Brownwood in Brown County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
LTC John S Palmer Jr
Rapido River
Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024
1. LTC John S Palmer Jr Marker
Inscription.
LTC John S Palmer Jr. Rapido River. Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) John (Jake) Spearman Palmer Jr was born in Brown county on 26 January 1902. He went to school in Brown County and graduated with a civil engineering degree from Texas A&M&m in 1923. He joined the Texas National Guard 36th Infantry Division in 1923. He was a rifle company commander when the 36th Division was activated at Camp Bowie in Brownwood on 25 November 1940. He served overseas from 2 April 1943 until 25 May 1944. He participated in the Salerno, Naples-Foggia, San Pietro, Rapido River, and Anzio campaigns. He was wounded on 7 December 1943 and returned to duty. The attempted crossing of the Rapido River in Italy from 20-22 January 1944 by two infantry regiments of the 36th Infantry (Texas) Division was one of the costliest failed attacks by American Forces in World War II. The unforgettable two day bloodbath achieved nothing. The attempted crossing of the rain-swollen icy-cold river against murderous interlocking pre-zeroed German artillery, rockets, mortars, machine guns, and land mines mauled the Texans. The indiscriminate slaughter continued unabated throughout the two day assault. The 36th Division suffered 2128 casualties (155 killed, 1052 wounded, and 921 missing and captured). After the war, the 36th Infantry (Texas) Division veterans were so incensed by the needless sacrifice of human life in the Rapido River fiasco that they tried to have 5th Army Commanding General Mark W Clark tried by court martial, but their efforts failed. LTC Jake Palmer received the Purple Heart, Bronze Battle Star, Bronze Arrowhead for the Naples-Foggia Campaign, American Defense Service Medal for service prior to 7 December 1941, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the American Service Medal. In 1953, he retired from the military after 30 years of military service including time with the Texas National Guard, active Army, and Army Reserve. He served as the city of Brownwood engineer and surveyor, and he was superintendent of WPA construction projects in Brownwood. Jake Palmer died on 6 September 1961 at the age of 59.
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) John (Jake) Spearman Palmer Jr was born in Brown county on 26 January 1902. He went to school in Brown County and graduated with a civil engineering degree from Texas A&M&m in 1923. He joined the Texas National Guard 36th Infantry Division in 1923. He was a rifle company commander when the 36th Division was activated at Camp Bowie in Brownwood on 25 November 1940. He served overseas from 2 April 1943 until 25 May 1944. He participated in the Salerno, Naples-Foggia, San Pietro, Rapido River, and Anzio campaigns. He was wounded on 7 December 1943 and returned to duty. The attempted crossing of the Rapido River in Italy from 20-22 January 1944 by two infantry regiments of the 36th Infantry (Texas) Division was one of the costliest failed attacks by American Forces in World War II. The unforgettable two day bloodbath achieved nothing. The attempted crossing of the rain-swollen icy-cold river against murderous interlocking pre-zeroed German artillery, rockets, mortars, machine guns, and land mines mauled the Texans. The indiscriminate slaughter continued unabated throughout the two day assault. The 36th
Click or scan to see this page online
Division suffered 2128 casualties (155 killed, 1052 wounded, and 921 missing and captured). After the war, the 36th Infantry (Texas) Division veterans were so incensed by the needless sacrifice of human life in the Rapido River fiasco that they tried to have 5th Army Commanding General Mark W Clark tried by court martial, but their efforts failed. LTC Jake Palmer received the Purple Heart, Bronze Battle Star, Bronze Arrowhead for the Naples-Foggia Campaign, American Defense Service Medal for service prior to 7 December 1941, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the American Service Medal. In 1953, he retired from the military after 30 years of military service including time with the Texas National Guard, active Army, and Army Reserve. He served as the city of Brownwood engineer and surveyor, and he was superintendent of WPA construction projects in Brownwood. Jake Palmer died on 6 September 1961 at the age of 59.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 26, 1902.
Location. 31° 40.618′ N, 98° 59.524′ W. Memorial is in Brownwood,
Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024
2. LTC John S Palmer Jr Marker
Texas, in Brown County. It is on Crockett Drive south of Memorial Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located at the northwest section of the Camp Bowie Memorial Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 2710 Crockett Drive, Brownwood TX 76801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Big Country. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 209 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
