Capt. Aaron Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Station Sigonella, salutes the ensign during the national anthem at an Operation Husky 80th anniversary commemoration ceremony, which took place at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo in Gela, Italy, July 10, 2023. Throughout Sicily in July, service members from the base are attending ceremonies to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied invasion of the island. (Kelsey S. Culbertson/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy — Cristoforo Ventura has spent the past four decades dutifully tending a memorial he helped create to honor the sacrifice of 38 U.S. Army paratroopers and a Navy nurse killed in Sicily during World War II.

Now in his 80s, Ventura remembers playing amid war trenches and bunkers near the site and hearing stories from farmers about fierce fighting between American and German forces.

Ventura wants his fellow Sicilians to recognize the significance of Allied efforts during the war that resulted in their freedom. The memorialized service members, mostly from the 82nd Airborne Division, perished during the first days of the Allied Invasion of Sicily in July 1943.

“(I have been) always grateful to Allied troops for the liberation from neo-fascism, which brought hunger, abuse of power and suppression of liberty,” Ventura said through an interpreter.

Rear Adm. Brad Collins, commander of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central, right, and Lucio Greco, mayor of Gela, Italy, present commemorative wreaths at an Operation Husky 80th anniversary ceremony, at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo on July 10, 2023. (Kelsey S. Culbertson/U.S. Navy)

Italian war reenactors present commemorative wreaths at an Operation Husky 80th anniversary ceremony at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo in Gela, Italy, July 10, 2023. (Kelsey S. Culbertson/U.S. Navy)

Those sentiments resulted in a special attachment to the U.S. service members and spurred efforts to establish the memorial with local historian Nunzio Vicini on July 10, 1984, he said.

That day was the 41st anniversary of the start of the invasion that claimed the service members’ lives.

The memorial at Ponte Dirillo is about 47 miles southwest of Naval Air Station Sigonella and includes helmets, canteens and other military gear.

A plaque lists the names of the victims, including their 28-year-old commanding officer, Lt. Col. Arthur Gorham, who was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses for his actions in Sicily.

Known as Operation Husky, the amphibious invasion began July 10, 1943, and included Canadian and British forces.

Retired Army Col. Bruce Clark, son of Lt. Col. Arthur Gorham, one of the service members who was killed in action during Operation Husky, presents a hometown heroes flag at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo in Gela, Italy, July 10, 2023. (Kelsey S. Culbertson/U.S. Navy)

Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Melendez plays taps at an Operation Husky 80th anniversary ceremony, at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo in Gela, Italy, July 10, 2023. (Kelsey S. Culbertson/U.S. Navy)

It lasted until Aug. 17, 1943, leading directly to the fall of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the surrender of Italy’s government, according to the Army’s official history site.

In all, more than 180,000 Allied troops landed on Sicily. More than 2,000 U.S. service members were killed in the operation, which marked the first effort to take back Europe from the Axis powers, the Navy said in a statement July 10.

That outcome should be foremost in people’s minds, said Alberto Lunetta, community relations director at NAS Sigonella.

Since 2003, Lunetta has worked alongside Ventura to push back against revisionist efforts by neo-fascists to cast the invasion in a negative light. That misinformation also minimizes the sacrifices of Allied troops, Lunetta said.

As a result, Lunetta has encouraged Italian leaders to participate in an annual NAS Sigonella remembrance at the memorial. He also has fostered Sicilian participation in ceremonies and events in the nearby town of Gela and elsewhere, he said.

This year, on the 80th anniversary of the invasion, the commemoration at Ponte Dirillo included Rear Adm. Brad Collins, commander of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central; Gela Mayor Lucio Greco; and family members of Gorham.

“It’s OK to remember all the fallen from all the sides,” Lunetta said. “But we should never forget the young Allied warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of Europe.”

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Longoria recites final roll call of all 82nd Airborne Division service members who were killed in action at an Operation Husky 80th anniversary ceremony, at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo in Gela, Italy, July 10, 2023. (Kelsey S. Culbertson/U.S. Navy)