The book In my Father's foxholes and footsteps
“Life must be understood backwards; but it must be lived forward.”
(Kierkegaard)
“We can only be free when everyone is.”
(Hegel)
The Second World War has produced an infinite number of books, black and white films, images and documentaries. The heroic moments of those who survived, those dying and of those who died are catalogued by war correspondents, whose work was to astonish through their photographs.
Cold images of how war is.
We feel that, for the first time, this book offers testimonial from both ordinary soldiers who fought on our land and of the people they encountered, witnessed through the eyes of the men who found themselves risking their lives in a foreign land, far away from home and among unknown customs and cultures.
Book contents
Now that the book is finished, we must admit "it was love at first sight". We met Val Rios in late May 2006, and the idea developed between June and July.
We received Cruz Rios' memoirs in September and began translating them from American English to Italian. In the meanwhile, we verify dates and events and to draw up all the texts. Graphics added, and all translations and we were ready to jump in October (the book is bilingual: Italian and English).
In early December 2006, we printed the book after a long proofreading, translations, etc and despite everything … some errors slipped out. We are confident that readers will forgive us, after all we are freshmen in the publishing field.
Foreword by Cruz F. Rios
Every morning when I awake I give thanks to the Lord for another day. I have truly been blessed to have reached my 87th birthday because I know, some sixty years ago, I faced death on a daily basis. Many of my dear friends were not so fortunate.
In 1945 I arrived in Italy as a member of the 10th Mountain Division, 87th Regiment, Company K. Little did I Know that I was about to experience “the best and worst of times.” It is hard to describe the evil and horror of war. As we traveled to the front lines I could see all the destruction the war had brought to the Italian people. My heart was deeply moved as I witnessed so many civilians, especially the children begging for food or anything we could give them. Nor is it possible to describe what it is like to see your foxhole buddy killed or watch helplessly as life slips away from a fallen comrade.
