The 40+ photos below are from Kingsley M. Zerbel’s (my dad) army album which tell the story about his post WWII army experience while serving in Northern Italy and the Free Territory of Trieste between 1947-50 assigned to U.S. occuptation duties; Trieste had been newly established as independent in 1947 and was not part of Italy during that time until later. My dad didn’t tell us much about his army days, but there was one particular amazing happy story that happened to him when he was serving in Trieste which he loved to tell during family gatherings and get togethers . . . and he was a great storyteller; but first, a history of the mission.
My dad had joined the army after his junior year of high school at the age of 17 with signed permission from his mother, Hilda, my loving grandmother, who raised him as a single mother. She agreed with the knowledge that he would be able to complete his high school education with a GED while in the service, which he did accomplish and more by becoming fluent in Italian and by gaining a special life experience.
My dad passed away at the age of 91, February 24, 2021, but I know his spirit is watching over my mom and the rest of us. I am certain he is super tickled I’m retelling his story to the world at large. I like to think that he and his old army buddies joyfully reunited on the other side.
Front: Eddy Freeland, my dad’s high school buddy Left: Kingsley Zerbel, my dad, Top: Wilbur, my dad’s army buddy Right: Wilbur’s hometown friend and Eddy’s navy buddy.
Post WWII 1947-50 Trieste during U.S. Occuptaion
Important Background Information Post WWII U.S. Occupation in the Free Territory of Trieste and Northern Italy
After basic training in Fort Sheridan in Highwood, Illinois and special training in Aberdeen, Maryland, my dad and his fellow soldiers, including Eddy Freeland pictured above, were shipped across the ocean from the east coast. I’m assuming their ship landed in the Port of Trieste. From there, my dad’s regiment was put on a train and were prepared to be taken to Germany as they had been told.
But to their surprise, the train did not go to Germany and instead took them to locations in Northern Italy and/or Trieste, the newly designated independent territory bordered between Northern Italy and Yugoslavia!
Why my dad’s unit was stationed in the Free Territory of Trieste instead of Germany in 1947
After WWII, the Free Territory of Trieste that bordered Northern Italy, Yugoslavia and the Adriatic Sea was created by the United Nations Security Council Resolution, adopted, January 10, 1947, and established by the signature of the Treaty of Peace with Italy, February 10, 1947, then entered into force the following September. According to the protocol, when the Italian peace treaty came into force, the United Kingdom, the United States and Yugoslavia were each authorized to station 5,000 troops in the Free Territory of Trieste and including positions in Northern Italy in territories along the Morgan “Red” Line (See map). And that is why my dad’s unit was stationed there where they were needed instead of Germany.
- Left: Julian (Julius Caesar) Alps Border Outpost – Mines of Predil, of Tarvisio in Northern Italy – Post WWII 1947-50 between Italy and Yugoslavia protected by the 351st Infantry Regiment “Blue Devils” (part of the 88th Infantry Division) my dad’s unit.
- Right: Zone Map of New Free Territory of Trieste, Northern Italy and Yugoslavia
The historical situation at the Trieste, Italian and Yugoslavian borders established divisions into two administrative areas: Zone A includes positions in Northern Italy, the Free Territory of Trieste and the vital Free Port of Trieste assigned to Anglo-Americans, and Zone B in the east was assigned to Yugoslavs. In Zone A, the US and UK troops manned a series of 16 border outposts. American soldiers manned Outposts 1 through 6. British troops manned Outposts 7 through 16.
President Harry Truman had established a special unit, Trieste United States Troops, TRUST. Truman assigned it as a difficult task stopping President Marshal Tito’s Red Army of Yugoslavia from seizing the Free Territory of Trieste as well as a big chunk of northern Italy from the then budding Evil Empire.
My dad’s unit, the United States 351st Infantry Regiment, part of the 88th Division, nicknamed “Blue Devils” formed the core of TRUST responsibilities in Zone A of the Free Territory of Trieste and positions in Northern Italy between 1947-54.
Photo of Post WWII 1947-50 American soldiers Free Territory of Trieste and Northern Italian border outpost Zone A, protection from Yugoslav aggressions.
Many may recall during WWII Italy’s fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, invaded former Yugoslavia along with several other countries. With Italy defeated, he was captured trying to escape to Switzerland along with his mistress and both were executed in the streets of Italy. Consequently, Italy was in a vulnerable state and relations with Yugoslavia remained tense.
Undermining the peace treaty after WWII, President Marshal Tito’s Red Army threatened, harassed, and on one occasion, tried to move a large force through the American lines. The men of TRUST held their positions like a stone wall.
“War and peace at times hung in the balance,” wrote General Dwight Eisenhower, concerning the high-stake mission the soldiers of TRUST had been assigned.
In 1954, after TRUST units had held their position since 1947, the Free Territory of Trieste and a narrow coastal strip to its north came under direct Italian rule, while the remainder of the region was ceded to Yugoslavia and TRUST operations were ceased.
Many of the combat actions were poorly reported, lost over the passage of time or overshadowed by other Cold War hot spots in Berlin, Greece and Korea.
These men remain unsung soldiers by everybody except the people of Trieste, who to this day, still consider them to be their liberators and saviors.
- American Soldiers at Border Outpost 1947-50 Northern Italy and the Free Territory of Trieste guarded against Yugoslav agressions.
- Middle Right and far right: Kingsley Zerbel, my dad)
Modern day Trieste, Italy Source
The Army Story My Dad Loved to Tell
So, while serving in Italy and the Free Territory of Trieste, other than combat exercises, patrol duties, or work as a mechanic, my dad had some time for rest and relaxation R & R! One of his off duty activities was playing basketball.
From these news clipping which have survived over 70 years, I was able to figure out that my dad, Kingsley Zerbel, was in Company C, 1st Battalion of the United States TRUST occupation in the Free Territory of Trieste and Northern Italy. I also learned he was often one of the the top basketball scorers and later discovered he played forward. Unfortunately, the newspaper always spelled his name wrong, “Zerbal” with an ‘a”.
So, some of my dad’s 351st TRUST Infantry Regiment soldiers played and practiced basketball at the Hangar Club, a huge pavilion. Sometimes there were other activities going on at the same time in other areas of the Hangar located in Trieste. One particular activity going on at the same time happened to be an American Red Cross sponsored dance and apparently, the place was packed. Well, when my dad’s Company C team was finished with basketball practice, the men had to walk through the packed dancehall in order to exit the building.
(My dad and Wilbur in photo)
Making their way through the crowded dancehall, my dad was with one of his best army buddies and basketball teammate, Wilbur, whose last name I don’t know. If you’ll recall from the very first photo, it included two army and two navy soldiers. My dad and Wilbur were the two dressed in army uniforms.
So, while Wilbur and my dad were making their way through the crowded dancehall, my dad accidently stepped on somebody’s foot and turned around to say, “Excuse me”. That’s when he was literally stopped in his tracks when he recognized his high school buddy from Hastings, Michigan dressed in a navy uniform, Eddy Freeland! Eddy and my dad went way back and they even rode on the bus together to the east coast after basic training to be transported overseas where they went their separate ways being in separate divisions of the armed forces.
But that’s not the end of this improbable occasion. While my dad and his old high school friend, Eddy, were embraced in a heartfelt hug, they were amazed at what they saw over each other’s shoulders. Wilbur and Eddy’s best buddy from the navy (name not known) were also embraced in a hug with the same passion and excitement as were my dad and Eddy! As it turned out, Wilbur and Eddy’s navy buddy were also old pals from the past! It was such a mind blowing, meant to be, special moment for the four of them that they even stopped to have a photo taken to commemorate the occasion! Luckily, a professional photographer, Pietro Genovi, whose name is stamped in the corner of the photo was stationed in the building!
Front: Eddy Freeland, my dad’s high school buddy Left: Kingsley Zerbel, my dad, Top: Wilbur, my dad’s army buddy Right: Wilbur’s hometown friend and navy buddy to Eddy
So, I ask you, was this coincidence or divine intervention? I lean toward divine intervention because of the miracle it truly was and by the way it made them all feel. It provided them much joy and needed comfort with a brief moment of home away from home!
Photo of Wilbur and my dad
I only wish I knew the name of Wilbur’s old pal who was Eddy’s best navy buddy sitting on the right, and also Wilbur’s last name! If anybody who happens to see this knows anything, please contact me through my email at the bottom of this article.
Photo: Kingsley Zerbel, my dad, Free Port of Trieste, Adriatic Sea, Post WWII 1947-50
In case you were curious why my dad and Wilbur’s navy buddies showed up at the army base in Trieste, is because there was a major navy presence in the Free Port of Trieste. There was no heavy artillery with the land combat units of TRUST, but some fighting ships of the British and American navies were always in the Trieste harbor in the Adriatic Sea and their long-range guns could command the roads into the city.
Well, that’s the end of the army story my dad used to tell with great delight and expression! Happily, he went on to live a full life marrying my mom, Marylou Gattner, and raising 6 kids.
Below are more army photos from my dad’s army album. If anybody sees somebody they happen to recognize, please contact me through email.
Kingsley Zerbel trained as a sharp shooter during TRUST, 1947-50 occupation duties in Trieste and Northern Italy – post WWII peace keeping mission with Yugoslavia.
R & R 1947-50, my dad, Kingsley Zerbel far right. TRUST Soldiers wore blue scarves representing the 351 Infantry Regiment “Blue Devils”. The TRUST patch was officially authorized on August 30, 1949 and added to uniforms.
From its outset, TRUST Blue Devils gained a reputation as a spit and polish command. It started with the first commander, Major General Bryant E. Moore, who was quoted in his obituary as having whipped a sloppy occupation force into a spit and polish outfit.
Uniforms were altered for better appearance. Troops wore blue scarves as insignia for the Blue Devils and lacquered helmet liners with decals of the TRUST patch. Web pistol belts were dyed black and brass fittings shined. Some bayonets and mess kits were chrome plated.
Additional Army Photos From Kingsley Zerbel’s Army Album – Post WWII 1947-50 Trieste and Northern Italy
- Right Middle:Two more of my dad’s army buddies post WWII 1947-50 (Another example of the fun loving kinship and admiration fellow soldiers felt for one another)
- Top: Kingsley Zerbel, next to army jeep with TRUST 351 C-1 Company unit emblem.
- Bottom: Kinglsey Zerbel, posing with USA Olympic hurdler, Harrison Dillard, Italy 1947-1950
- Left: Army buddies with my dad far right
- Middle: Kingsley Zerbel, army fit, post WWII 1947-50 occupation in Trieste and Italy
- Right: Another unknown soldier friend of my dad’s in his army uniform. Back of photo is signed “To my buddy, “King”, Always, Ralph. Gorizia, Italy 1947″.
- Left: Kingsley Zerbel, right, mechanic duties in the service – post WWII occupation 1947-50
- Right: Neil Nachanko played basketball with my dad during the post WWII occupation in Trieste and Northern Italy. The back of photo is written, “With all my love to Brother Zerbel,” signed, Chunkhead.
- Left: R & R Trieste – Post WWII Occupation 1947-50, my dad, far left with all the hair!
- Top Right: R&R Trieste – Post WWII Occupation 1947-50, my dad, center
- Bottom Right: Army buddies and my dad back row, far right
- Left: My dad and another army buddy
- Middle: Two more army buddies at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey? – Main staging area for transporting soldiers overseas
- Far Right: Written on back, “Twins Dick and Bill Tischafer and Poppy Wiles” American Soldiers, Post WWII 1947-50
Camp Kilmer, located in New Jersey, is where troops were quartered at the 1600 acre army camp in preparation for transport to Europe during and post war of WWII. It became the largest processing center for troops heading overseas and returning from World War II, processing over 2.5 million soldiers. It officially closed in 2009. I have to assume this is where my dad was transported from headed overseas in the army, 1947.
- Left: Rosie washed my dad’s laundry during his time in the service in Trieste, shown with my dad and her son, Sylvestrie.
- Right: Nicolini, Rosie‘s husband with my dad
- Left: Frankfurt, Germany Train Station post WWII 1947-50 – Frankfurt was the location for the USAREUR headquarters
- Right: American Red Cross post, Frankfurt, Germany 1947-50
I don’t know what the exact significance of this building is, but the emblem on it looks like the “blue devil”. Clearly “349” is also on the builidng, but the 349th regiment was inactived along with the 350th after WWII. If somebody knows, let me know. The other building emblem left of the entrance is ineligible from the photo.
- My dad’s army photos during R & R touring Italy
- Left & Middle: Venice, Italy, Piazza San Marco (St. Marks Square) Post WWII 1947-50 U.S. Occupation
- Right: Ponte Santi Apostoli di Christo – Bridge of the Holy Apostles of Christ, Venice, Italy on the Holy Apostles River. The church by the same name is nearby.
Left: Kelly Barracks in Gorizia, Italy (north of Trieste) (Maybe my dad stayed there part of the time?) My understanding is that Gorizia was headquarters for the Allied Military Government until September, 1947 before everything shifted to Trieste. Right: I have no idea what the significance of this building was.
Update: Thank you Don Small Jr. whose dad was also a mechanic during the TRUST occupation, and thanks to a few others whose dad’s were part of TRUST who wanted to remain anonymous. They helped identify several buildings and the bridge located in Italy. Our dads liked to travel when on leave and who can blame them. If there are any people you recognize from the photos, please contact me. kathilee_m@hotmail.com
© 2026 Kathi Zerbel Mirto