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By Deborah Turner
Fort Campbell's illustrious honor
guard prepares to post the colors in honor and
respect of members of the 30th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Infantry Division Anti-Tank Company who have
died since the unit first came together in 1942. |
From
the solemn steps of Fort Campbell soldiers as the honor
guard posted the colors in a ceremony to pay homage to
departed comrades, to the sounds of laughter and joy in
reuniting, to the pain of saying goodbye until next
year, it was a marvelous weekend for members of the 30th
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division Anti-Tank
Company who gathered in McKenzie for their 15th Annual
Reunion.
Memorial Ceremony
The former fighting men, along with wives and adult
children, filtered into the First United Methodist
Church on Friday at 2:00 p.m. for a memorial service
honoring those of their ranks who were lost in the past
year. Each of the soldiers entering the sanctuary was
well advanced in years, ranging in age from their
late-seventies to late-eighties. They had come together
for the first time 60 years ago, leaving the arms of
their parents and sweethearts to learn firsthand the
truth of the proverb, "there is a friend who sticks
closer than a brother."
As the ceremony began, when the question was asked,
"Since we last met, does the secretary have a report of
the members who have passed on to that eternal life of
glory?", the answer came, "I wish to report all our
departed comrades are present - present in our memory
and friendship of their surviving comrades."
The names of twelve departed souls were read, evoking
the response of President Edward Gorecki of Chicago,
Illinois, who firmly answered, "Present," as each name
was called, reflecting the eternal bond the men wrought
on the battlefield and carried forward throughout their
lives.
Men who fought in ten campaigns during World War II came
together last week to celebrate the brotherhood that has
bound them for 60 years. "We protected each other;
that's why we're so close - closer than brothers,"
said Frank Mancusco of New Orleans. |
Representing
"the epic story of the blue and white division in five
wars", a blue flower, placed upon the altar in the name
of those who shared the horror of the battlefield,
symbolized the supreme sacrifice and loyalty
demonstrated by the comrades-in-arms to a beloved
nation; a white flower, placed in the name of mothers,
wives, sisters and children of the departed, symbolized
love; and finally, a red flower was placed in the names
of departed comrades.
"Through their courage and their blood, they have
bequeathed a precious inheritance to us, the living,
that our nation for which we and they fought shall not
perish from this earth," read Fort Campbell Chaplain
Lamb.
The group joined in singing "Let There Be Peace on
Earth" followed by the National Anthem and Taps,
movingly performed by a member of the Fort Campbell
Honor Guard.
Local World War II hero Vernon Bobo of Trezevant
attended the ceremony to honor the men who, like him,
had "fought the good fight." The men of the Third
Division enjoyed welcoming him into their midst. Greatly
missed at the ceremony was the host of this year's
reunion, Ben Gaines, Sr., as comrades looked forward to
his company later that evening.
Ben's lovely wife, Ludie; his vivacious daughter,
Pattie; and namesake Ben, Jr. were impeccable in
accepting the honor of hosting the gathering that
resumed at the Gaines home at 5:00 p.m. with a barbecue
supper.
Friday Evening Get-Together
Mr. William Norton of Hyde Park,
New York greets reunion host Ben Gaines, Sr. of
McKenzie, Tennessee. |
The
evening was an exciting blend of personalities and
accents from across the nation as members representing
23 states enjoyed good food and good conversation,
catching up on the previous year and recalling all the
years in between since the original members of the unit
set foot on the proving grounds of North Africa in 1942.
Other members joined the anti-tank company as
replacements for lives lost in battles in ten campaigns
that took the men into North Africa, Tunisia, Sicily,
Southern Italy, Anzio Beachhead, Southern France,
Germany and Austria.
Ben Gaines, Sr. was one of the original members of the
unit. Captain Kenneth Robb of San Antonio, the men's
former and current leader, sat with Ben Saturday evening
as he recalled one morning when Ben found himself
surrounded by gunfire.
"Ben was a good soldier," he began. "He was in the
kitchen and the kitchen was always in the rear. We had
to get the food to the soldiers twice a day if we could
and we took them breakfast in the dark in the morning
and fed them their evening meal after dark at night."
Quite often, he said, Ben carried the food to his fellow
soldiers. One morning, Ben pulled just behind the front
lines with food for the morning meal, unaware the
Germans had infiltrated the line during the night.
"As soon as it got just a little daylight," Captain Robb
continued, "They were spotted and the men started
shooting at them. Ben was in the draw; they were hitting
all around Ben and Ben of course was hollering, 'Don't
shoot! Don't shoot!'"
Ben returned to the rear escorting the German prisoners
to the delight of Captain Robb. "We always kidded him,
'What was he doing fighting and bringing in soldiers
when he was supposed to be feeding the men!'" Captain
Robb laughed.
Captain Robb himself was wounded on Anzio before
becoming the company commander, replacing the former
commander who had been killed in battle. A compassionate
man whose easy-going manner reflects the closeness of
his relationship with the men, he says, "We were all in
the same boat. I depended upon the men to keep us all
alive and did my best to be sure I did what I was
supposed to do. In '45 we won the war and this many
fellas made it through and stayed alive; their longevity
has been the spice of my life."
Many didn't return. "We lost a lot of men," said Jim
Montague of Clio, Michigan. "We lost a lot of men at
Anzio. As far as I know they're all still buried there."
He recalled Ben had been able to return to Italy to
search for their lost members among the graves at the
Beach Head War Cemetery in Anzio.
Handsome Ransom (Attilio Rancilio) of St. Louis,
Missouri said he didn't think he was going to come home
alive, a sentiment shared by many. Frank Mancuso of New
Orleans explained the men's passion for gathering each
year, battling the effects of their advancing years for
another chance to come together, "We protected each
other; that's why we're so close - closer than
brothers."
Mr. A.N. Stuart of Madison, Mississippi discovered the
depth of that commitment some 60 years ago after he was
wounded when a piece of shrapnel caught him behind the
knee. He fell, unable to run with the rest of the unit
to cover and safety. He lay where he had fallen a few
minutes before crawling to the bank of a hedgerow. He
stopped a passing Ranger who was running past and asked
him to pull him from the bank. Though the Ranger
complied, he soon advised Stuart, "I've gotta go, there
ain't no use in both of us getting killed."
Stuart crawled some 50-70 feet to a patch of honeysuckle
where he scratched out a hiding place. In the meantime,
the Ranger found Stuart's unit and advised the men he
was helpless to join them. "Two of my friends came back
and picked me up," Stuart said thankfully, describing
how they used their arms to fashion a seat for him
between them. They evacuated some two to three hundred
yards before meeting a medical team who could care for
Stuart.
"I just knew the Germans were going to shoot us in the
back," he recalled, "Anybody who went overseas (in World
War II) is fortunate to be back."
"Nobody can comprehend how scared you are (in battle),"
agreed Walter Sweeney of Industry, Pennsylvania, who was
attending his first reunion.
Captain Kenneth Robb (left) honored the Gaines family
with the presentation of a plaque in gratitude of their
"Christian love and fellowships at all our reunions,
1988-2002." Seated is Ben Gaines, Sr. with wife Ludie
behind him and daughter Pattie (right). |
Awards
were presented to Rita and Bob Downing for producing the
group's quarterly newsletters; to Jim Friend for acting
as newspaper editor and publisher and for research; to
Edward Gorecki and his wife Lillian for participating as
President for the past four years; and to Pattie Kriebel
for her "untiring help" in hosting the reunions.
In appreciation of their service as hosts for three of
the 15 reunions, Ben and Ludie were presented with a
framed photograph of the group's first reunion that was
held at the Gaines' home. The couple also received a
plaque for their "Generosity, guidance, Christian love
and fellowship at all our reunions, 1988 - 2002."
Captain Robb was honored for his continuous devotion to
the group. "He's been with us all the way through," it
was stated. In a show of appreciation, Ben, Jr. led the
group in a rousing chorus of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow."
Each soldier was an important part of the history of the
United States, brave testaments to the price and value
of freedom. They endured months and years of mud, rain,
snow and cold to keep the world safe for their loved
ones. These are the men recognized as America's
"Greatest Generation."
The group met again on Saturday for a trip to Paris
Landing and an evening at the Gaines' where they helped
the couple who fell in love at the age of 13 celebrate
their 60th wedding anniversary.
"We'll see you next year, God willing," was the
departing farewell as friends prepared to return to
homes near and far. Next year's reunion is scheduled to
be held in Jackson, Mississippi. |
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