
Interview from 1999, taken from RAIDS, by Giampiero Cannella
Who will not forget the 2 July 1993 is Gianfranco Paglia. Second Lieutenant in the Folgore, 186th Parachute Regiment, At only 23 years of age, he was the protagonist of at least two actions that day. His fellow soldiers were in danger and he did not hesitate for a moment to jump into the fray.
For his behaviour in battle he was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valour.
Three Somali bullets seriously wounded him: in the wrist, the lung, the spine. He was poised between life and death, he made it even though the injuries to his spinal cord left their mark.
But he has not abandoned his military career. He is now in the GARIBALDI brigade, stationed in Caserta, where he is in charge of planning operations and exercises; during his spare time, he does voluntary work in a community for recovering drug addicts. He fights to regain his upright position. Under the eyes of his little sister Manuela, who does not leave him for a moment, he happily answers our questions.
- What happened that day in Mogadishu?
"It was a round-up like many others, we were looking for clandestine weapons depots, suddenly everything happened. First the women and children appeared, insulting us and throwing stones, the militia ambushed us."
- Did you expect this?
"No. Of course we knew we were taking risks. To impose peace on two factions that are shooting at each other is neither easy nor painless; but within UNOSOM we were the most valued contingent. Let's say we were the most 'diplomatic', the most human. Relations with the Somalis were excellent, given the conditions. In theory, the Italians had the least to fear. Our behaviour was always correct, 'strict but fair'.
- How did you get involved in the fight?
"We in the BRAVO group had finished our work and were already close to Balad. We got a radio call telling us that there was trouble at PASTA. We turned around and drove back to the checkpoint. Here we found hell."
- You have arrived in the middle of the battle...
"Yes, there were barricades on all sides. The Imperial Way was cut off and the Somalis were shooting at us. We got out of the vehicles to remove the obstacles and make better use of our individual weapons. Then the tragedy. A rocket hit the VCC ahead of mine, killing Pasquale Baccaro and seriously wounding Giampiero and Massimiliano (Monti and Zaniolo, ed.). We then intervened to pull them out of the armoured car and protect them from the Somali attack."
- Did this all happen under enemy fire?
"Yes."
- How did you react?
"There were many conscripts and in any case, it was a situation that had never happened before, except in exercises.... It was the 'baptism of fire' for all of us. It was an experience I will not easily forget. The injured people who had just come out of the VCC were in shock. Suffering the explosion of a c/c grenade, in a confined space like that, is no joke. It is not easy to react under those conditions. Not everyone has the same presence of mind, it's human. In the movies or in exercises it's all different. Being under enemy fire or shooting at real targets is not like hitting a silhouette. However, overall they all performed very well. I got the gold medal, but there are many who deserve more recognition."
- For example?
"Lieutenant Romeo Carbonetti did not hesitate to risk his life to protect others. He placed his VCC at a road junction, a few steps away from me and the stricken vehicle. He was out in the open but that position gave him an excellent view. He fired his machine gun, preventing the militiamen from approaching. Giovanni Bozzini then, he was on Baccaro's vehicle, he stayed there shooting, I helped Giampiero who was losing a lot of blood. I mention only them, but ideally I mean all of them."
- Then what happened?
"We restarted the stricken VCC, disengaged and went to IRON, to get the wounded to safety. From there we decided to return to the area of operation."
- Decided independently?
"Yeah. You know, there are things you do without thinking twice. My company was still under rebel fire, my fellow soldiers were there, my captain... You don't think about yourself, you're too involved. If you believe in what you do, in the values behind your mission, you have no hesitation. You've trained yourself a thousand times to do certain things, it's automatic."
- Well?
"We organised a column, three VCCs and a Centaur. With us were two Tuscanica vehicles. We were faced with yet another obstacle, a barricade. Once again under enemy fire. We managed to overcome the barrier erected by the militiamen, while we were coordinating the operation we were hit, both Millevoi and I."
- At the same time?
"I don't remember that. I remember seeing Andrea Millevoi leaning out of the turret to better direct the operation; I pushed myself out too, then came more Kalashnikov shots. I collapsed inside the VCC. My pilot and crew were great. They managed to get me to IRON in record time. From there, an Italian helicopter transferred me to the US military hospital. The doctors thought I wouldn't make it, but instead I had an unexpected reaction and here I am today."
- Thinking back to those moments, to the consequences, have you ever said to yourself "who made me do it?"
"Never. I volunteered in FOLGORE, and I knew what that meant. I went to Somalia always as a volunteer. I did what I thought was right. It was an incredible life experience, our presence there was vital for so many people. We were on a humanitarian mission and we truly gave hope to those who had lost it. The Italians distributed food, treated the sick - who would otherwise have died - built schools. Other than torture."
- Already the 'Somaliagate'. The two enquiry commissions acquitted Generals Loi and Fiore. Was it all a hoax?
"Fortunately, the truth has been re-established. Someone wanted to speculate by fabricating a far-fetched story. Torture, violence, ill-treatment. The soldiers of Operation IBIS always behaved with great fairness. We were peacekeeping troops but practically in a war zone. We always respected the rules of engagement and the prescriptions of the United Nations. The castle of accusations did not withstand a thorough investigation. "
- After Somalia, Bosnia...
"That too was an unforgettable adventure. I must thank the commander of the GARIBALDI, General Del Vecchio, who gave me the opportunity to go to Sarajevo during the election period. I savoured again the taste of 'operational' life. The Italian soldiers are doing an excellent job and in the Bosnian capital I also witnessed an event of great significance. The desire for peace was manifested at the U2 concert, with young people from all over the former Yugoslavia. The Italian peacekeeping force is working very well, despite the fact that they are often unjustly attacked at home by too many who never loved them. That is why it is right for Italy not to forget those who have sacrificed and are sacrificing themselves for ideals, for a flag, doing their assigned work to the end. This is also why the fallen of the IBIS missions and those in the former Yugoslavia cannot be forgotten by the country for which they died."
Gold Medal for Military Valour to Gianfranco Paglia
Commander of a paratrooper platoon, he was part of the Italian contingent sent to Somalia as part of the humanitarian operation commissioned by the United Nations. He took part with the 183rd Parachute Regiment "Nembo" in the razing of a district of Mogadishu. During the ensuing fighting, which was prodigiously provoked by Somali militiamen, with skill and intelligence he contributed with the forces under his command to the clearing of a number of tanks trapped in the area. After evacuating some wounded soldiers with his own armoured vehicle, on his own initiative he returned to the combat zone and, heedless of the incessant enemy fire, coordinated the action of his men, countering the enemy attack with his on-board armament. To make his firing more effective, he leaned his entire torso out of the vehicle, exposing himself to sniper fire, which hit him repeatedly. Rescued and transferred to a medical facility in Mogadishu, he reacted with serene and virile behaviour to the news that his injuries had caused him permanent disabilities. Clear example of selflessness, courage, highest sense of duty and steadfastness of spirit
Mogadishu, 2 July 1993