For Gallantry in Action: Calabrian-Americans Cited for Bravery in World War I

Beginning in the 1870s and continuing to the eve of World War I hundreds of thousands of Calabrians immigrated to the United States. It's not known how many Calabrian men (and perhaps a few Calabrian women) served in the United States military during World War I. These men, whether they joined the United States military voluntarily or were drafted, served in a variety of military units performing a multitude of functions. Many served in combat in France, Belgium, Italy, and Russia. Some of these men were decorated or cited for bravery in action. This book covers more than one hundred men who earned medals for bravery in action. Some earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for battlefield gallantry in action; others earned the Silver Star. Also covered are men who earned foreign awards for gallantry. Full citations are given for men who earned the Distinguished Service Cross, and others are recorded as fully as possible. Illustrations include photographs of some of the men and examples of documents and records that show the citations for bravery.