Trapped in Tuscany

Book excerpt: This is a true account of the events that occurred in Tullio Bruno Bertini's life between 1939 and 1946. Tullio was born in Boston in 1930. He arrived in Italy with his mother and father on August 1, 1939 after completing the third grade. As a nine year old boy Tullio was in a different culture and found himself trapped in Italy. Even though he was forced to live under Fascist nazi rule, he managed to attend an Italian school, become involved in village life and even learn a new language. In September 1944, he and his family were liberated by the 92nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Fifth Army which was comprised entirely of black soldiers.