floor in each unit contained three rooms. One was in front of the stairway and two were to the rear. The front door was actually along the side of the building one third of the way back and opened to the side garden. The first floor contained the living room, dining room, kitchen, bath, and laundry. The second was all bedrooms the third or attic was a large common room where we stored all of our gear and a small bedroom at each end. Harold and I occupied the room to the rear and Yorkgitis and O'Donald took the room in front.

The Paternoster family who lived at Via Dante Tre, consisted of Mamma, Pappa, Lena, age 20, Leno, age 18, and Giovanni, age 13. My very first lesson in Italian was the next morning when I needed some hot water for shaving. I found Mama Paternoster in the kitchen. By pantomiming brushing lather on my face and shaving and finally realizing that water was aqua I learned that what I wanted was aqua cauldo per faite la barbe.

I believe most of the personnel from the 16th, 17th, and 35th squadrons were all housed in those attic rooms of all over the village.  The 18th squadron stayed in a nearby village with the officers occupying a rather large villa. 

Group and Squadron Headquarters were in a community building a couple of blocks away. The Mess hall, Officer's Club, and theater were also in that complex. Therefore, we spent a great deal of time away from the house. However, we did spend enough time in our quarters though to get acquainted with the family.

My second lesson in Italian came within a day or two. I was coming down stairs and discovered Lina in the living room at the piano. I joined her and to my utter amazement learned that the terms piano, pianissimo, andante, fortissimo, and poco a poco meant the same in Italian as they do in English. Our mutual understandamente began to accelerando mucho allegro. Also, my three semesters of college French at Northeast Oklahoma Junior College helped. I would come up with the French word and usually Lena, Leno, or Giovanni, would come back with the proper Italian word.

You have already begun to suspect just how important we were to the war effort, coming along as late as we did. Things didn't change once we reached the squadron. The very first duty Harold and I received upon reaching the unit was to be sent to Napoli for a week's R and R on the Island of Capri. We did the tourist bit even visiting the Blue Grotto and riding up the Funiculare cable railway to the hotel on top of the mountain. We picked up fancy walking sticks from a street vendor and had our pictures made. When I sent mine home the next letter I received from Mother showed what a worrier she was. She was just sure that I had been injured in combat and sent to Capri for recuperation. She knew I'd been hurt for I was carrying a cane. Back in the unit life was very easy.