Operation: Robert E. Ihlang

I was given a mission. It was from my grandpa George. He fought in WWII and was stationed in Italy for two years. Within the first two weeks of their arrival in January 1944, his good buddy Robert Ihlang was killed by an explosion of shrapnel. George was responsible for calling Robert's parents and letting them know they had the option of having his body shipped home or coming to Italy to have the service. There was nothing left of his body, and George strongly encouraged them to have the service here. They agreed, and he was buried in the American WWII Cemetery. Robert E. Ihlang was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. He died on January 10, 1944. He was honored with the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was a brave young man who fought for our freedom.

The mission was to find his gravesite and take a photograph for the Minnesota WWII Memorial in his honor. We arrived by train early yesterday morning and found ourselves in the wonderful little town of Nettuno. The cemetery was within walking distance from the station, so we quickly found ourselves in its beautiful gardens.

We wandered through, enjoying the calm serenity of the honored place. The air was so fresh, infused with scents of pine and freshly cut grass. It was a welcomed change from the thick dusty air of Rome. Finding the gravesite brought about a rush of adrenaline...comparable to finding a treasure chest! I and my five roommates took the challenge of taking the best photograph...we're still not sure who won. It was an honor to be in the presence of a man that George knew so many years ago and still thinks about to this day.

We made our way from the cemetery to a nearby grocery store. It was the biggest food store we had seen yet, selling clothes and other home supplies. Shopping in Italy is a unique experience. I would say the major food groups are produce, fresh bread, and cheese. The options are endless, and the language barrier forces us to try many new foods just because we don't know what is what. I have found that one can't go wrong with bread, but the cheeses can be a bit tricky...and stinky! We all have enjoyed the fresh and extremely cheap produce. My new favorite snack is pear slices with brie and crackers.

 

Once we found the beach we had a lovely picnic and took our leftovers to a homeless man sleeping nearby. The water was just perfect, and we enjoyed several hours of climbing rocks and lying out. The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping. This task takes a lot of pointing and nodding, hand gestures and awkwardly jumbled Italian words. I'm sure they appreciate our business!

Finding restrooms in Italy is quite difficult. The options are as follows: Option #1 Buy something from a cafe and hope they have a toilet. Option #2 Pay a euro to use one, toilet paper costs extra. Option #3 If you're a man, pee in the street (we witnessed this firsthand) Option #4 Find a secluded area and hope no one comes near. Extra tip - Always carry toilet paper just in case. At the train station, we had no choice but option #4, as all the other alternatives did not exist. I hope to never do that again!
The train ride home was blessed with good conversation and gorgeous views of the nearby Apennine Mountains. It was a wonderfully accomplished day.