Il Messaggero -- LUBRANO (Viterbo) – He grew up in a paradise, to die in hell, 26 years.

Giandomenico Pistonami, corporal of the Thunderbolt, one of six killed yesterday in Afghanistan, came to this country that looks like a postcard.

Umbria is a thousand feet, a thousand inhabitants who all know each other from birth, a breathtaking landscape on Civita di Bagnoregio, on the rock and ravines, hills, fragrant mushroom and loose soil. 
Giandomenico he left at eighteen for military service.

A life that he liked: he had signed as a volunteer, then was passed to the regiment of paratroopers committed to Siena.

He also tried his career as a noncommissioned officer, but the selection for the School marshals had not passed. Two years ago he had already accepted a dangerous mission in Lebanon.

One in Afghanistan had begun in May, in the days of his birthday, and not over any more. 
The country, now, it presses all-silent, arms folded-in porch of the house in open countryside where they live and Annarita Franco Pistonami. A bare wall of tuff, roof tiles, a driveway.

Details well made, precise grooves, the hand of those in the know: France and worked in a small building company, Annarita dealing with their piece of land, vines and young trees.

They sit in a corner, stiff, almost catatonic, courteous welcome but absent murmurs of sympathy.

They know that only a few days remain for ever: Giandomenico was their only child. 
A console is best of all a thin girl with blue eyes and a helmet of hair blacks.

Annarita embraces much as he can, holds it, trying to do a little 'the landlady. Is called Zuech, four years were for her the best smile of the soldier who gave off-all-telling fun. The first license should definitively determine the date of the wedding in 2011, they thought.

To keep up, at least for now, is a deep faith. A Lubriano is tradition for the youth of the country deal for one year, voluntarily, the maintenance of the sanctuary of the Madonna del Poggio. Zuech kept the task for three years. 


The villagers have little desire to talk. Only a woman coming out, gave a short eulogy: "Giandomenico was an angel, God protect him."