Gold Medal: Giuseppe Toigo
Born in 1920 in Arten di Fonzaso (Belluno)
Alpino
9th Alpini Regiment
“Val Cismon” Battalion
265th Company
Citation for the Gold Medal of Military Valour – awarded to a living recipient –:
Having come back from France to fight in the Italian Army, always present in the most dangerous actions, three times he returned to our lines wounded and refused to be admitted to hospital, settling for a simple dressing. During an overwhelming enemy attack, he had himself tied, with a machine gun, in the open on the hull of a tank to increase its firepower, and made an effective contribution to stopping the advance of the enemy masses. Back from the action, he was hit by a mortar round that left him seriously wounded in the eyes and in one hand. A shining example of heroism and deep devotion to his country.
Seleny Yar – Deresovka (Russian front), 28 December 1942
Biographical notes:
Having emigrated to France for work, he came home of his own accord in April 1942 and was enlisted by the Belluno Military District in the “Feltre” battalion of the 7th Alpini Regiment. Transferred the following June to the “Val Cismon” battalion of the 9th Alpini, he left for the Russian front in August of the same year. Assigned to the arditi platoon of the 265th Company, he carried out the most daring and dangerous tasks, first on the Donets and then on the Don. Seriously wounded in the eyes and in one arm on 28 December 1942, he was moved through several hospitals and returned home in February 1943. In March 1944, at the end of his treatment and blind in both eyes, he was permanently discharged. He retired to his home village, where he died on 29 May 1955.
(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.)
(Gold Medal recipient Giuseppe Toigo died at Arten di Fonzaso, Belluno, on 29 May 1955.)
The Arten Alpini Group (Feltre ANA Section) is named after Gold Medal recipient Giuseppe Toigo.
Related article: The Sons of Belluno at War.
