The T-Patcher, November 1988 Page: 2
24 p. : ill.View a full description of this periodical.
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Page 2 - T-Patcher Newsletter - Nov. 1988
"There it is.. . "
Continued from Page 2
light house standing above the Sand Dunes and some
800 hundred to a thousand yards inland parallel to the
beach was a Railroad and a Highway we called HWY 18.
The town consisted of four or five buildings near the
Railroad Station and open pastures or cultivated land
between the Beach and the Mountains.
The City of Paestum is a very quaint City. Like most of
Italy it has the appearance of quick growth. You see a
four-story Hotel on the corner of a block and a motorcy-
cle shop across the street or a Ladies Fashion Shoppe
and a Furniture Repair occupying the same building but
that is what makes it Italy. A City Square is in a place
that is respected by all as an area for relaxation or a
family gathering, or a meeting for a committee or a
special area for a special purpose. So in Paestum in the
City Square, THERE IT IS... About 300 yards from
where the tide ebbs and flows against the sand; not far
from where we came ashore.
The sand dunes are not there now, but the ancient
light house is about 150 yards away. The Mountains we
could see to the East are still overshadowing the Area
and as you walk along the street between the Hotel and
the City Square you look back and, THERE IT IS... Stan-
ding erect in its special place in the Square. Walk-ways
pass on two sides that display the inscriptions,
"Dedicated To Those Men Who Fought and Died for
Freedom." The upper part of the Square was designed to
best display the Memorial. THERE IT IS... Magnificent,
Elegant, Permanently set in a secluded place to desig-
nate its purpose. Where the Townspeople are proud to
have it. And it appears that it has been there a long time.
It is where it should be and as you observe it you get the
feeling it actually belongs there. Yes, THERE IT IS.
Just a few yards from where I found the body of a
young man Second Lieutenant Hauck, an officer in F
Company. I didn't know much about Lt. Hauck, had only
known him a short time; I noticed that he wore a Rosary
around his neck with his dog tags. His faith was dif-
ferent to mine, but I liked the man and I stooped to turn
his body to a more comfortable position and then I
noticed another - it was Sgt. Napper. I had attended
school with Napper. Weldon grew up on an East Texas
farm and we knew the same hardships before induction
so I knew Weldon real well. It hurts to find men of my
own Unit, my men, as the first casualties on the Beach,but that is the way it was..
So when we planned the Ceremony for the dedication
of the Memorial, the Italians wanted the Monument
dedicated with a Mass and before any wreaths or
flowers were placed they wanted it blessed by the
Priest. We arranged to use an all faith ceremony, and
rightly so because all faiths fought for the same cause.Ir
4'4Strike up the band!
It was a very nice ceremony with the Texas National
Guard Band playing ceremonial music and the Colors in
place with Old Glory and Division Colors on one side and
the Union Jack and the Italian Colors on the other. The
Italian Citizens Liberation Band led the Procession in to
the Square with the Italian Caballero Band followed by
both British and American Troopers that took their
places in the Square.
As the music stopped, the Priest held his Mass and at
the end I gave the Invocation followed by the Mayor's
welcome and such other Providence Officials, then the
Dedicatory Address and the Monument was Unveiled.. .
TAPS was sounded, followed by one minute of serenity,
then wreaths of the 36th Division, Italian and British
were placed at the base. Seven Ladies laid floral gifts
and then the Colors retired as the Band resumed
ceremonial music. Many Italians in attendance placed
flowers as a Courtesy to the Thirty-Sixth Division.Yes, THERE IT IS... After all these years of planning,
raising funds, working schemes for time designations
and two failures before the Monument is in place...
THERE IT IS.
A permanent stone, a magnificent monument, a gift of
love, a reminder that a price was paid to establish
freedom, courage, faith and love; now all can see...
THERE IT IS.Robert "BOB" Nowell
1220 Clover Lane
Longview TX 75602i
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36th Infantry Division Association. The T-Patcher, November 1988, periodical, November 1988; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1633199/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas Military Forces Museum.