Comments on: Dick Tregaskis’s Diaries http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sun, 19 May 2013 02:58:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-186894 Rob Citino Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:20:30 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-186894 Frank's book is a good look at the campaign--probably the best book currently out there. Frank's book is a good look at the campaign–probably the best book currently out there.

]]> By: Izzy Matos http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-186280 Izzy Matos Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:12:12 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-186280 Seeing as how I've returned to the WWII fold academically I figured it was time to chime in here. I think there's a lot to what Luke commented on regarding the public images of Guadalcanal and the fighting in Italy. Having recently reread Richard Frank's work on Guadalcanal I can say that that particular campaign was sold, even at the time, as the decisive point of conflict in the Pacific, with the "heroic" 1st Marine Division and the Cactus Airforce beating back Tojo's jungle-hardened hordes. Italy on the other hand, as has been mentioned already, was more of a methodical slugfest up the peninsula. And of course the "climax" of the Italian campaign, the capture of Rome, was overshadowed by the Normandy landings. Seeing as how I've returned to the WWII fold academically I figured it was time to chime in here. I think there's a lot to what Luke commented on regarding the public images of Guadalcanal and the fighting in Italy. Having recently reread Richard Frank's work on Guadalcanal I can say that that particular campaign was sold, even at the time, as the decisive point of conflict in the Pacific, with the "heroic" 1st Marine Division and the Cactus Airforce beating back Tojo's jungle-hardened hordes. Italy on the other hand, as has been mentioned already, was more of a methodical slugfest up the peninsula. And of course the "climax" of the Italian campaign, the capture of Rome, was overshadowed by the Normandy landings.

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-185960 Rob Citino Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:41:52 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-185960 Interesting point, Dave T! Interesting point, Dave T!

]]> By: Dave T http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-185939 Dave T Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:20:45 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-185939 Luke - I think the Italian campaign lacked coverage/interest for two reasons. First, it was a slugfest with little movement or flash. Too much like the trench warfare of WWI. Second and more importantly, there was not a comfortable locale for the reporters. In other words, no London. This reason, at least to me, explains why everyone thinks the 8th AF was the only unit bombing Germany. I am NOT blaming the 8th. By the time a comfortable locale was liberated (Rome), D-day occurred two days later and the focus was on the drive across France. Luke – I think the Italian campaign lacked coverage/interest for two reasons. First, it was a slugfest with little movement or flash. Too much like the trench warfare of WWI.

Second and more importantly, there was not a comfortable locale for the reporters. In other words, no London. This reason, at least to me, explains why everyone thinks the 8th AF was the only unit bombing Germany. I am NOT blaming the 8th. By the time a comfortable locale was liberated (Rome), D-day occurred two days later and the focus was on the drive across France.

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-184975 Rob Citino Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:04:19 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-184975 All good questions, Luke! I'm not sure about how most Americans viewed the Mediterranean campaign at the time. Certailnay historians have called it importance and strategic sense into question. But among the U.S. public at large AT THE TIME, I'm not sure we would have seen the same level of questioning. All good questions, Luke! I'm not sure about how most Americans viewed the Mediterranean campaign at the time. Certailnay historians have called it importance and strategic sense into question. But among the U.S. public at large AT THE TIME, I'm not sure we would have seen the same level of questioning.

]]> By: Luke Truxal http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-184607 Luke Truxal Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:02:05 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-184607 Dr. Citino do you think that maybe the reason that Tregaskis's diary on the Sicilian and Italian campaigns never received the attention that his diary on Guadalcanal received is due to the public image of Italy and Sicily? When we hear of Guadalcanal I think we have this picture of the Marines fighting the Japanese in a do or die struggle for a small island in the Pacific. Sicily and Italy on the other hand presents this image of either Patton slapping a soldier or the Allies beating up on the Italians. Do you think the Italian campaign doesn't get the coverage it deserves because it is the Italian campaign and not the liberation of France? Could that have been part of the reason that Americans weren't attracted to his second war diary? Sorry for the massive amount of questions. Dr. Citino do you think that maybe the reason that Tregaskis's diary on the Sicilian and Italian campaigns never received the attention that his diary on Guadalcanal received is due to the public image of Italy and Sicily? When we hear of Guadalcanal I think we have this picture of the Marines fighting the Japanese in a do or die struggle for a small island in the Pacific. Sicily and Italy on the other hand presents this image of either Patton slapping a soldier or the Allies beating up on the Italians. Do you think the Italian campaign doesn't get the coverage it deserves because it is the Italian campaign and not the liberation of France? Could that have been part of the reason that Americans weren't attracted to his second war diary? Sorry for the massive amount of questions.

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-184445 Rob Citino Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:40:48 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-184445 Cap'n--I'll have to check out "WWII in HD"--that's about the fifth time someone's told me something interesting about it! Cap'n–I'll have to check out "WWII in HD"–that's about the fifth time someone's told me something interesting about it!

]]> By: Cap'n Dave http://www.historynet.com/dick-tregaskis%e2%80%99s-diaries.htm#comment-184432 Cap'n Dave Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:09:12 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681825#comment-184432 Tregaskis's Story is depicted well in the recent History Channel series "WWII in HD" - in what looks like the channel's short-lived return to history. It is interesting to note that the more popular history is the story of National triumph over an enemy rather than the personal triumph over adversity. It seems we are doing slightly better at remembering our injured soldiers today. Tregaskis's Story is depicted well in the recent History Channel series "WWII in HD" – in what looks like the channel's short-lived return to history.

It is interesting to note that the more popular history is the story of National triumph over an enemy rather than the personal triumph over adversity. It seems we are doing slightly better at remembering our injured soldiers today.

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