Gold Medal: Emidio Paolin
Born in 1917 in Forno di Canale, later renamed Forno di Zoldo (Belluno)
Corporal major, reserve
7th Alpini Regiment
“Belluno” Battalion
Citation for the Gold Medal of Military Valour (posthumous):
Commander of a rifle squad, who had repeatedly distinguished himself for daring and courage, he boldly attacked a strong position and scattered its defenders with hand grenades. Seeing his platoon commander fall mortally wounded, he hurled himself at strong enemy groups that were counter-attacking and drove them back. Left with only two men, and seeing that one of them, the light machine gunner, had been wounded, he took his weapon and, together with the only survivor, advanced standing up, shouting taunts at the enemy. Wounded in turn, he did not stop but pressed on in his heroic charge until he fell, mortally hit by a machine-gun burst. An example of high military virtue and unbroken courage.
Monte Golico (Greek front), 17 February 1941
Biographical notes:
A humble farm labourer, he was called up for military service on 27 May 1938 and posted to the “Feltre” battalion of the 7th Alpini Regiment, then attached to the “Duca degli Abruzzi” battalion at the Central Military Mountaineering School in Aosta. Back with his unit in January 1939, he was promoted to scout corporal the following March and to corporal major on 20 December. Kept in service, from June 1940 he took part in the operations against France and, later transferred to the “Belluno” battalion, left for Albania on 25 November of the same year.
(The citation and biographical notes are taken from the book «Le Medaglie d’Oro al valor militare», Gruppo Medaglie d’Oro al valor militare d’Italia, Rome 1965.)
Related article: The Sons of Belluno at War.
