A Death in San Pietro
Page 26
Freeland on, 223
as incidental, 224–225
problems with, 223–224
re-creation of, 120, 185
Roosevelt on, 127–128
of shells, 224
War Department on, 128
Poage, William, 232
Pompeii, Texas Division passing through, 103–104
Port Lyautey airfield, 17, 49
Post, 14
POW. See Prisoner of war
Prelude to Victory (movie), 124
Prelude to War (Capra), 22
Prisoner of war (POW), 198, 205
evacuation of, 111
interrogation of, 137, 197
medical aid for, 110
rescue of, 111
Waskow, August, as, 109–110
White, Jack, as, 110
Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence, 234
“Purple Heart Valley”
limited headway in, 179
See also San Pietro battle
Pyle, Ernie, 5, 164–165, 184, p7, p8
alcohol and, 218–219
auto racing fascination and, 12
aviation and, 14
battlefield fever of, 52
bravery of, 31
castle room used for writing by, 217–218
cautionary note by, 39–40
childhood Chicago trip by, 12
childhood of, 12
college degree of, 12–13
cross-country tour of, 14, 15–16
D-Day for, 51
death of, 234–235, 250
depression of, 35, 148, 218
description of, 10, 234
on destruction, 149
Eisenhower on, 248
embeddedness of, 30
employment of, 13, 14
fame of, 36, 129–130, 148, 234, 248
family of, 12
First Lady and, 131
goal of, 10–11
higher causes and, 11
on hospital stay, 52–53
identifying with soldiers, 53–54
insecurities of, 11
on Italian landscape, 149
KKK threatening, 13
London travels of, 32–33
marriage issues of, 35–36, 37, 131, 234
Miller, Arthur, and, 130
Miller, Lee, and, 13, 30
mother’s death influencing, 34–35
Mt. Sammurco climb by, 185
mule and men procession watched by, 201–202
nickname of, 12–13
Pacific war reporting by, 248, 249–250
Patton and, 54
prose and contradictions used by, 34
Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence received by, 234
reader response to stories by, 32, 34
refocus of, 56–57
reporting style of, 11, 13, 28–29, 33–34
rest and relaxation of, 130, 233, 235
settling down of, 16
in Sicily, 51–57
on slow military advancement, 150–151
on soldier’s spirit, 186
spine-tingling war story told by, 29–30
stay in Tunisia, 30–31
story of Waskow, Henry, by, 231
Tidwell interviewed by, 193
Tobin as biographer for, 35
transport barge and sub-chaser encounter witnessed by, 8–10
traveling itch of, 16
U.S.S. Biscayne stay by, 10
on view of war, 7, 248
war influence on, 10, 41, 56–57
Washington Daily News employment, 13
on Waskow, Henry’s, death, 219–222
Whitehead on, 218
Quick, Quint, 32
Rapido River, 227
crossing of, 238
Gustav Line running along, 237
second crossing suggested for, 241
Rapido River assault
casualties from, 240–241
confusion during, 239
disaster of, 241
hesitation for, 238–239
recriminations following, 241
troop separation during, 240
Walker taking responsibility for, 241
withdrawal from, 240–241
Ray, Martha, 29
Recriminations, following Rapido River assault, 241
Reid, Alban, 159
Riefenstahl, Leni, 125
Rocky (movie), 246
Rome invasion, 135
by Christmas, 142
German resistance and, 136, 139–140, 142–143
Kesselring’s fight for, 137
mountains inhibiting, 143–144
plan for, 136
slow advancement toward, 150–151
Rommel, Erwin, 8, 136
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 131
death of, 249
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 119
Churchill meeting with, 61
memorandum from, 127
on photographic coverage, 127–128
Sadler, Jerry, 182
Salerno, 59–75
description of, 66–67
Germany Army waiting at, 65
terrain of, 3
Salerno Bay, p1
bombardment at, 59–60
Company B landing at, 2, 77–78
Company I landing at, 2, 78–79
strategic landing importance at, 60–61
36th Division landing at, 66
Walker landing site adjustment at, 60
Salerno invasion, 64, p1
army forces for, 69
bravery during, 71–72
command post for, 74, p2
commander choice for, 67–68
dangers of, 87–88
general plan for, 69–70
head count after, 86
landings of, 95
medics around, 82–83
perimeter formed during, 75
radio communication during, 74–75
resistance encountered in, 70–71
targets missed in, 70
3rd Battalion and, 85–88
Walker’s experience of, 72–73
Walker’s plan for, 70
waves of, 71
San Pietro
advancement pressure felt by Walker and Clark, 188
Army Signal Corps arrival in, 206
battle aftermath of, p5
capture of, 198
casualties in, 206–207
as “Death Valley,” 205–206
German’s hold on, 187–188
German’s stripping of, 141
medical detachment heading into, p7
New Years Eve storm in, 215
ruins of, 198, 200, 204–205, 209, 224, p6
villagers emerging from hiding in, 205
villagers immigrating to U.S., 204–205
San Pietro (film)
Capra on film name, 243
debate regarding, 243
destruction footage as shock in, 244–245
editing of, 243, 244
film critic on, 245
Marshall on, 243–244
opening shot of, 244
perceived as “anti-war” film, 245
preserved by National Film Registry, 245
re-creations used in, 246
strong negative reaction on, 243
as training video, 244
War Department on, 243
Westbrook on, 246
San Pietro battle, 195
aftermath of, 203–210
boundaries broken during, 197
Company L and, 196–197
end of, 215
firepower used in, 196, 200
map of, 180, 199
by tank, 188–189
San Vittore
German occupancy of, 211
nighttime attack of, 211–212
Saturday Evening Post (magazine), 233
Saving Private Ryan (movie), 252
Scripps-Howard, 14, 16, 32, 33, 231
Sergeant York (film), 133
Shattuck Academy, 19
&
nbsp; “Shoot and scoot” tactic, 96, 98
Sicily
countryside of, 52
global forces for invasion of, 8
invasion meeting on, 62–63
Pyle in, 51–57
rock blocking highway in, 55–56
Siebolds, Geraldine “Jerry,” 13–14
alcohol problem of, 15–16, 34–35, 131
attempted suicide by, 249
as “That Girl,” 15
Signal Photo Company (SPC), 163
Silver Star medals, 213
Skiles, Judson, 250
Slaughter, Willie, 47, 181
Germans killed by, 97
heroic actions of, 190
on war, 113
Smith, Bedell, 212
Soldiers
Christmas enjoyed by, p5
“The Death of Captain Waskow” response from, 234
deceased, p6
female longing by, 40
filming requested by, 207
gear of, 65, 184
hillside conditions affecting, 157
home-sick, 39
Huston warning by, 207
letters sent home from, 113
life detail of, 11
mail from home and, 214
necessities of, 29
photos sent home of, 116–117
pragmatism of, 31
property regard of, 40
Pyle identifying with, 53–54
Pyle on, 11
questions of, 39
reflective mood of, 207
regarded as heroes, 103, 105–106, 113, 211, p5
spirit of, 186
Thanksgiving dinner for, 158–159
Tobin on, 211
trench foot and, 157
Waskow, Henry, respected by, 202, 231
on Waskow, Henry, 220–222
Sorrento Peninsula
assembly points in, 91
mountains of, 105
oddity fights on, 94
raids on, 96
resort in, 94
securing of, 90
SPC. See Signal Photo Company
Splawn, Marvin, 189
St. Michael the Archangel, 200, 244
Stars and Stripes (Mauldin), 150
Statue of Liberty, 39
Steinbeck, John, 100
travels of, 115
Stevens, George, 128
Stevenson, Coke, 23
Stone house, at Chiunzi Pass, as command post, 94, 96
The Story of G.I. Joe (film)
Academy Award nominations for, 246
Agee on, 246
realistic and unsentimental portrayal by, 246
rewards and nominations for, 246–247
Waskow character renamed Walker in, 246
Street of Abundance, 103
Strong, George, 63
Sub-chaser, helping transport barge, 8–10
Sultan Guard, 17
Summers, Elaine, 23
Sunday, Billie, 113
Tackett, Hulen, 192
Tank assault
Company B leading, 189
failure of, 196
logistics of, 188–189
preparation for, 189
recon suggesting against, 188
on San Pietro, 188–189
Taro, Gerda, 99
Temple Junior College, 231
Texas Division
Altavilla and, 85
amphibious training and, 22, 26, 49
call to duty for, 22, 23
Camp Edwards stay, 21–22
Cape Cod influenced by, 21–22
good impression from, 18
North Africa journey of, 23–24
parade march by, 17–18
photos sent home of, 116–117
Pompeii passed through by, 103–104
reorganization of, 86
Texans reduction in, 146
See also 143rd Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division
Thanksgiving dinner, 158–159
“That Girl,” Siebolds as, 15
3rd Battalion, Salerno invasion and, 85–88
36th Division, 17
active duty of, 18
at Camp Edwards, 49
casualties of, 146, 241
formation of, 43–44
German artillery fire and, 156
infantry regiments of, 43
inventive groups within, 20
landmark for, 64
no break for, 211
replacement troops for, 146
Salerno Bay landing of, 66
service history of, 43–44
soldier background and ethnicities within, 44–45
325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 97
Tidwell, Riley, 47, 77, 89, 101, 158, 184, 200
AWOL, 228
body recovery by, 192
as communication runner, 92–93, 171
enlistment of, 48
fame of, 247
medical treatment received by, 190, 201, 227
Pyle interviewing, 193
at replacement camp, 228
travels of, 247
trench foot and, 189–190, 192–193, 227–228
War Department interviewing, 247
war public relations and, 247
Waskow, Henry, and, 48, 92–93
Waskow, Henry’s, body retrieved by, 201
Waskow, Henry’s, death experienced by, 193
Waskow, Mary Lee, and, 247
Time (magazine), 34, 112, 231, 245
Tobin, James
as Pyle’s biographer, 35
on soldiers, 211
Toledo Blade (newspaper), 233
Toro del Greco, 104
Tortilla Flats (Steinbeck), 115
T-Patchers. See Texas Division
Transport barge, engine breakdown of, 8–10
Tregaskis, Richard, 98, 150
Trench foot
soldiers and, 157
Tidwell and, 189–190, 227–228
Triumph of the Will (Riefenstahl), 125
Truscott, Lucian, 51, 69, p7
engineering challenges facing, 140–141
Tunisia
battle of, 37–38
Pyle’s stay in, 30–31
Tunisian Victory (movie), 119, 128, 133
British collaboration for, 120
film ventures represented by, 134
re-created footage for, 120
United Press, 219, 233
University of Illinois, 12
University of Kentucky, 204
University of Texas, 225
U.S.S. Biscayne, 8, 27
Pyle’s stay on, 10
U.S.S. Chase, 59, 72, 89
U.S.S. Stanton, 78
Vannata, Lem, 184
Volturno River, 137
amphibious assault in, 145–146
crossing of, 140
floods of, 141
practice crossing of, 147–148
Vox Populi (radio show), 247
Vu (French magazine), 99, 100
Wadle, Arthur A., 47, 97
Walker, Fred Livingood, 17, 169, 238
appointment in Texas Division, 19–20
army service of, 19
on Christmas, 212–213
Clark and, 68–69, 86, 145–146, 153
combat scene re-created with, 226
company discipline problems faced by, 22–23
description of, 19
on destruction, 104–106
dinner rewarding, 242
Italian campaign influencing, 212
Morocco stay and, 25
officer characteristics of, 20
Operation Torch meetings and, 24–25
Patton’s meeting with, 18–19
on Patton’s troop speech, 21
Rapido River assault responsibility accepted by, 241
Salerno invasion plan by, 70
San Pietro advancement pressure on, 188
San Pietro tour given by, 212
Silver Stars and Distinguished Service medals
handed out by, 213
on Sorrento mountains, 105
Thanksgiving dinner served by, 158–159
on war games, 20–21
War
debris of, 214
doubts surrounding, 127
entertainment tour for, 29
film coverage of, 119–120
Pyle on view of, 7, 248
romance to, 100
Slaughter on, 113
understanding of, 248
Waskow, Henry, on, 112
as wasteful, 40
War bonds, 233–234
War College, 19
War correspondents
arrival of, 98–99
Italy invasion and, 100–101
job duties of, 27–28
leadership disagreements among, 163
in Operation Torch, 27
presence of, 161–162
War Department, 223
on photographic coverage, 128, 163
on San Pietro (film), 243
Tidwell interviewed by, 247
War Munitions Building, 121
Warner, Jack, 133
Warner Bros. Studios, 133
Washington Daily News (newspaper), 13, 14, 231
Washington-Hoover airport, 14
Waskow, August, 50
as German prisoner, 109–110
rehabilitation of, 229
reunited with Company I, 109–110
wounding of, 89, 109
Waskow, Henry, 77, 171
Army service of, 4–5
biography of, 219–222
buried remains of, 251
Company B and D tribute from, 97–98
condolences regarding death of, 233
death of, 191, 217–222
description of, 4–5
eulogy for, 251
home dreams of, 93
leadership style of, 93
letter sent home from, 112–113, 172–174
misinformed on brother’s whereabouts, 111–112
mountain descent of body, 200–201
on Mt. Sammurco, 191
mule carrying, 220–221
noble responsibility of, 5
Pyle on death of, 219–222
relaxing trip to Capri, 114
remembrance of, 251–252
sincerity of, 172
soldier’s recall of, 220–222
soldier’s respect for, 202, 231
telegram regarding, 230
Tidwell and, 48, 92–93
Tidwell experiencing death of, 193
Tidwell retrieving body of, 201
VFW post and school named after, 251–252
on war, 112
Waskow, Mary Goth
biography of, 228–229
concern for her children, 229–230
death of, 250
grief of, 233
health problems of, 229
memorial service for, 251
as Waskow, Henry and August’s, mother, 229
Waskow, Mary Lee, 229
telegram received by, 230
Tidwell and, 247
Watch on the Rhine (movie), 2
Wehrmacht anti-tank guns, 196
Wellesley, Henry, 102
Wellman, William, 246
Westbrook, Joel, 23
combat re-creation with, 225–226
on San Pietro (film), 246
Westbrook, Lawrence, 23
Western Taskforce of Operation Torch, 18
White, Jack, 45, 109, 162, 230, 250