“It was the most moving gesture I ever saw.”

| May 27, 2013

Wednesday, 30 May 1945 dawned as the first Memorial Day after World War II ended in Europe.  War still raged in the Pacific; it would continue there for another 3 months.  But in the US and Europe it was a day for somber ceremonies and remembrances of lost comrades.

This was especially true at US cemeteries in Europe, where tens of thousands of US war dead were buried.  At some if not all of these ceremonies were held; many political figures and/or senior military officers gave speeches.  I’m sure all of them were worthwhile, and paid appropriate tribute to the fallen.

But one speech in particular that day was unique.  It occurred at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery.

Sicily-Rome American Cemetery is near the modern Italian town of Nettuno, called Antium in antiquity.  It lies within what had been the US sector of the Anzio beachhead – or “bitchhead,” as those who were trapped there for 4+ months came to call it.  The cemetery was originally intended a temporary resting place for US dead from the Anzio landings and subsequent combat.  It became a permanent resting place for US war dead.

Today, only 7,861 US fallen remain in eternal rest near Nettuno. However, the cemetery on 30 May 1945 held approximately 20,000 graves.  Most were soldiers who were lost before the fall of Rome – in Sicily, at Salerno, or at Anzio.  (Some years later, the US government gave families the choice to allow fallen relatives to remain with their comrades or be repatriated.  Many of those originally buried near Nettuno – about 60% – were repatriated.)

A number of VIPs were present at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery that day.  Some were senior military officers; some were political figures.  Several senators were in attendance.

One of the speakers at the ceremony was the US 5th Army Commander, LTG Lucian K. Truscott, Jr.  (Truscott would later receive a post-retirement honorary promotion and a 4th star, but at the time he still wore 3 stars.)  He had returned to Italy from France to command 5th Army earlier that year.

When it was his turn to speak, Truscott moved to the podium.

What happened next was truly remarkable.

Before speaking, Truscott looked at the assembled visitors awaiting his remarks.  He then turned away from the living. He turned and faced the graves of the fallen.

Rather than speak to the living, Truscott addressed those buried in the cemetery.  He spoke in a quiet voice.

He apologized.

Sadly, no transcript or recording of Truscott’s speech that day exists. But SGT Bill Mauldin (yes, the Stars and Stripes journalist and cartoonist of “Willie and Joe” fame) was there.  His account of the speech appears to be the best and most complete record that exists.

According to Mauldin,

“. . . when it came time for the general to speak, he turned away from the visitors and addressed the corpses he’d commanded there.  It was the most moving gesture I ever saw.  It came from a hard-boiled old man who was incapable of planned dramatics.  The general’s remarks were brief and extemporaneous.  He apologized to the dead men for their presence there.  He said that everybody tells leaders that it is not their fault that men get killed in war, but that every leader knows in his heart that this is not altogether true.  He said he hoped anybody here through any mistake of his would forgive him, but he realized that was asking a hell of a lot under the circumstances.  A senator’s cigar went out; he bent over to relight it, then thought better of it.  Truscott said he would not speak of the ‘glorious’ dead because he didn’t see much glory in getting killed in your late teens or early twenties.  He promised that if in the future he ran into anybody, especially old men, who thought death in battle was glorious, he would straighten them out.  He said he thought it was the least he could do.”

Truscott then reportedly walked away, without looking around.

Truscott had commanded troops during or shortly after every major US amphibious landing in the European theater except D-Day – from Mehdia and Port Lyautey in Morocco (the Atlantic landings of Operation Torch) to Operation Dragoon in Southern France.  He’d seen combat in North Africa, Sicily, near Salerno, at Anzio, in central Italy, in southern and central France, and in northern Italy.

In particular, Truscott had commanded the 3rd Infantry Division in Sicily, after Salerno, and at Anzio.  After a month, he had assumed command of the entire Anzio beachhead and VI Corps – and had commanded the Anzio beachhead and VI Corps during another several months of desperate combat there and elsewhere in Italy.  Many of those buried at Nettuno were soldiers Truscott had commanded during the previous two years.

Apparently Truscott felt he owed a personal apology to those who’d died under his command.

Moving?  Yes – moving indeed.  And apropos.

. . .

It’s again Memorial Day.  Today we pause to remember those who served – and didn’t come home.

Rest in peace, my fallen brothers-in-arms.  You’ve surely earned that.

And as you rest, know this:  you’re not forgotten.

Category: Historical, Real Soldiers

18 Comments
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LIRight

Beautiful, emotional. Thanks Hondo.

John Robert Mallernee

I wish that was taught in elementary school, or Hollywood would make a movie about it.

John Robert Mallernee

By the way, here is the URL for my own personal Memorial Day message:

http://writesong.blogspot.com/2013/05/memorial-day-message.html

Al T.

Lucian Truscott was one of the best Generals we had and one of the least recognized. Wilson Heefner wrote an excellent biography titled “Dogface Soldier”. Highly recommend.

B Woodman

Damned dust in my eyes again.
Thank you Hondo for posting this.
History never ceases to amaze, educate, and illuminate.

Smitty

i think few people today would understand that gesture. it would be condemned as disrespectful to the “important people” that came to hear some grand standing. I personally hate memorial day. I see it as nothing more than an excuse that nearly every american uses to get drunk, party, and have a bbq. they pretend once a year they actually give 2 shits about those who have fallen for their freedom, IF they stay sober long enough to remember that is what today is supposed to be about. for 364 days a year, no one cares, nor remembers the great men whos lives were given as sacrifices for them to enjoy their liberties. those same liberties that they willingly give away to any pretty politician that can give a decent speach.

Rest in Peace my brothers who will not be joining their families at the bbq today nor drinking beer with their friends. I will always remember you and stand up for your sacrifice.

a personal rememberance to Sgt Bret Swank and Sgt Andrew Brown A co 1/509th

AW1 Tim

Smitty: Concur.

As has been said so many times, for some folks, every day is memorial day. It means a lot to those who have served, and who remember the names, faces, and especially the smiles and laughter of those we lost along the way. Forever young, forever brothers from another mother, their memories can still evoke smiles and laughter and the telling of stories of adventures shared.

The best memorial to them all is, to my mind, a pledge that each of us will strive to live our lives in a manner worthy of their sacrifice.

In memory of AT2 Gary Nesbitt, and AW2 Jim Piepkorn. Fellow aircrew, shipmates and friends. Lost in service to our country.

MAJMike

Every military leader worth his salt, fears most making a mistake that causes the deaths of those for whom he is responsible. Death is the common currency of war, but we constantly worry that we’ve forgotten to do something that might’ve same the lives of our troops.

God was smart enough never to give me the responsibility of combat leadership. I know I would’ve dome my best, but I fear that my best never would’ve been good enough. GEN Truscott got it right.

Ex-PH2

Nice article, Hondo. I will remember it.

Derek

@6 (Smitty), I completely agree with the point that Americans could give 2 shits….in fact this weekend so far, no one has said anything about the true meaning, just hitting up the sales. However, at the local deli where I get my “Iraqi pizza”, the guys there offered a sincere thank you and told me to have a great weekend, that it was mine to enjoy and remember on….these guys are the Christians of Iraq who were repressed, killed, and forced out by their Arab “muslim brothers”. To be thanked by people who truly understand what we do….to know of the repressive evils that we fight means more to me now than any remark from my own countrymen has ever meant.

OWB

Yes, many of us remember every day. What we do on Memorial Day, each in our own way, is commemorate together, There is something very powerful about realizing that others are also thinking and feeling something similar at the same time we are.

Twist

Thank you Hondo, and I won’t even pretend the tears in my eyes are from dust.

Sparks

Thank you all for all your posts. My poor words would be a vain attempt to add to what has been written here.

B Woodman

Both class AND style. All too often lacking in today’s leadership, both civilian and military.

SoCal Pir8

I’ve been reading post and post, entry after entry about Memorial Day all day but this, and the responses, has been the best.

T-Bird Henry

Thanks Hondo.

BRAVO ZULU Gen Truscott!

BTW I agree Smitty. One of my biggest problems with this holiday is that too many people forget what it is all about and then think “the bill has been paid.” Sorry folks, no it hasn’t. Hate to break it to you but the bill still needs to be paid every day, month and year. Not just by service personnel or first responders, but by ALL OF US. Every day by taking part in our communities, staying informed as to what is going on in the world and being involved so when the world calls on us we can make the correct decision. We also need to have the clarity of mindset and determination to use our forces with all vigor and alacrity at that time. No restraining “Rules of Engagement” that aid our enemies and are done solely for PR spin. If we are going to hazard our young men and women, then we will allow them all freedom of action to carry out their mission and defend themselves. Our troops are not going to be targets for our enemies because “we don’t want to look bad.” Our troops can and will do their duty and we will honor and love them always. May God continue to bless us with such patriots.

Poetrooper

@6 and @7, Guys, I have to respectfully disagree with you, especially after my experiences yesterday in Chicago where I was attending my niece’s wedding. At the bride’s request, her brother-in-law, my other niece’s husband, a staff sergeant stationed in Alaska and with multiple combat tours, wore his dress green uniform to the ceremony.

Out in public, he was thanked for his service repeatedly, as he also was both prior to and after the ceremony. People showed a genuine interest in him as someone protecting them and theirs. I found it moving and being a Vietnam vet, couldn’t help but be a bit envious at the difference in attitudes of the public now and back in the day when I returned from my ground combat tour.

I believe there are more Americans who care about and appreciate our service and sacrifices than there are who don’t.

Her’s a salute to all of you.

El Marco

thanks for sharing. Another tidbit we do not learn in our public education history classes.