The mother, born in Filignano (CB) on 12 April 1883, was identified (she had all the many children involved in the world war) as one of the “symbol mothers of war sacrifice.”
Story by By Geremia Mancini – Honorary President of “Ambassadors of Hunger”
FILIGNANO (CB) – When Maria Anna Marzella left Filignano, together with her sister Giacinta, to pursue the “American dream,” she certainly did not imagine becoming, years later, one of the symbols of the “mothers symbol of war sacrifice.” Maria Anna was born in Filignano (IS) on 12 April 1883 to Giacomo and Antonia Franchitti.
In 1901 he embarked, together with his sister Jacinta, born on October 1, 1881, on the “Gascogne” destination “Ellis Island”. Difficult to trace much data on her. She certainly married the Italian-American Michele Biello (he may have been born in Montedurni), with whom she had numerous children. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Biello family found itself having to offer an incredibly painful contribution: all the children of “mother” Maria Anna (in the United States, she sometimes became Marion or Mariana or Marianne) were called to serve in the army of the United States.
The brave mother of Filignano saw her boys leave one by one. She certainly cried and prayed for them. Then the war ended. Maria Anna saw them all return. All but one. Dominic T. had died, serving in the US Army at Rahier near Liege in Belgium. The boy was born in 1920 in Pennsylvania. On February 18, 1942, he entered “Fort George G. Meade” in Maryland for a tough training course. At the outbreak of World War II, he was sent to Europe and posted to the 2nd Battalion, Company D, 504th Para Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
He participated in the “Sbarco in Sicilia” and in those of Salerno and Anzio. Later he was also engaged in Operation “Market Garden”. Then, on December 26, 1944, during the Ardennes offensive near Rahier, in a risky operation, he was shot in the head by an enemy sniper.
The news was given by his Sergeant Harold N. Dunnegan, and in the report, drawn up on January 2, 1945, it was specified that the body of poor Dominic T. had remained in the sector occupied by the enemy. A subsequent report read, “We believe we have found the remains of Dominic T. Biello. But the definitive identification cannot be made.
Comparison with fingerprints is requested. It was still some time before the definitive identification was reached. The following awards went to the courageous boy from Molise: “Bronze Star”; “Purple Heart”; “Combat Infantryman Badge”; “American Campaign Medal,” and the “World War II Victory Medal.” The body of Dominic T. Biello rests in the American military cemetery “Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery” in Belgium.
Dominic Biello 
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Pic of old Grave 
New Grave 
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