Giorse Borsi

A Soldier's Confidences With God Giorse Borsi

AMONG the heroes of war, there is no more inspiring than Giosue Borsi, the young Italian lieutenant who died on the Isonzo battlefield while leading his platoon to the attack. He went to the front as a volunteer with the clear and inflexible idea of fulfilling a sacred duty, with the presentiment he had always in his soul of sacrificing his life for his country. He did not deceive himself. He traced a program of action which he carried out without hesitation. 'To Lieutenant Mazzinghi on October 18th he wrote: " I have made up my mind to do my duty to the end, and to be a good example to my soldiers. I hope the Lord will help me and that my beloved dead will look down on me and that the prayers of my mother will assist me. If I am sure of victory and of the unfailing triumph of our army, I am not equally sure that I shall see all these beautiful things here below. On the contrary, my presentiment is that in moving to the assault I am going to be released from the ties that bind me to this world. I do not know why, but I could almost swear to this." Twenty-three days later his presentiment was fulfilled. Originally Published in 1918