The sun-kissed Italian hillside beckoned six year-old Tony as he took the small flock of sheep to the grazing ground just after dawn. Before leaving home, his mother Rosa handed him his lunch to put in his pocket. It was a large piece of her wonderful home-baked bread and a slice of cheese that would sustain the boy until he returned with the sheep in the late afternoon.

Tony looked forward to seeing the other boys who would meet him on the communal hillside that provided forage for the village sheep. It was not unusual for the children of his village to work at an early age. And Tony enjoyed this work. As he walked with the sheep, he knew deep down that sheep would be part of his life as long as he lived. This morning as he set off to work, the flock eagerly followed their young shepherd to their morning pasture. There they browsed until the familiar whistle called an end to their day. They separated from the flock and followed their young master back to the sheepfold.

But that Italian way of life changed when Tony's father died and his mother Rosa was left to care for and support her eight children alone. The village of Rocca San Felice Avellino, Italy was trying to recover from the devastation of World War II, and the Forgione family found itself facing the same disturbing struggle.

Tony and Joe recall receiving a care package with much needed clothing for the family with the words in large letters declaring, 'UNITED STATES' on it. Among the items in the box was one pair of leather shoes. The older children had shoes but neither Tony nor Joe had shoes. As it happened, the shoes fit Tony. He recalls putting the shoes on and since little Joe still didn't have any shoes, Tony put Joe on his back carried him around while he wore his new shoes.

As the difficulties of supporting a family pressed down upon her, well-meaning people talked to Rosa of the opportunity to send some of her children to the United States where they could pursue a better life than she could provide for them. She became convinced that the United States was the opportunity that she could not deny two of her children. Her two most adoptable children were 8 year-old Tony and 6 year-old Joe.

After many sleepless nights, Rosa made the decision to send her these two of her beloved children to an orphanage in Pennsylvania, USA where they would have an opportunity to prosper. A young cousin of the boys would join them on their long flight across the huge ocean on Trans World Airlines. Maybe if there were three of them they wouldn't grieve as much as if they were alone.

With some confusion, the two boys and one girl were taken to the airport for their long flight to the USA. In 1952, the small group arrived at the orphanage in Concordville, PA. Shortly thereafter, the girl cousin was adopted.

Tony and Joe were kept busy at the orphanage. Immediately, they joined the other children in their lessons. Since the boys only spoke Italian, they were tutored in English. Since they knew no English, they were placed into the first grade even though Tony had been in the third grade in his homeland. The children in the orphanage were assigned duties when they were not at their studies. Each child had a small plot in the garden he was responsible for, and the orphanage used the garden produce on its tables. There were pigs, a few cattle and chickens that needed caring for too. The life was not unlike their Italian life except for the lack of family. This, the boys tried to overcome as time passed.

And, as it happens, time and almost three years did pass before the call came that changed Tony and Joe's lives. A San Antonio Catholic adoption agency arranged for the boys to be adopted by a Texas family.

Tony recalls: "When Joe and I found we were moving to Texas we were somewhat frightened but very excited. We had cut our teeth on Cowboy and Indian movies and we were moving to a ranch. We couldn't have been happier. We had been in the orphanage for three years and were getting to an age where we were becoming less apt to be adopted, especially since there were two of us who were staying together."

Brackettville natives Orville and Bernadette Frerich were approaching their middle years and had no children. They decided to try to adopt. After some time they were advised of the two Italian boys who were of an age and background that would fit their ranching way of life. They agreed that these boys were just what they were hoping for.

In 1955, the Frerich's made the trip to San Antonio to meet the boys. The four of them agreed, this would work for all of them. They boys arrived in San Antonio with the name, Forgione and moved into Brackettville with the name, Frerich.

"When people ask how our name Frerich is translated into Italian, we just say, 'Forgione,'" the Frerich brothers laughingly said.

The ranching life in the 50's was no picnic for the boys and any Texan can verify to the truth of this statement. But as Tony states, "Who did have it easy on a ranch in those days?"

On their first day of school in Brackettville, the boys were objects of curiosity. By this time, their language skills were quite acceptable but the new kids on the block always face challenges. Tully Shahan, Brackettville native, was there on the newly named Frerich boy's first day of school.

He remembers, "Some of the local boys tried to push the new kids around and before you knew it, the Frerich boys had those bullies on their backs and they were on top. The kids soon found out, if they picked on one of the Frerich boys, they got both of them. And for the most part there was peace after that."

But, while it was no picnic settling into a new life with new names and responsibilities, they formed lasting family relationships they are proud of.

One of the joys of ranching life was being able to be out with the animals. Tony still was able to care for the sheep he was familiar with from childhood. He and Joe showed sheep at youth fairs, and came off winners many times.

Horses and mules also played a part in their lives. One weekend there was to be a rodeo in Brackettville and someone asked the boys if they would be in it. They said yes. They had an old one-eyed horse and one mule to use and they had to ride them the few miles to town. Now, this horse and mule had never been to town before. By the time, they got there and the old one-eyed horse saw where he was, it wasn't long before he was prancing like a colt. Talk about excited, Tony didn't know who was the most excited, he or the horse.

Well, to make a short story long, as Tony says, "When it came time for old One Eye to break out of the chute to rope the calf, he actually went out backward. I decided that was enough excitement for one day. I never did try to do calf roping for sport in an arena again."

After graduation, Tony enrolled in college and Joe went to work. A year or so later, Tony was drafted into the Army. Midway through his Army hitch, he and Nancy married. When he got out of the Army, Tony decided to finish college. With Nancy's help and support, he received his degree in Animal Science. Joe also worked his way through college and received his degree.

Tony's break come when he landed a job as Foreman for Miles Pierce in Alpine on the Altuda Ranch. He was in his element on this ranch. It was an opportunity to do the work he loved. The ranch covered some fifty sections so with Miles Pierce's blessing and help, Tony was able to purchase sheep of his own. He worked on the Altuda Ranch for three years, saved his money and built up his sheep herd.

Tony and Nancy decided they were ready to go into ranching on their own so they leased land a few miles out of Brackettville and started their own ranch and family. They have worked hard for the ranching lifestyle. Later, Nancy went to work at Ft. Clark, and Tony went to work at the Kinney County Wool and Mohair business in Brackettville.

Three years later, in 1993, Tony and Joe decided to buy the Wool and Mohair business in Brackettville. Tony is the on-site manager and Joe, the silent partner. They still own and operate Kinney County Wool and Mohair.

That is the Texas story of the Italian boys, but what happened to the loved ones they left behind.

In 1971, Orville and Bernadette Frerich received a telegram from Rosa Forgione, the boy's birth mother. This was some 14 years after they had adopted Tony and Joe, and both boys had their own families by then. Rosa was in great hopes of reuniting the family. After much deliberation and determination to save enough money to make the trip back to their birthplace, Tony and Joe made the trip to Italy in 1978. They were reunited with their mother and brothers and sisters Agaetana, Nicola, Filomena, Pasqualina, Saverio, and Francesco. By this time, the boys had forgotten their Italian and the family spoke little English. But, hearts won out. A few locals spoke a little English, so with gestures and translations, the family bond was re-established.

In 1991, their mother Rosa died. In 1992 the three Italian brothers, Nicola, Saverio and Francesco made a heart stopping trip to Brackettville. Since then, Tony and Nancy and their children have been able to sample the food, sunshine and oh yes, the warmth of their Italian family.

The wool connection is still as important to Tony and Joe as it was on the Italian hillside they knew in their youth. Today, they bask in sun of the Texas way of life.