YEAR OF BIRTH: 1940
MILITARY SERVICE: 1961 – 1963
ASSIGNMENT: 3rd Missile Artillery Brigade
LOCATION: Vicenza
ROLE: Artillery non-commissioned officer assigned to cipher duties
Giampaolo Reiter, born in Trieste in 1940, performed his military service in the missile artillery branch.
He was called up on 1 November 1961 and assigned to the Artillery Officers’ and NCOs Training School (SAUSA) in Foligno, where he attended the 21st Conscripted NCO Course. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Missile Artillery Regiment, stationed at the “Chinotto” Barracks in Vicenza, a unit specialised in the operation of “Honest John” tactical artillery rockets. He experienced firsthand the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, during which the barracks were placed on high alert.
Recognised for his leadership abilities, in 1962 he was entrusted with organising the honour guard for ceremonies marking the return from Russia of the remains of Italian soldiers who had fallen on the Eastern front during WW2. Discharged on 21 March 1963, he immediately began his civilian career. After returning to Trieste, he joined the State Forestry Corps and later the Civil Protection Service of Palmanova (Province of Udine), serving as operational coordinator for Trieste and Gorizia. In this role, he managed regional and extra-regional emergency operations and promoted cross-border cooperation with the Slovenian fire brigades within the framework of the “Alpe Adria” community.
