Special to The Journal

Russo Street in Providence is less than a half mile long, running parallel to Charles Street, from Hawkins Street north to Social Street. What most of us do not know was that in the 1930s it bore the name Mussolini Street, in tribute to the Italian fascist leader.

With the outbreak of World War II, local leaders could not change the name fast enough. So on Jan. 10, 1942, they changed the name to Russo Street, in honor of Albert Russo, the first Italo-American from Rhode Island to die in the conflict (or so they thought at the time).

Most of us know the Japanese attacked the Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, thus launching the globe into World War II.

Less known is the fact that, within hours, the Japanese continued their aerial attack against Am

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