The Army Hour — 1944
MG Fred L. Walker, new
Commandant of The Infantry School addressed a nationwide audience on THE ARMY HOUR
reporting on his service as commanding general of the 36th Infantry Division during the
Italian campaign.
General Walker outlined the
varied terrain and weather conditions which the men of the 36th faced and paid tribute to
the various arms and services that made up the division. He also said that he had observed
a material lowering of the morale and fighting qualifications of the German soldier since
last Winter, noting that recent captives have been willing to talk freely and admit they
have lost the war.
General Walker paid high tribute
to the Infantry soldiers of his Division and said that, "The roads into Berlin and
Tokyo will be carved by the bayonet of the Doughboy."
Following is the text of his
address on THE ARMY HOUR:
"I am proud to have served
with the men of the 36th Division — a division of many heroes. I served with the men
of the 36th from the landing at Salerno on September 9th 1943 to June 25th of this year
(1944). The division had reached a point approximately twenty miles south of Livorno.
"During this period, the
Division was engaged in many varied types of operations. Its landing at Salerno was
opposed by German forces which were awaiting on the beaches for the American troops to
land.
"Later, the Division was
assigned to a mountain sector which required it to operate on mountains as high as 4,000
feet, where there were no roads or trails. Following the mountain operations, the Division
was assigned the mission of crossing a river (Rapido) which formed the principal obstacle
of German organized position. Later it made an attack to envelope Cassino and withstood
one of the most severe German counter-attacks that was made in that sector. Finally the
Division was sent to the Anzio beachhead where it conducted an infiltration and
envelopment maneuver which broke their defenses east of Rome. It then pursued the
retreating German forces through the city of Rome and beyond. The pursuit covered 240 road
miles during which some 5,000 German prisoners were captured.
"I would like to tell you
all the men of the 36th Division — of our battalions of tanks and tank destroyers,
our battalions of anti-aircraft artillery and chemical troops. Too much praise cannot be
heaped on the signal and cavalry and engineer troops. And I do not recall a single case in
which any German counterattack was made in the sector of the 36th without being blasted by
artillery fire. The Infantry of the Division is very proud of’ its artillery support
and always speaks enthusiastically about it.
"And that brings us to the
doughboy — the Infantryman. A lot has been said these last months about these
courageous fights and not one word of it is exaggeration. I have seen Doughboys fight and
I have seen them slogging along mile after mile, winning yard by yard, foot by foot . . .
and I know there is no greater soldier.
"You know the deeds of some
of the 36th more publicized heroes such as Sergeants Charles (Commando) Kelly and James
Logan and Private William J. Crawford who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, and
Sergeant Manuel Gonzales who now wears the Distinguished Service Cross. But the Division
has thousands of other heroes — real infantrymen — who have proved that
they’re the kind of men you’re proud to soldier with.
"The bitterest fighting and
the highest casualties go to the infantry. There are many who believe that bombing from
the air can destroy defensive positions especially towns and pillboxes. That is true to
some extent, but Cassino remained in the hands of the Germans even after it had been
completely destroyed by our howitzers and our bombers.
"Infantry is the backbone of
an attacking army and the roads into Berlin and Tokyo will be carved by the bayonet of the
Doughboy.
"I have observed our
American soldiers in battle on the Italian front over a period of some ten months, and I
am convinced our soldiers are better than those of the Germans. They are more cheerful,
more confident, better marksmen. After having seen our soldiers going through the
hardships of last winter, during which they were subject to almost continual rains, mud,
cold rations and continual artillery and mortar fire, and maintaining throughout a
cheerfulness far superior to that of the enemy, I feel that they care capable of being the
best soldiers in the world.
"At the same time, I have
noticed a material lowering of the morale and fighting qualifications of the German
soldier since last December. Prisoners taken recently have been willing to talk freely.
They admit that they have lost the war. In most instances, they are delighted to be
captured and to be out of the war. This condition is general throughout Italy.
"But let there be no mistake
. . . the enemy is still fighting fiercely on all fronts. American men are still dying as
they have been dying every hour of every day and every night since Pearl Harbor.
"To those who believe the
war is almost won, I say this: Ask the Doughboy in the foxhole if he thinks the war is
over.
He’ll tell you the end is
not yet in sight . . . And remember this, he’s the man who ought to know . . . for
he’s the man nearest the enemy. |
