Seventeen-year-old Paul Baldassara lies about his age to enlist in the Canadian Army. He joins the Loyal Edmonton regiment, which is tasked with taking Italy’s port town of Ortona. Little does he know the horrors of the battle that lie ahead. Paul’s platoon becomes pinned down by sniper fire in the tight, impassable streets of Ortona. Tanks can’t reach them because the streets are so filled with rubble from the land mines and grenades. The Germans have planted deadly booby traps everywhere. But Paul and his comrades must make their way forwardà.

"Paul Baldassara, Italy, 1943"--Cover.