A tale of bravery by an American solider, Leon Weckstein, in Italy during WWII.
"For a few scary minutes the fate of the Leaning Tower of Pisa hung by a thread." reported Staff Sergeant Leon Weckstein, a veteran of the Italian Campaign. Having been given the go-ahead to demolish it if necessary, "All that was left for me to do was in the word, 'fire' and every canon within three miles would have pulverized it. With that one fatal word I could have easily turned it to chunks of splintered marble!"
At the age of 23, he was aware of the Tower's well-earned reputation as "one of the seven wonders of the world." What occurred on that historic, hot July day is recalled with graphic descriptions of that moment in time, resulting in honors bestowed on him years later by Pisa's heads of state for his heedful actions.
Along with other Front Line narratives, his book readily allows the reader to easily sense an infantry soldier's inherent need for dogged courage and survival which are disclosed in his exciting war memoir aptly titled, Through My Eyes.
Preserving the Tower against all odds was not the only praise-worthy deed exhibited by Weckstein. As an Intelligence & Reconnaisance Sergeant he had earned America's rare Legion of Merit as well as Bronze star, those along with several important foreign awards for valor. In that precarious process he had occasionally operated alongside local Italian Partisans as they battled their precarious way with German and Fascist enemies. In his latest book, 200,000 Heroes / Italian Partisans and the American OSS in WWII he relates many of their unknown stories....blood-curdling, verifiable accounts that originated from both men and women Partisans in their fight for freedom.
Learn more about Staff Sergeant Leon Weckstein, his intrepid actions in Tuscany and for his uncommon affiliation with the stout-hearted Italian Partisans.
At the age of 23, he was aware of the Tower's well-earned reputation as "one of the seven wonders of the world." What occurred on that historic, hot July day is recalled with graphic descriptions of that moment in time, resulting in honors bestowed on him years later by Pisa's heads of state for his heedful actions.
Along with other Front Line narratives, his book readily allows the reader to easily sense an infantry soldier's inherent need for dogged courage and survival which are disclosed in his exciting war memoir aptly titled, Through My Eyes.
Preserving the Tower against all odds was not the only praise-worthy deed exhibited by Weckstein. As an Intelligence & Reconnaisance Sergeant he had earned America's rare Legion of Merit as well as Bronze star, those along with several important foreign awards for valor. In that precarious process he had occasionally operated alongside local Italian Partisans as they battled their precarious way with German and Fascist enemies. In his latest book, 200,000 Heroes / Italian Partisans and the American OSS in WWII he relates many of their unknown stories....blood-curdling, verifiable accounts that originated from both men and women Partisans in their fight for freedom.
Learn more about Staff Sergeant Leon Weckstein, his intrepid actions in Tuscany and for his uncommon affiliation with the stout-hearted Italian Partisans.
Learn more about Leon, the awards and metals bestowed upon him for his actions in Pisa and for his work with the Italian Partisans.
Learn more about both books.
The books are published by Hellgate Press.
Learn more about both books.
The books are published by Hellgate Press.
