected him are posted on this site (see “Thomas Ager—Escapee from Italian Camp 82” and “On the Sheltering of Tom Ager“).

Gill wrote, “In my burrowings, I discovered a letter dated 5 November 1944 to my mother from a Victor Parkin, asking if my father had arrived home safely. He said he was with my father at first, but then they separated—so he might have been the friend my father mentions in his account. It seems he got away while my father was recaptured.”

Gladys was Tom’s fiancee at the time he was a POW; the two married on his return to England.

Here is the text of Victor’s letter:

Mr. G. V. Parkin
15. Pendennis Road
Staple Hill
No. Bristol

5/11/44 [November 5, 1944]

Dear Gladys,

Well first of all I think I had better introduce myself. I was a great friend of Tom Ager’s, perhaps he mentioned me in his letters at some time we were in the P.O.W. camp together. I should have written you before, but I had quite a difficulty in remembering your address, although Tom always talked alot about you.

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Rescue Plan—Generals and Civilians

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M.I.9 Activity in Italy

M.I.9 (British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9), a department of the War Office during WW II, was active in rescuing prison camp escapees from enemy territory in Italy as early as October 1943.

Also known as “A Force,” the group arranged operations for guiding the escapees to the sea, where they were put on available vessels—often fishing boats—and skippered south to freedom.

Researcher Brian Sims helped me sort out names of relevant units within M.I.9.

“The term ‘A’ Force is used quite loosely at times,” he explained.

“In the desert, ‘A’ Force set up all deception schemes. N Section was a part of that unit with responsibilities regarding help given to escapers. N Section was renamed I.S.9 (Intelligence School 9) late in 1943.

“The problem came with the word Intelligence which was looked upon with suspicion in adjoining countries such as Yugoslavia. This was avoided by just using the blanket title ‘A Force’ which alleviated any suspicious attitude, and in turn promoted collaboration.”

Section 5, a unit within N Section, is said to have been operating in the Marche area.

I came across the term “rat-line” in a document Brian sent me pertaining to Adriatic coastline rescue of POWs.

He explained, “A ratline was a route established by ‘A’ Force. In this case towards the coastal areas; 5 Section worked in the general area which was in turn partly controlled by the ‘Ratberry’ Mission. Confusing isn’t it!”

The Rescue Operational Plan

Here are two document from the British National Archives that are courtesy of Brian. Both papers describe an plan to rescue, by fishing vessel, two British generals and an American corporate executive and his family hiding in enemy territory.

There are a couple of things that I find of particular interest in these two papers:

An Italian “A” Force agent, Lieutenant Ruggero Cagnazzo, was involved in this planned rescue. Signor Cagnazzo was a key player in the rescue of POWs from behind the lines. His name will appear on this site again in accounts to come. Also, there is mention of what seems to be a more comprehensive rescue mission in the works.

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Rescues along the Adriatic Coastline

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The letter below from Captain Charles H. Duffett, Royal Navy, to his superior officer, offers insight into the efforts that were being made by the Allies to rescue fugitive prisoners of war along the Adriatic Sea coast a month after Italy’s surrender was announced.

This document, from the British National Archives, is courtesy of researcher Brian Sims.

15th Army Group.

17th October, 1943.

Sir,

I have the honour to report that, after receiving your orders on 5th October to proceed forthwith to TERMOLI to ascertain what co-operation was required with regard to evacuation of escaped prisoners of war and to take command of landing craft there, I arrived at TERMOLI at 2300 on 5th October.

The Germans were on the outskirts of the town, 38th Brigade was being disembarked in the harbor from L.C.I’s. [landing craft, infantry] and periodic shelling of the town and harbour was taking place.

I found there was no Naval Officer in Charge of the Port. The only officer present was Lieutenant HILTON R.N.V.R. [Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve] who was acting as Liaison Officer to the S.S. Brigade and who was doing what he could but a more senior officer was undoubted required.

A flotilla of L.C.A’s. [landing craft, assault] was also in the Port but had to anchor outside to avoid damage.

2. Having ascertained the plans already commenced by Lieut. Colonel SYMONDS and his future proposals for the evacuation of prisoners of war by sea, we together formulated plans for carrying this out.

I retained 3 L.C.I’s. for this purpose and ordered the remaining four to BARLETTA.

On 6th October the harbour and town were again shelled and dive bombed, but without damage to naval craft.

Operations with 3 L.C.I’s. were commenced on the night of 6/7th October using the beaches extending as far north as GROTTAMARE.

These were continued on subsequent nights until 9/10th when I decided that as it was imperative to avoid detection thereby compromising all future schemes, operations should not be carried out during the period of bright moonlight except to follow up reliable information. One further expedition however was carried out on the night of 12/13th October.

All these operations produced no result beyond the evacuation of some 20 prisoners by fishing boat.

Although prearranged signals to indicate the correct rendezvous had been instituted, the exact location of the beaches proved a matter of extreme difficulty in the dark and actually contact with shore parties was achieved at only one beach, 2½ miles north of GROTTAMARE, where, however, no prisoners of war had been brought down.

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“A Symbol of the True Italy”

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First page of Guido Calogero’s essay

Researcher Brian Sims discovered the following essay, entitled “The Handful of Flour,” among the files of the Allied Screening Commission (Italy) in the British National Archives at Kew.

The task of the Allied Screening Commission was to investigate and acknowledge Italians who helped escaped Allied prisoners-of-war.

The purpose of this essay among the commission’s files is not entirely clear to me. Although it includes information about a particular Italian “helper,” Nunziata, the essay doesn’t seem to be intended as justification for a specific recognition or compensation. Rather, it seems a broader appeal to the commission to exercise fairness and generosity in their task.

Brian wrote, “What ‘Handful of Flour’ tells me is that the peasants gave what they really couldn’t afford to, while such people as businessmen gave several thousand Lire without too much ill effect on their everyday life.”

The sacrifice is best measured not in what was given, but rather in “the cost to those who gave.”

Translation in areas of the essay seems a bit awkward, but the sentiment of Calogero’s message rings clear.

Guido Calogero was an Italian philosopher and essayist.

Read a Wikipedia biography of Calogero in Italian, or translated into English.

The Handful of Flour

In the Autumn of 1943, some groups of friends went into hiding in the mountainous zone of the Abruzzo, which surrounds the lake of Scanno. The Germans had already placed garrisons in the villages, and the proclamations in two languages menaced the destruction of the houses and the families where Allied prisoners were found being sheltered. However, the prisoners liberated on 8th September from the Concentration Camp of Sulmona continued to pass through the mountain paths, stopped over in the houses, proceeded towards the South. And I was often taken for one of them. “Lordship do you wish to stop?” the mountaineers used to ask me (down at Anversa red posters announced the execution that had taken place of a shepherd who had given something to eat to come prisoners in his hut). “Come and eat a little bread and cheese with us. We are friends of the Americans.” I tried to use my best Abruzzo accent to convince them that I was Italian. But they looked at me with unbelief, and almost rancor, as if I had shown that I did not trust them.

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Next-of-Kin Parcels—Packed with Care

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This illustration of next-of-kin parcel repackers working out of the repacking center at Finsbury Circus in London appeared in a cheerful article published in the September 1942 edition of The Prisoner of War journal. The Prisoner of War was the official journal of the Prisoners of War Department of the Red Cross and St. John War Organisation (St. James Palace, London). The journal was provided free to next-of-kin.

Al Rosenblum, son of former Camp 59 prisoner Staff Sergeant Albert Rosenblum, sent me the materials for this post some time ago. But perhaps there is no better time to share this information than during this “season of giving.”

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I Repack Your Parcel

The Prisoner of War
September 1942

THE DAY’S WORK
Described by an examiner at the Next-of-kin Packing Centre at Finsbury Circus.

I work in the packing department of the Next-of-Kin Packing Centre at Finsbury circus, where parcels from next-of-kin are checked and repacked before being sent on their long journey to the prisoners of war. There are 120 of us in the large packing room where I work.

My job is to examine the parcels as they arrive, and I like to think that it is the most important job of all.

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Albert Rosenblum—An “Active Life”

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This article about Albert Rosenblum was published in the Supply Line newsletter of the Defense Construction Supply Center in Whitehall, Ohio, on the occasion of Albert’s retirement from the DCSC in 1975. The article is courtesy Albert son, Al Rosenblum.

‘Active life’ keeps 70-year-old young

Supply Line
February 1975
Vol. 12, No. 3

At 70, Albert Rosenblum is retiring from his second career, talking about beginning a third, and, above all, still relishing the excitement of life.

“I would like to make it 50 years even, but they tell me I can’t,” said Rosenblum, whose 23 years in the Army were followed by 22 years at DCSC and its predecessors. He left the Center in January, after reaching the mandatory retirement age.

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Greetings Sent Via the Vatican

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This Christmas greetings was sent by Camp 82 prisoner-of-war Tom Ager to his fiancee, Gladys Wash, by means of a Vatican representative. Note the light sepia drawing of a star with a scarp-life tail and the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica behind the message. The document is courtesy of Tom’s daughter Gillian Pink.

The text of the greeting reads:

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

SECRETARIAT OF STATE TO HIS HOLINESS

Date 23/11/42 [November 23, 1942]

Sender AGER THOMAS J
Rank PTE No. 6010271
Camp No. 82 Military Post PM 3200
Addressee MISS G. L. WASH
Street STATION ROAD
Town WHITE NOTLEY, WITHAM
County ESSEX ENGLAND
Country

Message (10 words – Season’s greetings only)

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
FONDEST LOVE, TOM

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This note of explanation accompanied the greeting.

VATICAN WAR ENQUIRY DEPT.
11 CAVENDISH SQUARE,
LONDON, W. 1

The Apostolic Delegate has much pleasure in sending the enclose message to you. The message was collected by a Representative sent by his Holiness the Pope to visit Prisoner of War Camps in Italy.

For more on Tom Ager, read “Thomas Ager—Escapee from Italian Camp 82” and “On the Sheltering of Tom Ager.”