Another veteran of the 363rd Infantry Regiment who fought on Monticelli was honored at the MuGot – Gothic Museum last Wednesday, May 22nd. Also in the presence of the Mayor of Scarperia and San Piero Federico Ignesti and the President of Gotica Toscana aps Luca Faini. This is the soldier LLOYD E. “PETE” MARCHEL, who will later be decorated with the BRONZE STAR MEDAL.
His family members, his children, dedicated a commemorative plaque to him, which was placed on the monument in the MuGot garden; it reads like this:
| In honor of the 363th Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, and the men of the 3rd Battalion, recipients of the Distinguished Unit Citation for breaking the Gothic Line at Monticelli, 12-19 September 1944. In memory of PFC Lloyd E. “Pete” Marchel Chelan, WA Compamy L, 3rd Battalion, 363th Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry division BRONZE STAR 18 APRIL 1945 |
So by Filippo Spadi
“There are moments when we feel like we are disturbing the intimacy of a family, we are filming faces and expressions that in many cases should remain private; but in this case those emotions serve to teach how deep the wounds that a war can leave even in subsequent generations are; and it is important that they serve to pause for a moment and reflect. Today Marchel surprised his sister Marianne by discovering a plaque dedicated to his father who fought here in Company L of the 3rd Battalion. 363rd of the 91st American Infantry Division, one of the units that suffered the most losses, to which the large Homomorto Monument is dedicated. We can't imagine what went through their minds, but we are proud to tell the stories of these kids even through such simple yet meaningful gestures."
Leaving the Museum, Lloyd's children wrote a moving dedication in the Visitors' Book which we report below. It does justice to the tireless commitment of the Gotica Toscana volunteers to keep alive the memory of the battles of Passo del Gioco in that September 1944 and honor the men who fought there.
It will be helpful to hope that the BRONZE STAR MEDAL (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded for heroic actions, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. It was established by executive order on February 4, 1944. It may be awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who, after December 6, 1941, has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in land combat against a enemy army between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.
You will be pleased to know that PFC Lloyd E. “Pete” Marchel did not die in combat, but returned home to his loved ones. He died on January 19, 1971 at the age of 53. Here is his burial.
EN 
IT