Shadowbox
One of my fondest memories of WWII service is of leading one of the very first recon patrols into Rome during the night of June 4, 1944. We had fought our way out of the Anzio Beachhead after a bitter struggle and headed for Rome. We were about 5 miles south of Rome when my Regimental CO called me to his dugout at night and gave me verbal orders.
Lieutenant, Intelligence picked up a Kraut radio message which said they were declaring Rome an open city and withdrawing north. (Presumably to avoid War damage to the ancient artifacts).
“I want you to take a patrol into Rome right now and find out if it’s true. It could be a trap, but if it’s true, I want my Regiment (7th Inf) to be the first into Rome. I will have the first and third battalions on trucks waiting for your return.â€
I found out much later that Gen. Mark Clark knew that D Day Normandy was scheduled for June 6th and he demanded that his troops take Rome, before Normandy monopolized the headlines back home.
I took 4 jeeps with 50 cal. machine guns and 15 men. It was pitch dark and smoke made visibility worse. We passed smoldering tanks, recon vehicles, and dead soldiers along the Appian Way. We met no resistance. We saw nothing alive. We entered the city which was ominously silent, no light showing anywhere. We saw no Krauts, no Americans, no civilians. We expected to be ambushed at every corner. It was deathly quiet, spooky. I had a street map, but I dared show no light to read it. We pressed on , but were soon lost amid the narrow, winding, tunnel like streets. Until we rounded a bend, entered a huge cobblestone piazza and there before us stood the Coliseum, silhouetted against the first blush of pink light in the eastern sky! It was a sight I will never forget! The thrill of a lifetime! I stood in the midst of 2,000 years of history and felt a strong sense of having added to it. We drove back to the CP dugout and Colonel Wiley O’Muhundro grinned and sent 2 battalions in on trucks. Two days later, the Allies invaded Normandy and we were no longer fighting alone! Only one other lieutenant from my group of 21 junior officers replacements, who joined the regiment with me on the Anzio Beachhead, made it to Rome! It was good to be alive!
Several months ago, a young man in Chicago read my story on the Internet. He is a skilled craftsman and enjoys WWII history. He made the shadow box you see in the picture and mailed the picture to me. I was overwhelmed!!! And then, a few weeks later, a package arrived. It was the complete shadow box, carefully shipped with foam padding! At my age, that kind of honor keeps me going!
Russ Cloer - 3_7_I_Recon