Unfit for War – America’s Most Lethal Soldier

Video Description

Vito Bertoldo wasn’t meant for war. Army recruiters had told him so seven times; he was half-blind, unfit for combat. When a recruiter finally stamped his papers out of pity, it was only as kitchen staff. Bertoldo didn’t care what patch was on his uniform; he was in, and he would find a way into the fight. In January 1945, in the French village of Hatten, he got his chance. The command post where he was peeling potatoes received alarming news; German armor was closing in, and the situation outside the village was collapsing. The officers ordered a hasty retreat. Bertoldo begged to stay behind alone, to cover their escape. Better to return home in a box than return having never fought. He dragged a .30-caliber machine gun and placed it at the entrance of the building. Moments later, two German armored battalions rolled into the village. They expected a handful of fleeing Americans. Instead, they found a half-blind cook who'd waited the whole war for this moment. The Nastiest Reject America Was Afraid to Arm America's Most Lethal 4-F Reject - As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -