Michael’s answer to “Is Pino Lella still living? What a marvelous book.” > Likes and Comments

What a remarkable man and family!

I loved the book and I fell in love with your father as well, Mike Lella. My 17 year old son has enlisted in the Marines and is shipping out to boot camp in the fall. Your father remained true to himself and this gives me hope that my son will too during his time in the Marines.

Carol. Congratulations on your son enlisting in the Marines. He the is the same age my father was when the Nazi's invaded Italy. It is the young men like your son who will defend the freedom and rights of from evil. Nothing more honorable for a young man than to fight for what is righteousness. You have reason to be proud of your son!

Thank you, Mike, for those kind words. We are very proud of him!

To say your father was a courageous young man is an understatemnt. He used his intelligence, faith, and love to try and make a difference . I am in awe of him and his story so perfectly told by Mark Sullivan. Pino- a true and exceptional hero, a patriot, and an inspiration.

I am reading the book right now, and I had to stop and look him up. It must have been difficult to share these memories. What an amazing man your father must be. May God bless him and your family.

I am completely blown away by this book. Do you know if anyone was ever able to figure out Anna's identity? It feels like she should have been memorialized :(

No one has ever been able to find out the identity of Anna. The public execution of Anna was the single most painful and shameful experience of my father's life.
He tried to block it out, otherwise he would have gone insane. No one knew her identity. Mike Lella, Pino's son.

Michael Lella, if you ever read this please tell your father THANK YOU. I have a better understanding now of what some of my italian relatives went through.

Hi Jean.
Read your message and passed it on. He was pleased to hear that your learned about some of the pain the Italians went through. Thanks for reading his story.

He is a marvelous man. My grandmother was from Italia. It was hard what she went through.

In all my years, most gripping story ever. There are not words to express the worlds gratitude. Boy how I wish I could meet him.

Sara La.

My father is still alive and doing well for his age.
If you ever get to Italy, he lives there in the little village of Lesa, on Lago Maggiore. I'm sure it can be arranged!
I'm trying to get him to come to the US, but he's getting more reluctant to travel not that he's in his 90's. Mike Lella, Pino's son.

My heart races at the thought. Many many thanks!

My family comes from a small town in northern Italy, Tresche Conca (Panozzo-Moritti).

I just finished the book. What an inspiration your dad is. You should be very proud

The book is incredible! Your dad is incredible! Thank him for us all!

Dearest Michael, I don't mean to be a nuisance but would appreciate it if you don't mind, asking your Dad if he remembers Giovanni (Panozzo) Moritti and Teresa Panozzo. Grandpa Moritti is from Mantovani and Grandma Moritti is from Tresche Conca, Roana (Venito). My grandparents had dear friends, the Lella's and thought it may have been your family. Thank you for your time, Sara

Wow Sara.
You are certainly not a nuisance, and you can count on me for sure to ask my father about Panozzo and Teresa.
How do we get back to each other? I'm headed to Italy tomorrow and I won't be back until the 23rd. I wrote the information you gave me, and I'm honored to pass it on . My father is expecting old family friends to come "out-of -the-woodworks" as the story goes world-wide. If your grandparents were friends of my grandparent's, this would certainly touch my father's heart in a special way. The "Lella" name was not that common in Italy and it is very possible that your grandparent's were friends with my grandparent's. I am familiar with "Mantova" near Milan, and the people there are called "Mantovani". I don't know of a town called "Mantovani". Tresche Conca and Roana in Veneto are close to Milan. Please be patient and I'll follow-up somehow. Great to hear from you Sara La!

Michael, My heart races as I type this. I would love to meet your father and am planning on flying to Italy. I would stay at my cousins house in Tresche Conca and drive to your fathers town if that was OK with him. I will give you my personal email, sara.kuehner@yahoo.com . I want to wish you safe travels and hope you add countless treasured moments during this very special trip. Sara

Michael your father was a true hero and please thank him for opening up his heart to make sure this story was told. I'm sure it was not easy but the world needs to know everything that happened in that dark period of war. Safe travels! I love Italy and was just in Milan, Lake Garda, Bolzano-Bozen and the Dolomites two months ago so I could really "see" in my mind where your father was describing. Props to the author Mark Sullivan for writing a truly fantastic book.

Amazing story. Your father was definitely in the place God had planned. I have read a lot of books about the war but never this much about Italy. It was very informative and so well written.

Michael, did you know of your father's heroic young life? Did he tell you of his adventures?

I knew only of bits and pieces. As I grew older, from around 14 to 16, he started telling and showing me a few places and things. Never knew anything about his love for Anna, but I knew about him saving Jews and delivering the General to the Americans

Also heard much from my Uncle Mimo, Aunt Cicci and my grandparents. They told me that he was a spy risking his in a Nazi uniform. Major Kneble remained his friend until his death and I have a letter from him inviting me to his home.
Of course, I knew he was good friends with Ascari as I personally became a good buddy wirh Ascari's son Tonino.
One thing for sure, my dad never gave me or my brother the impression that he did anything heroic.

Please tell your father he is indeed a hero.,a good man in so many ways. God knows he did well and he will be warmly received in heaven, where he will be forever with his beloved Anna

For some reason, Michael, when I saw your post, I immediately teared up. I'm nearly finished with the book, and it is truly amazing. Your father is a wonderful human, a true inspiration to us all. Send him my sincerest well wishes.

Your father's story is amazing! I am so glad that he shared it with the world.

Amazing touching story. Both my parents are Italian immigrants who survived WWII and I cried throughout the book. The pregnant traveler to Switzerland did she survive?

All of the refugees mentioned in the book survived. As a child I had heard that there was a family that lost some of it's members buried in another avalanche. I haven't discussed it with my father in over 50 years, and since it's not mentioned in the book, I don't think there's a need to bring that up again. Those things pain him dearly. I never ever, bring up Anna. Never knew anything about her until he revealed that to Mark . There were some things that he kept secret his whole life after the War, and he did not disclose them , even to me , his oldest son.

Michael Lella, if you read this, please pass on to your father that his story and the part he played in history has touched me enormously. His inner strength and courage and losses at such a sad and horrific time made an impact on me and will stay with me always.

I will pass that on to him Leslie. He is honored and currently over-whelmed in the interest and care that people have expressed. We just found out yesterday that we went to the Most Sold Book on Amazon, #1.
At the same time, we signed on one of the most up-and-coming Hollywood megastars to play his role in Hollywood's most prolific Production Company. We won the lotto yesterday, without even buying a ticket.
Despite all that, it is people like you who touch my father's soul the most....Thank You!

That is phenomenal! Congratulations. His story is so touching, and the bravery that it took to recall and share it is as inspirational as the life he lives. Thank you for sharing this, and a million times thank your father for sharing the story.

The pleasure is mine, Lauren. thank you for joining in on the inspiration. I'm hoping we can make his last years make up for the brutal adolescent years he experienced during the War. The ones that shaped and had the most devastating impact. I need to find a way to turn all of this wonderful adulation into a rewarding experience for my father, and people like yourself, are really making that possible. Thank You so Much!

I am so enjoying this story. It inspires me to be prepared for what may happen tomorrow, and at the same time to pay homage to the past. How many dozens... hundreds... of other stories must have been similar, but perhaps not given such a great platform. God bless.

Thank You Veronica. The credit goes to Mark Sullivan for diligence and determination to write it and pass it on to the world .

What an incredible life has lived and probably continues to live. I love his outlook on life, especially after witnessing the atrocities he did. Thank him for sharing such heart wrenching stories, that we might remember what has gone on before, and the brave sacrifices others have made for our freedoms today. Bless you, Michael, your father, and your family.

Thanks Holly.
His outlook on life remains his greatest strength at 91.
He did make mistakes , like can be expected of any man, but we've forgiven him for those in light of what he went through. Good thing for Mark Sullivan, who seems to be the only one in his life capable of bringing out his past.

What a blessing he has been to this broken world! I loved his story and his spirit! We need more Pino Lellas in this world! God bless your dad!!!!

My husband and I were just discussing this last night. Your father's story is amazing with all he did to help during WWII, especially at great personal cost to himself. I haven't read much about Italy during WWII but now I want to learn more. Such an inspiring life!

I also fell in love with Lella. A remarkable man. My father was in France. I never read about the war from the Italian viewpoint. Tell him thank you!

I cannot wait for the movie!

I mention had him read your post Cheryl, he's here staying with me now.
He was flattered. thanks

Blessings to your father. My grandparents left Italy as WWI began. But on one of my trips we drove all those roads north of Milan and to Lake Como. I cannot wait to return and look at Italy through new eyes.

That's interesting.
When I travel there I stay on the old roads, skip the new freeways. I too see it through new eyes and envision what it was like in the late 40's. Most of the villages and structures are just as they were.

You father made an amazing contribution. I was honored to read his story.

Thanks Celia. According to him, all he had to do was follow orders, first from his father, then Father Re, then from Uncle Albert and Aunt Greta....before he knew it, he had saved Jews and had become a spy for the Allies. Losing Anna, I'm sure was the low point, but meeting my mother, having me and four of my siblings helped him forget the lost love. The book is stirring up emotions that he has kept buried for years, and I'm not so sure it's a good thing as of yet. the contribution my dad made, was being in the right place at the right time. His whole life has been that way....Mike Lella

Remembering war was difficult for many. I hope he enjoys the good memories. Those of us who have lost our loved ones appreciate the chance to thank him.

Thank you Cheryl. Your comment was passed on to him and he is honored.

Very fine book and tribute to your father. So glad the author was devoted to his story