S.F. Chronicle · Wednesday, January 15, 1997 · Page A18

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

`I WAS LIBERATED BY THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS'

Editor -- I read with great interest the January 14 front-page story, ``Medals Awarded 50 Years Later,'' showing the picture of Lieutenant Vernon J. Baker. The article also mentions First Lieutenant John R. Fox of Cincinnati. Both men were members of the 92nd Infantry Division, which was an all-black division sent to fight on the Italian front during World War II. The soldiers were also called the ``buffalo soldiers'' and wore an insignia on their sleeve showing the buffalo.

I was born in Boston in 1930, and in 1939 traveled to Italy, in the Lucca region, with my mother and father. Shortly after our arrival my father had a heart attack. We remained in that area until 1946. In September 1944, when I was 14 years old, we were liberated by members of the 92nd Infantry Division. One of the companies had headquarters in our village of Diecimo for several months. I became friendly with many of the buffalo soldiers and acted as an interpreter for them and errand boy. I worked in exchange for food and clothing. My mother and father spoke English, and as a result our home was always open to the soldiers. They often spent evenings with us, talking, drinking wine and telling us how much they missed home.

According to the newspaper stories, Baker was stationed in an area near us and possibly may have been in our village. Fox was killed in the village of Sommocolonia, very near Diecimo. I was an Italian-American boy who grew up in Boston and was overjoyed in being liberated by the Americans. The question of color never entered my mind nor did it enter the minds of the Italians.

I have just completed a 75,000- word manuscript relating my experiences in Italy during World War II, titled ``Trapped Behind the Gothic Line.'' I hope to be able to find a publisher for the book. The story in The Chronicle and the television reports brought back many memories about my relationship with the buffalo soldiers.

TULLIO BERTINI
Millbrae

Page last revised 02/22/2021