Interviewed by:

Emma Peterson and Julia Keane

"We don't feel at all anything. We just don't, don't think or feel anything." (20:54)

~ Enzo Brandolini

Enzo Brandolini's Story

During World War II, brave fighters stood up for our country. These men and women, soldiers and nurses, fought courageously in a time of war. Mr. Brandolini is just one of the many men who defended our country. His bravery in World War II makes him a hero. Mr. Brandolini grew up in Walpole, Massachusetts and when he was about 25 years old he joined a group of his friends and together they all enlisted for the U.S. Marines in Boston, Massachusetts. He spent some time training at the Heavy Weapons School, where he excelled at learning about weapons and how to use them.

After training, Mr. Brandolini was sent to Japan. In Japan, Mr. Brandolini got to experience a different nation while in the 4th Division as a sergeant, where he participated in the battles of Saipan and Tinian, as well as being located at Camp Maui. He brought food, weapons, and gasoline around the island to his comrades in need. As with most warfare situations, near-death experiences accompanied soldiers and Mr. Brandolini was no exception. He survived Japanese soldiers shooting at him, and bombing his men and himself. After the 4th Division, Mr. Brandolini joined the 1st Division as a sergeant.

When the war was over, Mr. Brandolini returned to the life he had left before the war and found that integrating with society once again wasn't difficult. Something that makes Mr. Brandolini intriguing is that his views on some subjects differ from other veterans. Unlike other veterans, Mr. Brandolini believes the war didn't change him. Now residing in Chatham, Mr. Brandolini still has a fresh perspective on the war and proudly recounts the days of his life in the U.S. Marines. Even though Mr. Brandolini is modest about his wartime service, he will gladly retell stories of the past to anyone willing to listen.