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From Texas to Rome: Fighting World War II and the Italian Campaign with the 36th Infantry Division
Major General Fred Walker assumed command of the Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division in September 1941. He led it for the next 34 months through training, overseas deployment, and World War II’s horrific Italian campaign. Throughout, Walker kept a daily journal in which he recorded his experiences on and off the battlefield. The diary was originally published in a limited run in 1969 and has been out of print for decades. Thanks to the efforts of the Texas Military Forces Museum (the official museum of the Texas National Guard), Walker’s remarkable and very rare memoir is available once more in From Texas to Fighting World War II and the Italian Campaign with the 36th Infantry Division .
General Walker’s wartime journal provides a refreshingly candid version of some of World War II’s most important battles, as well as a frank appraisal of key figures in the Allied high command and their military operations. Walker’s 36th Infantry Division participated in the battle to secure the Salerno beachhead and, amid horrible weather conditions, waged a bloody struggle up the Italian boot against determined German troops dug into mountain strongholds. The battles of San Pietro and Monte Cassino, the controversial attempt to cross the Rapido River, and the break out from Anzio come to life as Walker relates the difficulties he faced combating not only the Germans, but Lieutenant General Mark Clark and the Allied high command.
This unique and thoroughly gripping account puts readers at General Walker’s side as he argues against the disastrous Rapido operation, worries about his men fighting in Italy’s bitter conditions, and fights to overcome his superior’s doubts to plan and execute the daring attack on Monte Artemisio, which broke the Anzio stalemate and landed the Allies in Rome four days later.
This special 75th Anniversary of World War II reprint includes a guest Preface by award-winning author Jeffrey Wm. Hunt, Director of the Texas Military Forces Museum. From Texas to Rome is essential reading for anyone interested in the realities of the U.S. Army high command during World War II, and the truth about what happened at Salerno, the Rapido, and Anzio.
General Walker’s wartime journal provides a refreshingly candid version of some of World War II’s most important battles, as well as a frank appraisal of key figures in the Allied high command and their military operations. Walker’s 36th Infantry Division participated in the battle to secure the Salerno beachhead and, amid horrible weather conditions, waged a bloody struggle up the Italian boot against determined German troops dug into mountain strongholds. The battles of San Pietro and Monte Cassino, the controversial attempt to cross the Rapido River, and the break out from Anzio come to life as Walker relates the difficulties he faced combating not only the Germans, but Lieutenant General Mark Clark and the Allied high command.
This unique and thoroughly gripping account puts readers at General Walker’s side as he argues against the disastrous Rapido operation, worries about his men fighting in Italy’s bitter conditions, and fights to overcome his superior’s doubts to plan and execute the daring attack on Monte Artemisio, which broke the Anzio stalemate and landed the Allies in Rome four days later.
This special 75th Anniversary of World War II reprint includes a guest Preface by award-winning author Jeffrey Wm. Hunt, Director of the Texas Military Forces Museum. From Texas to Rome is essential reading for anyone interested in the realities of the U.S. Army high command during World War II, and the truth about what happened at Salerno, the Rapido, and Anzio.
- GenresWorld War II
456 pages, Paperback
Published December 31, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 2, 2024
Fascinating perspective as this is the General’s journal when he commanded the US 36th Infantry division as opposed to the usual historical narrative, or purple prose.
Ohio boy Fred Walker joined the Texas National Guard unit in 1941 with the war looming for the US he knew there was a lot of training to do. He was regular Army with much experience in WW1. US officer experience in WW1 is not often covered as a factor in their WW2 stories, so this was a welcome angle.
One of his challenges was to overcome other officers’ and regular Army units’ condescending and outright sneering, attitudes toward National Guard units.
Being a General of a division isn’t usually about making combat decisions, it’s a lot of being a business manager, father, mother, a lot of politicking and a number of other things that make the job a lot more than leading the charge. One of the primary causes of casualties during training was soldiers in car accidents.
When the this Texas division, T-patchers, does make it into the war, they are first to land on the continent in Italy, and have a hard slog through the boot, being the division in the San Pietro and Rapido River battles.
All great stuff, I’d love to read some more Italian campaign books and see their perspective on General Walker.
—
I purchased this book at Camp Mabry, home of the Texas Guard, which also hosts the Texas Military Museum. By chance, I got to speak with Jeff Hunt, who is the director of the museum and wrote the Foreword to this 2021 edition. A few insights I learned :
- the book was originally published in 1969. To get a reprint, the museum had to promise the publisher a certain number of copies, which they managed by getting the Army to purchase a number
- Jeff —hand typed - the whole book into digital format, that’s dedication !
- When distributed to the current Army officers, they particularly liked the training chapters, the comments being - there were knucklehead soldiers then, just like now !
Ohio boy Fred Walker joined the Texas National Guard unit in 1941 with the war looming for the US he knew there was a lot of training to do. He was regular Army with much experience in WW1. US officer experience in WW1 is not often covered as a factor in their WW2 stories, so this was a welcome angle.
One of his challenges was to overcome other officers’ and regular Army units’ condescending and outright sneering, attitudes toward National Guard units.
Being a General of a division isn’t usually about making combat decisions, it’s a lot of being a business manager, father, mother, a lot of politicking and a number of other things that make the job a lot more than leading the charge. One of the primary causes of casualties during training was soldiers in car accidents.
When the this Texas division, T-patchers, does make it into the war, they are first to land on the continent in Italy, and have a hard slog through the boot, being the division in the San Pietro and Rapido River battles.
All great stuff, I’d love to read some more Italian campaign books and see their perspective on General Walker.
—
I purchased this book at Camp Mabry, home of the Texas Guard, which also hosts the Texas Military Museum. By chance, I got to speak with Jeff Hunt, who is the director of the museum and wrote the Foreword to this 2021 edition. A few insights I learned :
- the book was originally published in 1969. To get a reprint, the museum had to promise the publisher a certain number of copies, which they managed by getting the Army to purchase a number
- Jeff —hand typed - the whole book into digital format, that’s dedication !
- When distributed to the current Army officers, they particularly liked the training chapters, the comments being - there were knucklehead soldiers then, just like now !
February 19, 2021
Author Fred L. Walker published the book “From Texas to Rome: Fighting World War II and the Italian Campaign with the 36th Infantry Division” in 2020 (originally published in 1969). This is his only publication.
I received a copy of this book for being a Docent at the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin, Texas. The Museum documents the history of Texas voluntary military forces. In particular, it covers the Texas National Guard.
When activated in WWI and WWII the Texas National Guard became the 36th Infantry Division. A large part of the Museum is dedicated to the story of the 36th Infantry Division. Major General Walker commanded the 36th from September 1941 to July 1944. I categorize this book as ‘PG’ because of violence.
General Walker kept a journal during his time with the 36th. His journal evolved into this book. Many of the entries deal with the day-to-day minutia of command. Others assess the officers of the 36th as well as those of the higher level of command. As I have read elsewhere, Walker did not think a lot of Lieutenant General Clark. Clark was the commander of the United States Fifth Army of which the 36th was assigned.
The training of the 36th takes up a large part of the book. Walker does not begin to address combat operations until page 211.
I enjoyed the 14 hours I spent reading this 456-page WWII history. The book was a little slow at times but overall it was very readable. I do like the selected cover art. I give this book a 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received a copy of this book for being a Docent at the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin, Texas. The Museum documents the history of Texas voluntary military forces. In particular, it covers the Texas National Guard.
When activated in WWI and WWII the Texas National Guard became the 36th Infantry Division. A large part of the Museum is dedicated to the story of the 36th Infantry Division. Major General Walker commanded the 36th from September 1941 to July 1944. I categorize this book as ‘PG’ because of violence.
General Walker kept a journal during his time with the 36th. His journal evolved into this book. Many of the entries deal with the day-to-day minutia of command. Others assess the officers of the 36th as well as those of the higher level of command. As I have read elsewhere, Walker did not think a lot of Lieutenant General Clark. Clark was the commander of the United States Fifth Army of which the 36th was assigned.
The training of the 36th takes up a large part of the book. Walker does not begin to address combat operations until page 211.
I enjoyed the 14 hours I spent reading this 456-page WWII history. The book was a little slow at times but overall it was very readable. I do like the selected cover art. I give this book a 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
July 10, 2023
Great Autobiography about the Commanding Officer of the 36th Infantry Division (Texas National Guard). Probably the most honest book about command and the men who served above Walker. He was made the scapegoat for the failed Rapido River disaster. After the war the 36th Division Association sued General Mark Clark over the disaster. I believe General Fred Walker is under appreciated because of the Army trying to cover up the disaster in Italy.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews