This is the recounting and the diary of my life - Marino Mattei

10.

The following morning was Christmas. The chaplain said a Mass and he gave us Communion. We had coffee and they gave each of us a small Christmas present. At noon we had a special lunch and after we were finished eating they loaded us onto ambulances and they took us to Vallona. From there we were to be taken back to Italy by ship.

Our stay in Vallona was not good. It was dirty, the food was terrible and also, since I had gone so long without eating, when I was given a meal I couldn't digest anything. As soon as I ate something it would pass through me and come out the same as it had gone in. Everyday I was feeling worse and there was no talk of returning to Italy. The medical ship arrived twice a week but it would board only the most serious casualties and leave me there. Also, there was a great deal of danger in staying in Vallona because every half-hour enemy planes flew by and bombed the city, leaving us shaken. It was only a matter of time before a bomb would hit us. My condition worsened with each day that went by and I could no longer stand on my own two feet.

Ten days had passed and nothing was said about my returning to Italy. Someone told me that on the following day the ship was arriving. I attempted to go to the head of the medical staff because I knew that whatever he said, the lieutenant of the medics would agree to do. I pleaded with him and he promised that I would be permitted to leave. In fact, on the following morning I was first on the list. I was taken to the ship and on the night of the following day I arrived at Bari [South Eastern Italian coastal city]. Ambulances were waiting for us there and we were immediately taken to a large building. They administered all the medications we needed and they also gave us a meal. As I said, as long as I had been in Vallona I couldn't hold food in but as soon as I boarded the ship I began to eat and my stomach returned to normal. Every day I was beginning to feel better. After we had eaten they loaded us onto a medical train which took us to Trieste [North Eastern Italian coastal city, near Venice]. We left Bari late in the evening and we traveled all night and all the following day and night, arriving on the morning after at around 10:00.

We were led off the train and they took us to two hospitals - some of us went to a military hospital and the others to a civilian facility. I was lucky; I was taken to the civilian hospital and there we were accommodated like gentlemen. I, along with many others, was placed in a large room. I was not severely wounded and I could tolerate my injuries but many others were in pitiable conditions. There were those who'd be screaming and those who were moaning. Many had been wounded in battle but most were suffering from frostbite. Some had lost a foot or both feet, others had lost hands or there entire arms. There was one who had lost both legs and both arms; only his torso remained. He screamed uncontrollably through the day and night and he wanted to die. He did not want to see anyone. We all tried to give him strength but he wouldn't listen to us. He pleaded with the doctors and the nurses to let him die. While at the hospital they gave us a form to send to our parents or, if we had wives, to our wives which stated that if they wanted to visit us the military would pay for their voyage as well as their hotel and their meals. Due to this, many parents came to visit. Among them, my father and mother soon arrived and they stayed for two days. The parents of the soldier who had lost his arms and legs also came but he did not want to see them. For the 40 days that I remained there, he screamed continuously.

Marino Mattei (center) in a hospital with fellow soldiers
(1940/'41).

We had a very good stay at the hospital; they treated us like royalty. Moreover, we were the first wounded to arrive in Trieste and many people came to visit us. Many Fascist girls [presumably, members of the Fascist party sent to provide assistance to the wounded] came by to keep us company and if we needed anything they tried to get it for us. Everyone brought us gifts and among these visitors even Prince Umberto came to see us. He stopped at each bed and shook hands and provided us with words of comfort. I stayed at the hospital in Trieste for approximately 40 days. My wounds had healed and they sent me home with an additional 40 days of convalescence.

At home I stayed comfortably even though there was the problem of not having enough to eat. Everything was being rationed and we couldn't find anything to buy in the stores. I spent part of my time at Marta's [see part 6]. 40 days passed quickly and I soon had to return to the military. However, before I could return I had to undergo a medical examination at the military hospital in Florence. Two days before I was to present myself at the hospital I began to intentionally hit the arm where I had been wounded in order to aggravate the injury so that I would get additional time for convalescence. Because of this, when I arrived in Florence my arm was swollen and I was admitted into the hospital for another 15 days. There too we were treated well and almost every day they would take us outside. One day they took us to the Palazzo Pitti. While there we attended a concert that was being held by Princess Gioen Maria of Savoy [possibly the wife of Prince Umberto; see link above] with her small children. Here too, they gave us a small gift and the Princess passed and shook our hands and it was a beautiful day. After 15 days my arm had healed and they sent me back home with another 30 days of convalescence.

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© 2009 by Maurice Mattei
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