Gold Medal: Francesco Cescato
Born in 1917 in Arsiè (Belluno)
Corporal major
8th Alpini Regiment
“Cividale” Battalion
76th Company
Citation for the Gold Medal of Military Valour (posthumous):
An NCO of exceptional leadership, already awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valour for actions on another front, he had made his squad a picked unit entrusted with the most dangerous tasks. During a violent enemy attack he volunteered with his men for a difficult reconnaissance. Engaged by overwhelming enemy forces, although wounded he did not give up command of the squad and led it resolutely in a counter-attack. When the gunner of his weapon fell, he promptly took his place, helping with timely and decisive fire to hold off the enemy’s aggression. Hit again while fighting on with unbroken tenacity in the unequal, bloody struggle, he fell on the field of honour.
Western front, Golubaya Krinitsa (Russian front), 30 December 1942 – 1 January 1943
Biographical notes:
(other decorations: Silver Medal, Balusa – Greek front, 3 November 1940)
Called up in May 1938 and assigned to the “Cividale” battalion of the 8th Alpini Regiment, in April of the following year he was mobilised for Albania. As corporal major in command of a rifle squad of the 76th Company, he distinguished himself on the Greek-Albanian front from 20 October 1940 to January 1941. Repatriated because of illness, he rejoined his unit in the Balkans a year later, in February, and in August he left for Russia.
(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.
