Italy Part 2
Italy Part 2
The
above photo of The Royal Palace of Caserta was taken in 1944. Many
more pictures of this great palace will follow this one, some were taken
by me in September, 1998, when my wife and I visited my old hospital area.
I have outlined the buildings which housed the 32nd Station Hospital while
we operated here from December, 1943, to September, 1945. To be noted
here are two parking lots for military vehicles, one on the left and the
other to right of the highway (bordered by the large trees). Note
that the vehicles are parked in straight rows, military style. Half
way up the picture on the right I have marked the ends of two runways of
Marcinese airport where bombers like B-17's & B-24's, British Spitfire
fighter planes operated.
Click on image to enlarge We
had a B-17 crash into those trees right next to our hospital buildings.
I was one of many men who helped clean up the crash scene; we found 17
bodies, some badly burned and torn to shreds. We did not have "body
bags" as are available today for this purpose; we had only mattress covers
to hold bodies and no gloves for this job. The smell of burning flesh stayed
with me for weeks after this. I still have the "work sheet" I used
to list the deceased. Many times these aircraft came very close overhead
where we lived and worked. Those Spitfires made an awful racket when
they came over our tent area; sometimes early mornings when many of us
were still asleep.
As I did in Tlemcen, North Africa, I rented two apartments while
I was on duty here with the 32nd Station Hospital. To have had the chance
to spend time off base away from all that was "military" was a great relief
As soon as I was sworn into the Army I was told to send all my civilian
clothing home and was warned not to wear "civies" again from then on while
on active duty. When I was in my own apartment I could do without
the uniform for short times, but I never ventured out on the street.
My friends and I had parties with recordings of big band music and some
Balentine beer, vodka, gin, cognac, and American liquor which helped with
the good times. Military Officers were allowed one 5th of American
whiskey per month. As soon as I learned about this, I contacted many
Officers and nurses and offered to buy their rations if they did not want
them. I soon had a good supply of all kinds of drinking supplies in my
Caserta apartment. This came in very handy if we needed something
from other units. I traded booze for plywood from a local engineer
battalion which we used to build desks, night tables, etc.; I also was
able to trade liquor for wood burning stoves which we placed in some of
our offices and wards. I was able to work up a great relationship
with the boys running the control tower at Marcinese airport near us.
For a bottle of Scotch I could get a ride on military aircraft almost
anywhere. For a case of whiskey I think I could have gotten a B-17
for our use.
|
|
|
© 1999 Willard O. Havemeier. All rights reserved.