Post by University of California, Davis

In the spring of 1945, after months of rooting out Nazis from high ridges in the Italian Alps, 2nd Lt. Milton Hildebrand — executive officer (XO) of his company in the 10th Mountain Division — crossed the fabled Po River. As the Germans retreated, news of the Americans’ arrival spread like wildfire across the villages of the Po Valley, and Italians thronged the roadway — waving; singing; throwing flowers; passing out wine, cookies and cheese; stretching out their hands to touch the passing soldiers and shouting: “Viva, viva gli Americani!” And while the exploits of the men and women of the “Greatest Generation” were duly celebrated in the aftermath of World War II, many of their stories have since been forgotten — and many more never told. Such is the case of the 102-year-old Hildebrand — UC Davis professor emeritus of zoology — now receiving care from UC Davis Hospice. https://lnkd.in/dtJN4kc #VeteransDay