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MONTE CASSINO, Italy (May 20, 2012) - At
the conclusion of the Wreath ceremony honoring the World War II
battle at the Rapido River, the crowd's attention quickly focused on
a small bridge filled with military and civilian members who all
hold bags of red and pink rose petals. A collective gasp rose from
onlookers, as the Rapido River is covered in a symbolic gesture
representing all those lost in the crossing of the river. Photo by
Army Sgt. Jeremy Spires
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MONTE CASSINO, Italy (June 12, 12) – It was 68 years ago when, under
a thick fog, two battalions of the 36th Infantry Divison quietly
maneuvered through a soggy riverbank peppered with land mines and
booby traps in hopes of crossing the Rapido River and liberating the
citizens of Monte Cassino. As the soldiers pushed forward through
the freezing water and mud, they were left vulnerable to enemy
attacks.
The ensuing battle was a massacre, which left the
division soldiers beaten and bloodied. By mid-morning of Jan. 21,
1944, the remnants of the two regiments were forced back across the
river to Allied controlled territory. They were sent back into
battle a few hours later. By the evening of January 22, the 141st
Infantry Regiment virtually ceased to exist, and the 143rd was
heavily depleted. The assault cost more than 2,100 soldiers their
lives.
“On this ground ... numerous brothers from the great
state of Texas, the United States of America and all those nations
represented here today died for a cause that was greater than
themselves,” said Maj. Gen. James K. “Red” Brown, commanding general
of the 36th Inf. Div. “Families from over 30 nations sacrificed
during that time, and many of the greatest sacrifices were from
citizens of this great land. We come here today to remember those
who served and those who gave ultimate sacrifice for their
countries.”
The city of Monte Cassino hosts an annual Wreath
ceremony in remembrance of the military personnel and civilians that
lost their lives during the battle at the Rapido River. Local
government officials, town residents, Italian army members, World
War II veterans and their families, along with soldiers from the
36th Inf. Div. were on hand at the ceremony to pay homage to the
fallen. |
“I have come to this ceremony many times over the
years,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ken Saffell, B. Company, 36th Inf. Div.,”and
every year it is done differently and gets bigger.”
Overlooking the Rapido River and the surrounding
countryside, the ceremony started with a wreath lying at the
36th Inf. Div. memorial. From there the guests were lead
through the city down to the banks of crystal clear river to
a memorial honoring both Allied and Axis soldiers and
civilians.
“The 36th Infantry Division has once again
made history on the banks of this river,” said Michele
DiLeonardo, an amateur World War II historian and unofficial
tour guide for the members of the 36th during their stay in
Italy.
“They continue to honor not only their fallen
forefathers, but everybody who gave their lives during that
time,” he added.
At the conclusion of the ceremony
the crowd's attention quickly focused on a small bridge
filled with military and civilian members who were holding
bags of red and pink rose petals. A collective gasp rose
from onlookers, as the Rapido River was covered red in a
symbolic gesture representing all those lost in the crossing
of the river.
“It is important every year that we
rejoin and remember the sacrifices of those who fought on
this ground,” said Brown. “It is also important that we
gather as nations in peace, so that we might remain in peace
for all time.”
For the soldiers of the 36th Inf.
Div., this ceremony helped them remember the price their
forefathers paid when the division attacked the German lines
to liberate the city of Monte Cassino so many years ago.
“Even after all these years I still cannot imagine what
it was like for the soldiers back in 1944,” said Saffell.
“You really cannot understand their sacrifice until you have
literally walked where they have along the Rapido River.”
By Army Sgt. Jeremy Spires
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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