2008 FSSF Italy Tour
Here are many photos that Tour coordinator John Hart took while on the Italy tour in 2008.

If you are interested in visiting these sites and more please contact John to RSVP for the 2010 Italy Tour. It will be a time NEVER forgotten.

John Hart - johnhart@telus.net
This the Cassino Abbey taken from our hotel courtyard in 2008.Eugene Forward 2-3 telling us stories about Difensa, sadly Eugene died months after we returned home. He was a father figure to all of us. Of all the people who went in 2008 not one of us had a living father or Force member, we adopted Eugene.This man you will get to know very well, Gianni Blasi, a true friend and loyal member of the First Special Service Force Association. His passion for the Force knows no boundaries and his knowledge of the Force and of Italian history is infinite. Difensa taken from the road to Caspoli, the cliffs the boys climbed to gain the surprise attackThis is Angelo Andreoli's place at Caspoli, he has a museum made up from articles taken from Difensa. He was our guide up Difensa and his wife fed all of us in their house. Angelo also makes a very good wine as you will find out.The headstone of Sid Gath 1-2 killed on Difensa Dec 3, one of the many Forcemen buried in the valleyThe view taken from the bottom of the German route of Difensain the saddle of Difensa, Mt Remantanea in the backgroundDaughter Ashley and John proudly hoisting a familiar flag at the top of DifensaAnother picture of the Difensa cliffs from a lower cliffAshley and John standing at the top of the cliffs of Difensa Mary Bhagan enjoying solitude on DifensaMore Difensa cliffs looking over the cliffs, I don't know they did it. Like the German officer says while under attack, it is impossible for you to be here.A shot in the saddle looking southwestThis cave was 2nd regiment's command post on the top of Difensalooking up from the Difensa saddle towards the cliffsMonte Remantanea from the saddlelooking across the Mignano Gap from DifensaWe brought up a couple bottles of wine and toasted to all of the passed and present ForcemenThe caretakers of the Winterline Museum in VenafroThis fellow in Venafro telling us about the bombing in his townThe ruins of San Pietro taken from the museum parking lotSan Pietro still in ruinsbehind the brush is an old olive press at San PietroEugene Forward and the part of the tour group in the mayors chambers in Artenalocal children came to the chambers to meet Eugene Forward, they learn about the war and the First Special Service Force in school and they get excited when they can actually meet one. The local boy in the foreground is named Thomas in honor of a WW2 soldier named Thomas Names of KIA Forcemen in the Artena squareThis lady came to talk to us in the square and was crying, Gianni told us that her sister went for water and was shot 6 times in the chest by a german soldier, her name is on a tablet in the squareThe pyramid in RomeForce Memorial at the PyramidThe memorials at the PyramidThe Liberation Tablet in Romelooking at Radicosa from hill #687Sheepherders hut dating back at least 500 years at the edge of #687, Italy is famous for it's arches, if you look over the doorway there is one there as wellthe edge of 687, Radicosa in the backgroundfrom a foxhole on 687 looking westAllesandro looking for souvenirs in a foxhole left from the battle on #687A very well preserved foxhole on #687These are old foxholes on #687 battlefiedThe concrete road from Radicosa to Hill 720 Looking across the valley from 720 to Monte la Difensa in the cloudsThis is the guard house on top of 720 that has been there since Roman times, they had a commanding view of the valley, no wonder the Germans did the same. The Romans would light a fire when armies would invade to warn the guards further down the valleylooking at hill 687 from 720The hilltops on the right are in order of close to distant are #675,#724,#775,and #870Jack Sweet 1-1 & Henry Planger 3-3 with their Eagle feathers. Back before the Whiteman came to North America, the chief would reward his braves for heroic battle performance and was the highest award, it still is today. Jack and henry were very proud as was Jack Knight who was not able to make it.The bottom of the german Route to DifensaSammucro - This is one of the many places where we will be this summer 2010
-This tours  are open to all First Special Service Force Veterans, Spouses, Children, grandchildren and friends of the Force, it is an experience that you will never forget

  Gianni Blasi will be our host and tour guide.

FSSF TOUR 2011
“from Santa Maria to Rome”


This year’s tour is going to be divided into two sections which correspond to the phases of the FSSF operations in 1943-44: the approach to and breaking of the Winterline; deployment on the Mussolini Canal on the Anzio Beachhead, the battle for  Artena and the liberation of Rome. The features or Tour 2011 will be the return to Santa Maria and La Radicosa since none of the post-war tours have done so and the setting of a plaque on Mount Majo.
Since I find it appropriate to give the participants some resting time, the two sections will be separated by be an “easy day” at the beach and tasting wine, all in what is normally considered “Force Territory”. Evenings out at local events have been foreseen and shopping time will be arranged according to market days in towns we will be in or close to.

FRIDAY,  MAY 27TH :
-ARRIVAL  IN ROME “LEONARDO DA VINCI” AIRPORT  
-TRANSFER TO EDRA PALACE HOTEL IN CASSINO BY BUS   
-LUNCH
-AFTERNOON REST CONSIDERING LONG FLYING HOURS
-VISIT TO THE COMMONWEALTH CEMETERY  AT SUNSET
-DINNER AT HOTEL
- PRESENTATION OF THE TOUR AND “MEET ‘N’ GREET” IN EDRA PALACE HOTEL GARDENS


SATURDAY,  MAY 28TH :
-TRANSFER BY BUS TO SANTA MARIA CAPUA VETERE (FSSF BARRACKS)
-UNVEILING OF PLAQUE ON SITE OF FORCE MEETING BEFORE DEFENSA ATTACK (SEE SUPERCOMMANDOS  PAGE 105)
-TRANSFER TO CASPOLI FOR A TYPICAL HOME-MADE MEAL AT THE FSSF MUSEUM SITUATED  BELOW THE DEFENSA ATTACK ROUTE
- ANALYSIS OF THE SITE OF THE ATTACK
-TRANSFER TO MIGNANO TOWN HALL, CEREMONY WITH MAYOR
-TRANSFER TO MONTE LUNGO MUSEUM, ANALYSIS OF NORTH SIDE OF DEFENSA
-RETURN TO HOTEL FOR DINNER
-EVENING OUT TO TYPICAL LOCAL EVENT

SUNDAY,  MAY 29TH :
-TRANSFER TO TOWN OF CAMINO (GERMAN DEFENSA ASCENSION SIDE)
-LA DEFENSA CLIMB
-LUNCH IN CAMINO
-TRANSFER TO ROCCA D’EVANDRO, CEREMONY WITH MAYOR OF ROCCA D’EVANDRO, GERMAN STRONGHOLD BEHIND DEFENSA,  (MOUNT LA DEFENSA IS IN THE TERRITORIES OF THE TOWNS OF MIGNANO AND ROCCA D’EVANDRO), VISIT OF THE UNIQUE MEDIEVAL CASTLE
-      RETURN TO HOTEL FOR DINNER
-EVENING OUT TO A TYPICAL LOCAL EVENT

MONDAY,  MAY 30TH :
-      TRANSFER TO TOWN OF SAN VITTORE AND TO HILL 720 PLAQUE (MOUNT SAMMUCRO)
-      ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLEFIELD WITH ORIGINAL EMPLACEMENTS (SEE PAG.121 OF                
      SUPERCOMMANDOS   OR THE COVER PHOTO OF MONTE CASSINO  BY MATHEW PARKER, IT’S STILL            
      THERE, IN THE MIDDLE OF CONCETRIC CIRCLES DATING BACK TO 2000 B.C. AND STILL TO BE    
      STUDIED)
-VISIT TO LA RADICOSA
-RETURN TO HOTEL FOR LUNCH
-VISIT TO THE ABBEY OF MONTE CASSINO, THE POLISH WAR CEMETERY AND BATTLEFIELD BEHIND IT:  THIS YEAR’S TOUR OF THE ABBEY AND BATTLEFIELD WILL BE EXCEPTIONAL SINCE WE WILL HAVE  ACCESS TO AREAS IN THE MONASTERY AND BEHIND IT WHICH ARE NORMALLY NOT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS
-RETURN TO HOTEL FOR DINNER AND A STROLL THROUGH RE-BUILT CASSINO AFTER DINNER

TUESDAY,  MAY 31ST :
-TRANSFER TO VENAFRO TO VISIT THE  WINTERLINE MUSEUM
-TRANSFER TO SAN PIETRO INFINE TO VISIT THE GHOST TOWN SINCE THE WAR
-LUNCH IN SAN PIETRO
-TRANSFER TO VITICUSO WHERE FSSF CAMPED BEFORE MAJO OPERATIONS
-MOUNT MAJO, CEREMONY OF PLAQUE DEDICATION
-RETURN TO HOTEL
-“NIGHT ASSAULT ON LOCATION X”  (PREPARE YOUR V-42s)

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE 1ST :
-TRANSFER TO SABAUDIA, MORNING ON THE BEACH
-LUNCH IN SABAUDIA
-TRANSFER TO ARTENA, CEREMONY AT FSSF PLAQUES AND TRANSFER TO UPPER  ARTENA TO SEE THE BEACHHEAD FROM MOUNTAIN GERMAN POSITIONS (REMEMBER BILL MAULDIN’S UP FRONT WITH G.I. JOE? “MY GOD! HERE THEY WUZ  AN’  THERE WE WUZ.”)
-RETURN TO HOTEL FOR DINNER



THURSDAY,  JUNE 2ND :
-TRANSFER TO NETTUNO AMERICAN WAR CEMETERY FOR OFFICIAL CEREMONY
-TRANSFER TO “PIANA DELLE ORME MUSEUM” FOR LUNCH
-VISIT OF THE “P D O” MUSEUM
-VISIT TO WINE PRODUCER IN “FORCE TERRITORY” (JUST IN CASE SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT OUR MAIN HISTORICAL INTERESTS!)
-RETURN TO HOTEL FOR DINNER

FRIDAY,  JUNE 3RD :
-TRANSFER TO ANZIO TO VISIT THE COMMONWEALTH CEMETERY, ANZIO PORT, ANZIO BEACH
-TRANSFER TO THE MUSSOLINI CANAL , “TOST- STOP” AT THE “GUSVILLE” BAR IN BORGO SABOTINO
-LUNCH AT THE “PIANA DELLE ORME” MUSEUM
-VISIT TO  WINE AND OIL PRODUCER IN “FORCE TERRITORY”
-RETURN TO HOTEL FOR DINNER
-NIGHT OUT AT A LOCAL EVENT

SATURDAY,  JUNE 4TH :
-TRANSFER TO ROME TO SEE THE FORCE SITES AND MAJOR HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
-LUNCH IN ROME
-ESTIMATED TIME OF RETURN TO HOTEL IN CASSINO 6 PM
-DINNER AT 8 PM
-“BYE ’N’ SIGH” IN EDRA PALACE HOTEL GARDENS

SUNDAY,  JUNE 5TH :
-DEPARTURE FOR ROME AIRPORT OR OTHER DESTINATIONS.



All participants will be accomodated in a four star hotel right in the middle of Purple Heart Valley, on the Gustav Line, with La Defensa in the front view and the Abbey of Montecassino on the left. Transportation will be provided with gran-tourism busses (unless special vehicles are required in the mountains) from the pick-up at the Fiumicino Airport to the departure at the same. Three full meals per day will be provided at the best Italian cuisine standards and during the excursions participants will have the unique experience of tasting outstanding home-made delicacies. The all inclusive cost per day shall not exceed (and if possible be less than) 110 euros per day.
All Force sites and battlefields will be accessible for everyone either by jeep, bus or wheelchair.

Contact: John Hart
              3047 Cottonwood Way S.W.
              Medicine Hat Alberta
              T1b 4J6
Phone-    403 526-7343
Email-    johnhart@telus.net

Italy Tour 2011
See below for info on the 2010 tour and pictures form the 2008 tour.
Hello EVERYONE! I was fortunate enough to go on the 2010 Italy tour. It was an amazing experience that I will NEVER forget. Because of the amazing response to the tour and to continue to the "Memory of the Force" there is plans in the works for a NEW Tour in 2011. If you are interested please read below for what the tours are like and contact John Hart with his info below.
~ Eric Morgensen
2010 FSSF Italy Tour
To read about the 2010 Italy Tour and see the link below and watch the  video segment by Tamar Scoggin "Power of the Force"

http://whenrainandsunlighttouch.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/the-power-of-the-force-a-preview/
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