11/09/2019
Today in 1944
An M4 Sherman tank and M10 Tank Destroyer on their way to the frontline passing the famed leaning tower in Pisa, Italy on 6 September 1944
Completed in 1372, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. During World War II, the town found itself under German control. The Tower was used as an observation post.
When the Americans neared the outskirts of Pisa, the last two-and-a-half mile stretch was nothing less than a killing zone. The top brass wanted to know how the Germans were using the famous building and decided to send someone to scout it.
Staff Sgt. Leon Weckstein of the 91st Infantry Division had remarkable powers of observation and would spend 16 hours a day manning forward observation posts and directed artillery and mortar fire. He became their guy.
“I really did have unusual powers of observation, particularly a latent aptitude for discerning a camouflaged Panzer tank or a dug-in machine gun position before anyone else could,” Weckstein later said. The tower’s fate laid in the eyes of a 23-year-old California native who, in 1942, was rejected by the Navy for being short-sighted. The infantry accepted him but, then again, “they take anyone,” he remarked.
Weckstein and his radioman, Tech. Sgt. Charles King, were informed of their new mission. It would be dangerous as they entered a no-man-zone between the American and German forces. If enemies were indeed using the tower, Weckstein had to radio in – “This is Able George Two… Fire!” – and Allied forces would have leveled the tower in seconds.
After smearing mud on their faces, King strapped on his bulky field radio while Weckstein grabbed his telescope and ventured into unexplored open fields and orchards.
Weckstein was methodical in his observations. “I focused first on the highest point, the broad circular campanile of the tower. I could easily make out the shadowy silhouette of the old bells, quiet now, but nothing moved. I took my time training the ‘scope ever so slowly up, down, and across each elaborately ornamented balustrade, attempting to discern anything that might be hidden within those black recesses and arches.”
For those few minutes, he had the power to decide the fate of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. By radioing in “fire” one of the world’s ‘wonders’ would, in Weckstein’s words, “have easily turned . . . to chunks of splintered marble.” As he sat there and took in the tower’s beauty, he was overcome and held off calling it in until he was certain.
Weckstein was still transfixed when shells burst overhead. The Germans had launched an airborne attack in Weckstein and King’s directions. They radioed back and were told to retreat back to camp. The top brass had already decided on different attack plan and the tower was spared. Whether the Germans were actually in the tower on that hot and muggy July day is still unknown. Looking back Weckstein stated: “You know something? I’ve had 50 years to think about it, and I’m pretty sure they were.”
Because of his actions during World War II, Weckstein was awarded many American and foreign awards including the highly esteemed Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Infantry Blue Rifle Badge, Italy’s Croce al Valor Militare, Poland’s Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords and the city of Pisa’s Silver Medallion. After the war, he and his wife Mimi visited Italy a few times and Weckstein returned to that pivotal spot he was at in 1944. “I could easily have been looking at shattered marble ruins … if not for an act of fate,”
Photograph. 'MM-5-44-10268'; 'Signal Corps Radio Telephoto
Colour: Colourised PIECE of JAKE
Caption: historybyzim.com/2013/07/leaning-tower-of-pisa-wwii/