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Crossing the Rapido
By
Duane Schultz
A Tragedy of World
War II
My cousin didn’t enjoy much of 1944. He tried to get across
the Garigliano river and protect the left flank of the US 36 Division’s attack
across the Rapido river. His regiment, The Queens, didn’t make it – and neither
did he. He was killed on January 18 1944, he was just 24. Lance Sgt. Ian S. A. Smith
lies with 2048 of his comrades at Minturno War Cemetery. They were not able to
help US 36 Div – but they tried.
‘Crossing The Rapido’ is the story of thousands more young
men who perished crossing another river of blood four miles away called the
Rapido. It is a study in ineptitude, another manifestation of that quotation
from the Crimea: ‘lions being led by donkeys’, only in this case they were not
only Equus asinus, but egotistical to boot.
Duane Schultz has written a masterpiece. His appreciation of
the plight of front line soldiers is remarkable. His assessment of the
commanding generals mirrors precisely views and opinions that would have been
held by the fighting men at the time. This is a short book, but nothing is lost
to its concision. Indeed, voluminous works on the same subject often miss the
nub of this tragic event.
Schultz’ skill is in his ability to accurately describe
appalling scenes and situations without deadening ones brain. Too often war
chroniclers pile one atrocity upon another until one is impervious to the human
tragedy. Not so Duane Schultz. Reading ‘Crossing The Rapido’ is akin to an 18th
century spectator observing a Napoleonic battle from an adjacent hill.
My only complaint – not so much a complaint more an
observation, is the author’s failure to expose General Mark Clark completely.
He does a good job making us aware of Clark’s incompetence as far as it goes,
but I would have liked to hear him mention the opportunity that was lost in not
cutting off the retreating Germans. Instead, Clark chose to ‘grand-stand’ in
Rome thereby lengthening the war. It can be argued with some efficacy, that if Clark
had kept his eye on the ‘War’ ball, and off his own image, there probably would
not have been the ‘Battle of the Bulge’. How many men ultimately died because
General Mark Clark needed to act out his Caesarian phantasy?
The Italian campaign does not get the coverage that it
deserves. That is probably because it was a fabricated political endeavor and
all sorts of holes can be shot in its justification. But the fact remains that
our young men fought honorably and too many died horribly, and whatever is said
or done with the ‘donkey-generals’, we cannot bring them back.
Duane Shultz has paid an enormous tribute to the fallen
heroes as well as the damaged victims that survived. His book should be read by
everyone who realizes that by their sacrifice we can enjoy the freedom they won
for us.
500 words
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