Peanut Gallery (Shoot first, then questions)

Re: We still are reading about the soldier who shot an injured man in Iraq

On 3 or 4 June 1944 we had broken out of Anzio and headed for Rome. The day before our Battalion C. O. had been shot thru the head trying to tell me how to run my platoon. “Get up and get going”. I had already lost two scouts killed and was not about to lose more. Because the third platoon was coming around while we laid down a base of fire. The C. O. wanted to be first in Rome. That night we had eliminated the opposition and formed a circle of defense. There was a terrific fire fight that night. Next morning we started out of the Alban Hills and there were dead Germans everywhere. As we proceeded, all of a sudden I heard someone fire a whole clip from their M-1, - It was Sgt Tony Realmuto coming along behind me, and had seen a wounded German rise up to try to kill me. He was going to get himself an officer. — We wore our insignia in plain sight, (not like today when you can’t tell who is what) But thanks to Tony, I am still alive and kicking. -
We did get to Rome that evening, still on foot, and was shelled by our First Armored division, who did not think that foot soldiers could do better than them with all of their vehicles. — The date was June 4, 1944. We were the first army in the history of the world to capture Rome from the south. Not even Hannibal did that. — Did anyone ever get to know that? - For guess what happened on 6 June 1944. We never got the publicity we deserved.

My wife and I still keep in touch with Tony’s daughters on Long Island N. Y. And several others of those who are still alive who were there.

Should our guy have shot that Iraqi — You bet.ter believe it.

Bill McFadden
Coeur d’Alene

DFO: Thank you for your service, Bill.