©2009 Leslie Granda-Hill

Ralph Mottola was 20 years old when he was drafted in 1943 to serve in World War II. After fighting the lengthy Battle of Monte Casino, the Germans surrounded the US soldiers and captured them. His division marched through for 3 months and he ended up at the Stalag 4B prison camp. After being imprisoned and starved for 468 days, his camp was liberated in May 1945, 5 days before the war was over.