We go to meet the last living Partizane, who also remembers Jack's dad.The partizane's name is Albino, pronounced "Ahl-BEEN-oh." He is in his very late 80's with failing eyesight. He has a nice office and wife, Rosa, and a son, Evo, pronounced "Ah-VEE-o.”
Evo, Rosa, Albino, Lee, & Jack in Albino’s Office
Albino was 14 years old when Jack's dad, Howard, parachuted into Caprelle. Albino's family provided a home for Howard and safekeeping, knowing full well that if they were discovered by the Germans that occupied Caprelle, the entire family would be put to death. Albino's nickname was “The Little Pigeon" and he delivered messages to and from partizane factions. This was easily punishable by death as well.
Albino in his youth, “The Little Pigeon”
Sitting in Albino's office and listening to Chuck speak with him in Italian and then translate brought the horrors of this war suddenly home to me. No longer were they just printed words on a page of a history book. These people were willing to sacrifice their entire families. I hid my face in my hands and pretended to have a coughing fit.
Albino, Evo, and Chuck
Partisane Statue in Albino’s Office
Rosa brought round an Italian version of a fruitcake - panecella. It's a single layer cake baked in a paper souffle ring and it's about 14 inches tall. Slices of panecella all round, and grappa to wash it down with. Never, never, drink grappa. This stuff will wipe the chrome off a bumper hitch. It must be a zillion proof. Suddenly my coughing fit was in earnest.
We left, presently, and went to another little nearby village where there was a monument. The monument was for four partizani brothers that were discovered to be conspiring with the Americans. They were given away be the American cigarette butts the Nazis found near their home. They were all four hung in the little village's square.
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