Naples, Part Two: The Second Month

Shower of Frogs, William J Stigall, Jr. page 52

Naples, Part Two: The Second Month

After a month Naples began to recover from the Nazis/ occupation/ systematic rape/ and violent departure. Time ran out on the delayed-action bombs. Immediate mass starvation was halted. The electric and water systems were put in order. Civilian transportation/ sewage disposat and telephone exchanges were repaired. The harbor was miraculously cleared. Air raids were infrequent and not seriously destructive. The war moved fifty miles to the north. Pulsating life and a little gaiety returned to Naples. Shops and restaurants found some supplies with which to operate. Excursions to the ancient city of Pompeii and the storied Isle of Capri were offered soldiers. Refugees/ such as the Puccini lover/ returned to the city. Something was done about former Fascisti. Fraternization took over. The medics set up round-the-clock prophylactic stations. We began training again. A few companies left the division and joined the Fifth Army on the Volturno River. Officers requested jeeps and jeep drivers to get them to and from their evening dates with nurses. The celebrated and magnificent Neapolitan weather turned wet/ cold/ and dark. Uk for me/ deteriorated into disappointment. After twenty months of army life/I had seen about one week of socalled combat. Bitterness and sourness seeped into my life/ and there were long second thoughts about my place in the army/ the effort of the United States in the war/ the problem of loneliness/ the mental and emotional confusion caused by the contrasting nature of the Neapolitans/ and the possible effect on all of us of the ugliness/ destruction/ dirt/ filth/ decay/ and stagnation.

The Eighty-second Division was given the job of patrolling the city of Naples, first great city to fall to the Allies. After a month we were able to turn this job over to the civilians and return to training. I was particularly irritated because of this. The few days of combat