Report by Lt. Giulio Cavallari dated July 8, 1915, describing the Austrian attack on the summit of Mount Paterno/Paternkofel on July 4, 1915. The name of Alpino Pietro De Luca, whose actions are described, also appears:
“… at 6 o’clock, perhaps believing that Mt. Paterno was abandoned by us, an attack was attempted by the Austrians on that position from three sides: from the west, from the south and from the north. The attack was attempted from each side with a patrol about a dozen men strong. It was easy to repel the attack attempted from the south by means of our machine-gun section and with the fire of our artillery, both placed at Lavaredo. The attacks from the west and north were repulsed by the valor of our small guard posted on Paterno [Paternkofel]. It consisted of a corporal and 8 soldiers, all of whom were Alpino soldiers. From first to one of the lookouts, Private De Luca Pietro, came an Austrian infantryman at the single distance of seven meters. It, who may have been lurking until night, with extraordinary boldness advanced carrying a rope around his neck; he had a rifle in his left hand, a bomb in his right. De Luca and the other 2 lookouts who had immediately rushed up threw stones at him. Then the Austrian, with lightning rapidity, threw 3 bombs, one of which did not explode, and then, admittedly wounded, staggered, tumbling down the steep gully from which he had come. De Luca meanwhile, though stunned but not wounded by the bursting of the 2 bombs, told Private Giuliano Caol to continue his lookout duty and sent the other soldier to warn Corporal Da Rin of the attack. It, however, engaged the bayonet and wanted to climb over the wall of the trench to see if there were enemies lurking below. When he returned and saw that more troops were advancing from the north, he and the other rushing men began a heavy throwing of stones, alternating with fire. But a splinter of schrapnel struck him in the head. Meanwhile, Corporal Da Rin with the men of his guard managed to arrest and repel the attackers. De Luca, medicated as best he could, despite the fact that the wound was of some severity, did not want to take a single man off the point and putting his rucksack on his shoulder he retreated as far as the Forcella Longere/Longere-Passs. The attack having failed, the enemy, whose losses could not be assessed, hastily retreated. He continued the cannon fire until 3 p.m. without producing any losses. At 9 o’clock came the reinforcement platoon sent by Com. Del Batt. Val Piave, but by then the attack had ceased. The platoon fired 11 rounds of ammunition. I praise the demeanor of Capt. Da Rin’s squad and in a special way the steadfastness of mind of Private De Luca.” AUSSME_E1_B265. Courtesy of Archives Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito, Rome. © AUSSME.

Honorable mention for Lieutenant Cavallari, Corporal Da Rin and Alpine De Luca following the defense of Mount Paterno/Paternkofel on July 4, 1915, dated July 8, 1915. The Commander of the Val Piave Battalion compliments Lieutenant Cavallari, Corporal Da Rin and Alpine De Luca for the events of arms that took place on Mount Paterno/Paternkofel. Transcript of an excerpt: “Of special note is the action of Corporal Da Rin’s squad which, in spite of the continuous artillery fire directed at Mount Paterno [Paternkofel] where it was located, remained in place and with stone boulders rolled from those crags, forced an enemy squad to fall back. Admirable above all else was the work of Private De Luca on this occasion.” AUSSME_E1_B265. Courtesy of Archives Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito, Rome. © AUSSME.