Captain Henry T Waskow Plaque
Details:
The marker is located on the far side of the square (piazza) under the flagpoles adjacent to the town memorial to the dead of World War 2.
Plaque
A white metal plaque mounted on a metal stand.
The plaque remembers Captain Henry Thomas Waskow who commanded Company B, 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment. Captain Waskow was killed on December 14, 1943, in fighting on the peak of Sammucro (1205 meters) during the battle of San Pietro. Captain Waskow, who was loved by his troops, was remembered by the famous US War Correspondent Ernie Pyle, who wrote the article “The Death of Captain Waskow”. The article, one of Pyle’s most famous, begins as such: “ AT THE FRONT LINES IN ITALY, January 10, 1944- In this war I have known a lot of officers who were loved and respected by the soldiers under them. But never have I crossed the trail of any man as beloved as Capt. Henry T Waskow, of Belton, Texas.
Monument Text:
The text is written in Italian with the symbols of the 36thDivision; The legion of Merit medal and a US Army helmet on top. Underneath the writing is the symbol of San Pietro Infone
The Text reads in Italian:
Questa stele di ferro ricorda un capitano della 36a Divisione Texas
Il Cap. Henry Thomas Waskowdel Texas
143 Reggimento, 1 Battaglione, Compagnia B
Caduto su Monte Sammucro durante la battaglia di San Pietro Infine.
La sua infanzia, vissuta in una Famiglia povera, lo porto’ a comprendere le umane
Sofferenze dei giovani ragazzi americani durante le azioni di combattimento da Salerno
Fino alla Winter Line. Per queste sue doti fu amato da tutti I soui soldati, che si
Disperanono quando, la sera del 14 Dicembre, lo vedero cadere sotto loro occhi per un colpo di mortaio. Le gesta del Capitano Waskow non rimasero inosservate e venne
Insignito della sesta tra le alte decorazioni americane,
laLegion of Merit
conferita a tutti gli alleati che ebbero un servizio meritovole. La stess fu data
al Gen. Neozelandese Bernard Freyberg al Gen. Polacco Wladyslaw Anders ed al Gen. Umberto Utili, commandante del Corpo Italiano di Liberazione.
The writing under the Symbol of the town reads:
Nel Settantatreesimo anniversario
Il comune di San Pietro Infine, L’ass LI Btg Bersaglieri AUC “Montelungo 1943”
L’ass Winter Line Venafro, l’Hotel Rocca di Cassino ed il Museo Historicus di Caspoli
Ricordano il valore di questo Capitano nella Guerra di liberazione
Translation in English:
This metal plaque is in the memory of a captain of the 36th Division Texas
Capt. Henry Thomas Waskow of Texas
143rdRegiment, 1stBattalion, B Company
Who fell on Mont Sammurco during the battle of San Pietro Infine.
In his youth he lived in poverty which allowed his to understand the suffering of the young American boys during combat actions from Salerno to the Winter Line.
For these qualities, he was loved by his men who despaired when before them, they saw him fall due to a mortar round. Captian Waskow’s deeds did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the sixth most important American decoration
TheLegion of Merit
That was also awarded to allies for meritorious service. The same award was given to the New Zealand General Bernard Freyberg to the Polish General Wladyslaw Anders and to General Umberto Utili, the commander of the Italian Liberation Corps.
The Translation of the writing under the town symbol:
On the 73rdAnniversary
The town of San Pietro infine, the Association of the Bersaglieri Battalion “Montelungo 1943”, The Winter Line Association, the Hotle Rocca of Cassino, and the Historicus museum of Caspoli
Remember the valor of this captain during the war of liberation.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division
143rd Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
36th Infantry Division
5th Army
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Cassino
Italian Campaign
Operation Raincoat
Other images :