Prelude to Monte Cassino

[Marco]

Allied troops in Cervaro...do you remember the corner of the building?

[Marco]

Same corner...

[Marco]

An Allied soldier take water from a fountain...the fountain was restyling in 1962, but is here!

[Marco]

Ruins of a little castle on top of Mount Trocchio...

[Marco]

Ok Boys...now we have opened the last door before Cassino...where someone is just waiting for us..

[Marco]

This thread ends here. I would like to thank my friend John Hodgin who gave me the chance to show some of my works and my search...and then I want to thank all of you who have had the patience to watch these pages (and read my horrible english language).
I would like at least for a moment each of you gives a thought to the men who fought and died in my land: Americans, British, German, French, New Zealand, Italian, Indians, Polish...and all the civilians who suffered during and after those days. Just a moment...I ask not more.
Thanks to all.
Marco

[John Hodgin]

Absolutely wonderful Marco, grazie! Your contribution is appreciated by all of us. I deeply hope you publish a large "Italy, then and Now" book for the sake of the history you have put in such an interesting perspective.

[Uncle Kurt]

Marco,
this is a good job,
I look at your photos always happy

[WalterB]

Thank you, Marco!! I have enjoyed the journey very much! I hope this thread is preserved for future use and enjoyment.

[SMP]

Thank you, Marco !

The forum at it's best

[Larry F.]

Marco,

Great work and a very enjoyable thread. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this and you should really consider a book as John mentioned.

Best,

Larry

[John Hodgin]

Over a month has passed, and yet Allied gains in Italy in 1943/44 have been very small. On January 19th, 1944 the Allies stood before a significant obstacle, the Garigliano river. They must cross the river in order to proceed.

[George Cone]

The Fighting 36th division sacraficed

January 20, 1944 the Texas 36th Division was ordered by 5th Army commander Mark Clark to cross the "Rapido River" in the face of entrenched Germans. 36th divisonal commaner Fred L. Walker refused to commit his men is a frontal suicide attack. Clark ordered Walker to make the attack. If he did not, he would be replaced and the new replacement general would make the attack.
Walker preferred to lead his men. That is when the slaughter began. On both nights, of January 20 and 21, the 36th attempted to cross the river directly in the face of well established German positions. Over 2000 Texans were lost in the 2 nights. weeks later, bullet riddled bodies of the Texans were found down stream. Each morning the Texans could hear the resistance of those trapped across the river die down as the small arms fire subsided. My father was suppose to cross on the 3rd night, which was cancelled. Thank God. I have spoken to many TPatchers that were involved. It is indelibly etched into their memories. Clark later relieved Walker for this action, placing the blame on the man that tried to prevent it. Walker had been in exactly the opposite position in WWI, when he was entreched defending a river in France. The Germans tried to cross and were trapped and wiped out.
A Congressional enquirey was forced by the 36th veterans after the war. Congrerss covered it up.
I have a letter from Gen. Walker dated 1968 where he explains the action.
It was given to me by a Tpatcher.
In 1984 while with my parents on a battlefield tour, I watched as the monument was unvailed at St. Angelo. I have pics. There was not a dry eye among the Tpatchers.

http://www.lestweforgetww2.com/capt_bayne.html

http://www.lestweforgetww2.com/Julian_Quarles.html

http://www.lestweforgetww2.com/page10.html

[John Hodgin]

Good account George. The Rapido flows into the Garigliano. The Germans had wisely used the Rapido to flood the plains around the "Gari," making the approach for crossing the river even more difficult.

[jacquesf]

This thread ends here. I would like to thank my friend John Hodgin who gave me the chance to show some of my works and my search...and then I want to thank all of you who have had the patience to watch these pages (and read my horrible english language).
I would like at least for a moment each of you gives a thought to the men who fought and died in my land: Americans, British, German, French, New Zealand, Italian, Indians, Polish...and all the civilians who suffered during and after those days. Just a moment...I ask not more.
Thanks to all.
Marco

and some South Africans. Thanx for a great thread. Jacques