I received this in the mail yesterday. They are my Grandfather's Draft Cards and Military Records from Italy. I also received my Great Uncle's Draft Cards. Thanks again Riccardo for all your help.

Enrico Angilletta Draft Cards Pages 1 & 2




Francesco Angilletta Draft Cards Pages 1 &2




Francesco Angilletta Military Papers

Hi, Nuccia, I just got the draft cards for my second GGF in the mail yesterday. So exciting! Do you have any idea if this thorax measurement is the same as a chest measurement in the U.S.? Mine had a .80 measurement. When I used my calculator, that seems to be 31 inches. Tiny fellow! This is very exciting because I finally have a physical description of my GGF! Best of all, like the province of Reggio Calabria, Benevento sent it to me for free! I know some other provinces charge, so I just wanted to give a shout out to these two state archives.

Yes the thorax is the 'torace' which is his chest measurement.

The 80cm works out at 31.5 inches. So you are right - he was a little guy! A bit like Nuccias relative here who was just 5ft tall.... like so many Italians even today.

Thanks, Carole! I think my GGF and Nuccia's had something in common! His height is listed as 1.54 and 1/2 meters. I think that also comes out to 5 ft. His records say that he did not serve because of a height deficiency. LOL. That probably ruled out a large segment of the population of his town. I have seen some Ellis Island manifests with height measurements and many of them were just barely over 5 ft.

I am so happy to have a description of him. He had freckles too! That explains why my great Aunt, Aunt and Cousin from his line have freckles.

Lori..

I think these records are so cool, aren't they? They even tell you the shape of their noses on some of them.

Yes, both my grandfather and his brother were short..I inherited that gene, I'm afraid. But hey, I look great in 4" stilettos! lol

Its too bad my great uncle had to serve in spite of his height..he was killed shortly afterwards in battle.. My grandfather on the other had was wounded I think but he was called twice.

Skinny..all my male cousins in Italy are still skinny..wish I could say the same for myself..

Oh, my dear, I have seen your pics. You ARE skinny!!!

I inherited the short gene too. I love these military records too. It is the next best thing to having a picture of him.

WOW! Great records! I can't wait to get a better look tonight. Thanks for sharing. I love looking at records that are new to me. On the other hand I always want them for my family!

These records are fascinating, I might just have to write for a couple myself.

I finally ran up to the library to view the images of Nuccia's cards. I think that because my GGF died before WWI, his height exempted him. But perhaps at the time of WWI, they were not as picky and needed all of the soldiers they could get.

Nuccia,

Your records are somewhat different than the ones my cousin Stan found of our grandfather, who was discharged in 1902 and came to America the following year. I don't have them at an uploading site yet, so can't post, but they are in the website in the Bissi album.

Ferro Family

One document describes my grandfather's mustache and eyebrows as castagne, and I had a little in my mustache too. 1.57 meters tall also; wish I had his grigi eyes. An arriciato nose...hmm.

I will try an attachment though.

Dave

Giovanni's Discharge Papers Page 1


Giovanni Discharge Papers Page 2

WOW! Those were amazing! Thanks for sharing. I love the art on them.

Wow, I didn't expect them to be so big on the post! I'll have to figure how to make them the same as the window. Any suggestions?
Cathy, yes the artwork is ornate. And the handwriting too, which I had to go over to make sure greatgrandma's maiden name started with an I and not an L, so it is Iocano. There are some still in Siculiana, as well as three Bissis: a professor with my great-uncle's first name, Stefano and another with my Aunt Francie (Francesca), after great granma. There are two passports for my adoptive mom's relatives, also ornate, and stamped Ellis Island 1896 on them and that was on a return from a visit from Italy (also on the website). They must have come through Castle Garden before 1891, because that is when her father was born in Italian Harlem, NYC.

Dave

It is really strange to try to type on this freeway width window. Definately not going to attach that way again.

Dave

I resized them for you and gave you two different ways to view them. If you click on the links you can see them much larger. I was going to use the attachment but I like this way better.

Hope this helps!

Nuccia,

I was thinking of going in and editing the post after resizing in Photo Editor or something. I'll do it through a hosting service from now on. Actually did register on one of them, I think Imageshack. Memory is not as good and I go to so many sites, it's confusing. You should see the Favorites directory...I keep rearranging to make it smaller and keep things together. Does your dad have memory lapses? My daughter seems to have a lapse to come visit!

Thanks a bazillion
Dave

Dave..

I use imageshack but I don't register. I just use it and it works just fine.

Type in www.imageshack.com and use without registering. If you want ot resize photos I downloaded Image Resizer from www.microsoft.com/wind...toys.mspx. Its very easy to use.

Memory lapses..My Dad is notorious for that! I tell everyone how he forgets things. As for me..I think its starting to run in the family. I seem to forget things too lately.

Oh well...these things happen I think.

Let me know if you download Image Resizer and if you have any problems I can walk you through it ok?