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By B. N. TIMMONS Times CorrespondentWASHINGTON, March 25.—In the all-out attack on the Fifth Army front now known as the “Battle of Guts/' every single man of a medical unit of the 36th “Texas’* Division saw extended combat action in the front lines, tHe war department reported today.'Seven men of the unit, commanded by Capt. Joe H. Roberts of Irving, even crossed over behind enemy lines in their work of rescuing wounded American soldiers.In the spectacular three-day battle for the Rnpido River in Italy the Texas unit worked night and day to evacuate the wounded and sick from the front lines back to rear based hospitals. Every man in the unit, including cooks, KP’s, and others whose duties usually never carry them to the front, volunteered at one time or another during the bitter fighting to assist the hard-pressed rescue workers.During a silence period requested by the Germans, seven Texans crossed over the rain-swollen river to evacuate American men behind enemy lines.For one hour and 45 minutes while guns on both sides of the river were silent theseUnit Plays Heroic Role in Italylt;►Medical Officer First Jewish CasualtyAllen E. MarkouUx, a former Wichitan and nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pink, 1313 Monroe, was killed Feb. 6 in Italy, the first casualty among a large number of Jewish men from Wichita Falls now in military service.Captain Markowitz was commanding officer of a medical battalion with an Infantry regiment. Letters from him indicated on Feb. 5 that on the next day he was to go to reconnaissance, seeking a new place for his battalion.Tbt young officer spent his boyhood In Wichita Falls. His father was one of the owners of the Baum Gardner store, more than 20 years ago. The family later moved to Fort Worth. Captain Marko-wltx was graduated from the Vniversity of Texas and from Its medical college at Galve*tuii. Prior to enlistment in the army he was practicing medicine In Abilene.He went overseas In 1913 on assignment to North Africa, and was with the 36th division at the invasion of Salerno. He participated also In the Rapido River Bridgehead battle. A child born to Captain and Mrs. Markowitx while the officer was en route to Africa subsequently died. The wife lives In Cleveland, Ohio.Other survivors include two cousins, Phil Pink and Dick Pink, both of this city.der the command of Captain Roberts. one volunteer litter squad was formed by Pvts. Billy Y. Looney of New Boston, Eugene L. McClain of Wheeler and Jordan E. Marable of Wellington. Another stretcher was manned by Pfc. Charles O. Cheyne of Canyon, Pvt. Orville U. Allen of Dodson and Pvt. R. C. Alexander of Colo-men j rado City.worked at tbeir dangvpq* jgb. jja, i “it wqg * lickMi jofa,” mcftikdLooney. “All at once everything was too quiet. It didn’t sound right.”“The mines had me buffaloed,” broke in McCh in. “We knew they were thick as flies on both approaches to the river.”German first aid men, however, met the Texas medicos at the river’s edge and escorted them single file through the mine fields..Wife Cenoao *Miatarr», th«Americans negotiated the river crossing time after time in rubber boats.“It was hard work,” reported Allen. “The patients were rain-soaked and heavy as concrete and we couldn't step six inches out of line for the mines.”Most of the American wounded behind German lines were evacuated before the silence period ended. However, a few were left behind, and the Germans would not permit the Texans to cross again and rescue them.In the meantime, on the American side of the river, ambulance drivers of the Texas unit were working 48 hours without rest. Litter bearers were lucky to get a break every four or five days.When two ambulance drivers collapsed from exhaustion, members of the siation platoon almost immediately volunteered to replace them. “It’s been like that all the way,” reinaiked the captain. “At Salerno, above Mignano, at San Pietro and now here. I never have to ask the boys to volunteer for the more dangerous work. They just go ahead, like that.” Men whose duties ordinarily kept them in the reay lines but who volunteered for front line duty during the battle were First Sgt. James W. Shafer of DeKalb, See MEPtCAU Cue 2, Oak 4 .
Newspaper Details
Wichita Daily Times
Wichita Falls, Texas, US
Sun, Mar 26, 1944
Page 20
Full Page
Clipped by
Floyd K.
NA, 29 Jul 2023
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