Finding WW2 veterans who were stationed in Rome?

April 12, 2012 2:34 PM

Historyfilter: how would I go about identifying and actually contacting G.I.s stationed in Rome post-WW2? I'm hoping there may be an uncomplicated way to reach the octuagenarians who spent some significant amount of time in the city right after the war.

I've sent a contact email outlining my hopes to the American G.I. Forum, but perhaps that's entirely the wrong place to try?

The reason behind my quest? There's a pressing (for me) anecdote that can only gain historical significance if I'm lucky enough to find someone who actually lived (or at least directly heard about) it.

(Alternatively/in addition: suggestions of accounts of Rome right after the war as told by American servicemen are also welcome.)

posted by progosk to society & culture (4 answers total)

Given the sea of material out there, you might have better luck if you post the anecdote here first.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 2:45 PM on April 12, 2012

Start at your local VFW?
posted by notyou at 3:03 PM on April 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

The anecdote... is about the carbonara.
posted by progosk at 3:09 PM on April 12, 2012

Find out which units were in Rome during the time that concerns you, and then contact their veteran's association.

My copy of Atkinson's second book is at home, but I bet a short time reading Wikipedia or Hyperwar would help figure out which units to contact.

Alternatively, search the web for oral histories containing the word "Rome" and then either contact those individuals, or use details of their service to identify the relevant units and proceed as above.

If you get totally stuck, MeMail me and I will ask your question on a good WWII mailing list I am on.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:27 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]