James Wiita on Bud Wagner's And There Shall Be Wars

Nearly a half century ago, Bud Wagner (who would eventually become my father-in-law) shared with me his diaries from the time he enlisted in the army and went to war in Europe, first in North Africa and on to Italy. He asked my opinion regarding his record from that time, "Would anyone be interested in this?"

I replied, "Absolutely." 

As a market gardener, he had little time much of the year for this project, but each winter he remained dedicated to researching the global context of his personal experience and devoted his time to setting down in writing what I peronally believe is not only an insightful book but also a significant contribution to our understanding of what it was like to be a soldier during the Second World War.

What follows is an email from someone who recently purchased a copy of Bud's book, And There Shall Be Wars.

Just a note to say how much I am enjoying the book about your Father-in-Law.

You strike me as someone who ingests a lot of reading each week. I imagine you are always in the midst of a good book. With all the focus on my own project , I haven’t  read a good, fat book for way too long.
 
I am now just getting back into that swing. This book has truly launched the habit.

I’ve just started to dig into the story, and want to pick it up as my first read in the morning. It’s a few days after Pearl Harbor in the story.

Reading Bud is like a daily talk with someone, though one sided. You can pick right up where you left off, it’s so personal it shows his human characteristics, and what to anticipate with each entry.

It seems to show every aspect of “army life “ -- the important details and accuracy mixed with the training -- moments with friends and music, faith, along with frequent headaches and  times of boredom.

You can easily see the kind of soldier he became, and how his superiors and others viewed him. The entries give vivid clues. Not in a slighting way, but this man was definitely on the spectrum. There are so many indicators it’s fascinating.

I could give many examples already of his definers. I’m no expert, but the fastidious behaviors and attention to detail tell a true daily approach to his obsession with detail.
It adds a generous empathy to his storytelling. You feel as fulfilled in his chronicling as he did .

Well, that sounded like a critique, but I wanted you to know I think preserving this story is as important to me as it was to Bud.

Before he ever left he knew he was going to be chronicling, the cameras alone tell the tale. The results are extremely impressive.

Thanks for bringing the book to me.
James

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HERE'S AN EXCERPT that reflects how the book is organized. Bud recorded each of his daily handwritten diary entries and then added a commentary, amplifying the account recorded in his journals. The additional commentary often included details from other parts of the war theater, thereby giving context to his personal experience. 

Friday, January 7, 1944
Had to go to all battalions at midnight with firing orders. Moonlight so I didn't mind too much. Slept through breakfast. Were shelled twice here today. My nerves aren't able to take it anymore as well as they used to. Some shells came close enough.

151 moved tonight; I moved with them to the other side of San Pietro, a rubbled mess, a battlefield, to be sure. Back here at 10:00, just got nicely to sleep when the guard called, "Wag, get to Message Center," so there was another Firing Order to all battalions. It must have been after 2:00 when I got back.

San Pietro and San Vitorre were two towns literally blown off the face of the earth. There were many trees around that were totally devoid of all branches, and were just sticks left from all the shell fire. The city itself was piles of concrete rubble. I didn't see life of any kind left any time I drove through. About this time the II Corps took Mts. Porchio and Chiaia, two objectives necessary for our Division to have before our ultimate objective of Cassino.

Photo Caption Top: Don and I went to Sbeitia with water truck. Saw 4 German graves, some old buildings that were failing down, and French garrison that had been bombed. --Tuesday, March 30, 1943

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RELATED LINKS

James Wiita is author of the book Rock On, Duluth

Dogs of War and Liberation Day, Italy

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