Gennaro Vescio

Yes thats my billionaire great uncle.

I can't offer much information. My father was born in Maddaloni, not far from Naples in Campania, the region to the north of Calabria. By 1916, he was already in the US. His father was mostly deaf and so was not conscripted into the Italian Army during WWI.

I'm going on the assumption that this man was indeed in the Italian Army. Some of the French uniforms and hats were similar

The insignia on the sleeves is...as far as I can make out...the rank of mareseciallo di compagnia. That translates to Company Marshall. There's no equivalent in the US Army, but it appears to be ranked between a master sergeant and a warrant officer. The rank being on the sleeve wasn't changed until the 1970s when it was moved to the epaulets.

The hat is a lot like the type worn by the Lancers Calvary Corps. I can't make out the emblem on it well enough to know much about that.

What matters here is information I don't know... was this the older or younger brother? That would tell me if both brothers were in the military. If only Gennaro was, then the chance of this being him is greater. Is there any information about his rank or unit that might match with the uniform and insignia?

Sorry, but that's the best I can do.

i have, i'll ask my mother. :D

Francesca Tirabassi