Nicola Calipari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicola Calipari
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|---|---|
| Born | June 23, 1953 Reggio Calabria, Italy |
| Died | March 4, 2005 (aged 51) Route Irish, Iraq |
| Allegiance |  Italy |
| Service/ |
SISMI |
| Rank | Major general (generale di divisione) |
| Battles/wars | Rescue of Giuliana Sgrena |
| Awards |  Gold Medal of Military Valor |
| Spouse(s) | 1 wife |
| Relations | 2 children |
Nicola Calipari (born June 23, 1953 – died March 4, 2005) was an Italian major general and a brave officer in Italy's military intelligence service, known as SISMI. He sadly passed away in Iraq when American soldiers accidentally shot his car. At that time, he was helping an Italian journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, who had just been freed after being held hostage. He was taking her to the airport in Baghdad.
Calipari was a hero in Italy. During the 1990s, he helped rescue many people who had been kidnapped by criminal groups in Italy. He spent most of his career as a police officer before joining the military intelligence service a couple of years before his death. His death caused a serious diplomatic issue between the United States and Italy.
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About Nicola Calipari
Nicola Calipari was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, on June 23, 1953. He had a wife and two children.
Calipari's Career and Rescues
Calipari spent most of his working life as a police officer in Italy. He rose to a very important position before he joined the Italian military Security and Intelligence Service (SISMI). He worked there for two years before he passed away.
During the 1990s, Calipari was involved in many missions to save people. He helped rescue individuals who had been kidnapped by criminal groups in Italy, like the 'Ndrangheta.
The Rescue of Giuliana Sgrena
Nicola Calipari, along with another person named Andrea Carpani, successfully rescued Giuliana Sgrena. She was an Italian journalist who had been held hostage. The details of how they freed her are not fully known.
As they were driving back to the Baghdad International Airport, their car, a Toyota Corolla, came under fire. American soldiers had set up a checkpoint to protect a convoy carrying the American ambassador, John Negroponte.
According to Giuliana Sgrena, Calipari bravely threw himself over her to protect her. Soon after, he died from a gunshot wound to his head. A report later identified the soldier who fired the shot as Mario Lozano, a member of the New York State National Guard.
Nicola Calipari's Death
Nicola Calipari's death was a very sad event that brought the whole nation of Italy together in grief. Tens of thousands of Italians came to pay their respects to him. He had become a national hero in Italy. His state funeral was held on March 8, 2005, in Rome.
He was honored after his death with the Gold Medal of Military Valor. This award was given to him by the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, on March 22, 2005.
Video Evidence of the Shooting
On May 8, 2007, an Italian TV channel, Canale 5, showed a video. This video captured the very first moments right after the shooting. It showed that Calipari's car lights were on, even though American officials had said the car was traveling with its lights off. The video also showed that the car was at least 50 meters away from the U.S. Army vehicle. This suggested that the soldier fired when the car was further away than what was initially stated.
Diplomatic Impact of the Incident
Calipari's death caused one of the most serious diplomatic issues between the United States and Italy since the end of World War II. Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, stated that the Italian government was fully committed to supporting the investigation into Calipari's death.
Many Italian leaders asked the United States to help with the investigation. They wanted the U.S. Army to allow the soldier involved, Mario Lozano, to be questioned by Italian officials.
