November 6, 1943

81 years ago today, three soldiers who signed book 1, James Nolen, Lemuel Williams, and Paul Myers, who were with the 45th Division Artillery Headquarters, and T/Sgt. Paul C. Waddle, who signed book 4 and was with the 189th Field Artillery Band, were killed when their command post truck was struck by a German shell in Venafro, Italy. Williams, Myers and Waddle, along with three of their comrades, died that day. Nolen died of his wounds three days later. The field report for that day, pictured below, is unusual in its commentary about the sadness of the day.

The soldier who owned book 1 marked his fallen comrades with a star drawn with pencil. Please take a moment to think of these men, who made the ultimate sacrifice.