To : 
Mr. Tierono Angiolo
Rout. 6 No. 776
Santa Rosa California America

From (on envelope flap):
Mte. Carabiniere Ambrogini Marino – P.O.W.- 7 – W.I.
T-10515 – Camp Clark Compag – N.1
Missouri USA

Sept 26, 1943

Very dear uncle and  cousins, although I don’t know you I feel it is my duty to write to you and tell you that my state of health is excellent, just as it is, I hope, for all of you.  I’d like to help you understand who I am: your nephew Marino Ambrogini, son of Cesare  and of your beloved sister Ada Pieroni. I hope all of this gives you infinite pleasure and a bit of emotion, just as it does for me in this moment. I was in Africa as a carabiniere* like my grandfather – your dear father. And like everyone I was captured in these last few days. From the last letters,  I understood that at home everyone is fine in my family including your brother Giorgi and sister-in-law Melani. Here below I will give you my exact address.

Dear uncle I understand very well the distance** that even now exists between you and me, but if it were possible it would give me infinite pleasure if you could visit me. If that were possible you would have to first make a request to the headquarters of the CAMP-CLARK command, and they would have to grant permission. In this moment I divide, as always, my deepest affection between you and my loved ones very far away. In anticipation of welcome news from you, I send innumerable greetings and affectionate kisses to all.
Your nephew xx***
Marino Ambrogini


*Italian military police.

**This could mean psychological distance as well as, or even instead of, physical distance.

***There’s a small word in the salutation that I can’t quite make out.