Photo By Sgt. Tiffany Mitchell | In celebration of Italy’s National Unity Day and Armed Forces Day, Col. Brian...... read more read more
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In celebration of Italy’s National Unity Day and Armed Forces Day, Col. Brian Sullivan, chief of staff of the 10th Mountain Division (LI), placed a wreath at the grave of World War II Italian soldier, Pvt. Rino Carlutti, Nov. 4 at the Prisoner of War Cemetery on Fort Drum, N.Y.
Carlutti, a San Daniele del Friuli, Italy Native, died Oct. 17, 1944 from injuries sustained in an accident while he was held at Fort Drum. According to Dr. Laurie Rush, Fort Drum’s Cultural Resources manager, he was killed in a car accident while on a work detail in central New York.
Carlutti was buried at Fort Drum’s POW Cemetery, which is also the burial site for six Geman POWs who died during WWII. There was a second Italian POW buried at the site, however his family paid to have him returned to Italy.
“At the end of the war, the U.S. did offer to cooperate with the reparations for prisoners of war (with) both the Italians and Germans, but they would ask for the families to support the cost,” said Rush. “Unfortunately, Pvt. Carlutti’s family didn’t have those kinds of resources.”
An official wreath-laying ceremony for Carlutti didn’t start until roughly five years ago. Prior to that, a wreath was laid for him by Rush out of appreciation for her time working with the Italian people and to honor Carlutti for his service.
“I had been a fellow at the American Academy in Rome in 2011,” said Rush. “Given the fabulous welcome that I received from the Italian people, I felt like I owed something to their fallen. I actually started buying a wreath and personally putting it here for Pvt. Carlutti. Not very long after that, the embassy contacted me and began a more official ceremony.”
Since then, senior leaders of 10th Mountain Division have become a part of the ceremony, placing the wreath at the grave site and rendering a salute to honor the fallen. For Sullivan, the ceremony is a time for remembrance.
“For me, it’s important to feel connected to the deep history of Fort Drum and the time of Pine Camp,’ said Sullivan. “To hear the story of Pvt. Carlutti and his contributions to the North Country, given his status as a POW, was really fascinating.”
With Veterans Day Weekend on the horizon, the 10th Mountain Division is gearing up for two more wreath laying ceremonies: one for the German POWs and the other for all of the division’s fallen.
“We’re getting ready to go into Veterans Day Weekend so I see Carlutti’s wreath-laying as the first critical event of the incredible outreach of the 10th Mountain Division,” said Sullivan. “We have numerous events coming up and we’ll be able to reach upwards of 23,000 people in the local community. Our goal is to not only share the 10th Mountain Division but our history with the veterans and families of the North Country.”
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2019 15:48 |
| Story ID: | 350710 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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