by Geoff Cobb 
One of the things I did while researching my local history book Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past was talking to as many Greenpoint seniors as I could. They have repeatedly told me a story I cannot document, but must be true—Greenpoint hosted an Italian prisoner of war camp during the second World War.
Other Greenpoint amateur historians doubt the existence of the camp and say simply, “Prove it.” I…
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I remember my grandparents telling me about that POW camp. They lived on Huron St. The camp was several blocks away on Dupont St. My grandfather saw combat in Europe and Africa while serving in the US Army. It was ironic that he was with his unit fighting in Italy while all these POW’s were here in Greenpoint.
I grew up in the pernt and as a child I remember the pow camp . It was real.
The prisoner compound did exist there. My mother told me of how she and her two older sisters would bring food gifts for some of the prisoners. I cannot tell you the exact location since I never asked. However; when next I write to my Aunt who is now 102 years young, I will ask her about it with more detail.
As soon as I read about the Italian prisoners in Greenpoint, I knew she told me the truth. They and I were born there. We were all Irish.
My father..me..my friend and his father visited the camp on many sundays bringing them cigarettes ….gum…cookies etc….. IT Did Exist !!!
There were also ltalian pows housed in an area somewhere between the little league field and where the tanks were