Eighty years ago the Battle of "El Alamein" drew to a close, a glorious war event that is set in a vast scenario of decisive battles of the Second World War, which helped to pave the way, a few months after the events, to the definitive advance of the Allies in Europe.
There were thirteen days in which the paratroopers fought, strenuously, alongside the divisions "Ariete", "Littorio", "Pavia", "Brescia", "Bologna", "Trento" and "Trieste". A very high cost, especially for the “Folgore” division: when the weapons were finally silent on 4 November, only a few hundred soldiers received the honor of arms.
For the occasion, the Army Chief of Staff, Corps General Pietro Serino, went to El Alamein to commemorate the Anniversary and preserve the memory of what was one of the most important battles of the Second World War. General Serino, in his greeting, underlined: “Today it is an absolute honor for me to speak in a sacred place, as sacred are all the places where the mortal remains of the Soldiers of Italy rest. The emotion is very strong because we are in a place that I have often imagined reading and studying the long campaign of North Africa, where the most modern component of the Italian Army of 80 years ago fought, I don't want anyone. And he fought without disfiguring alongside the allies of the time and sometimes imposing himself on his opponents. History wanted all the contenders of yesterday to be friends and allies today for the defense of freedom and human dignity, which constitute the legacy left to us by all the fighters of the time, without distinction. To these comrades of ours, who rest here, we say thank you because they are an example and guide for us in facing our Duty, in carrying out our Service. "
The Army also recalled the Battle of El Alamein in Italy, in Pisa, in the presence of the Gold Medal for Military Valor, Lieutenant Colonel Gianfranco Paglia, the commander of the Northern Operational Forces, Corps General Salvatore Camporeale, and of the commander of the military command of the capital, general of the army corps Rosario Castellano.
At the unified circle of the Parachuting Training Center, was held the presentation of the comic "Luck was missing, not value", edited by Brigadier General Matteo Paesano of the Editorial Board for the Army. The work, created by Marco Trecalli, offers the reader the opportunity to relive in a comic some moments next to "normal" heroes of those "extraordinary" days, describing stories of courage, self-denial, extreme sacrifice, which follow a coherent temporal and spatial excursus, in which the events are linked by a thin red thread: the analysis of the soul of the Italian soldier, the narration of the various forms of courage and, above all, of the friendship and solidarity that binds men in battle.
Also in Pisa, at the "Gamerra" barracks, the ceremony for the Feast of the paratroopers specialty was held which saw the participation of the highest local authorities, representatives of the Combat and Weapon Associations and numerous family members and friends of the parachute brigade "Thunderbolt".
During the event, the Silver Cross of Merit of the Army was awarded to the War Flag of the 8th “Folgore” Paratrooper Engineers Regiment with the following motivation: “Prestigious regiment, intervening promptly in the initial and most acute phase of a serious epidemiological emergency, was able to guarantee decisive aid to the population by doing its utmost to support the commissioner and the civil authorities with a very high sense of duty. A clear example of iron determination, extraordinary efficiency and sincere altruism, he provided for the construction, in a very short time, of control stations and mobile vaccination facilities. Animated by an exceptional spirit of abandonment, he carried out, with solemn respect, the transport of the coffins of deceased citizens. Northern Italy, February 2020 - November 2021. "
Army Corps General Camporeale, in his speech, highlighted "How the inspiration and example that today's paratroopers must follow in order to achieve the highest degree of efficiency, organization and professionalism can be identified in the deeds accomplished among the sands of El Alamein, where thousands of men opposed until 'extreme sacrifice, with a stubborn and heroic resistance to numerically and technologically overwhelming forces ".
The battle embodies one of the noblest and most symbolic moments in Military History, as reflected in the words of the Gold Medal for Military Valor, Lieutenant Colonel Alberto Bechi Luserna: “Among sands that are no longer deserted, the boys of the Thunderbolt, the flower of a people and an army in arms, are here for eternity garrison. Fallen for an idea, without regret, honored in the memory of the same enemy. "
To all the paratroopers, who contribute with their work to the affirmation of the prestige of the Army and of the country, we wish to express our best wishes for ever greater fortunes.
