South to Salerno

Today we connected with the Stephen Ambrose Tour and headed south to Paestum/Salerno. It is a group of interesting people, some military history buffs, a number tracing a family member's journey, like me, and others who just thought it would be a different perspective on Italy. As we drove along, our tour guide, Ron Drez, pointed out Monte Cassino, the area of the Gustav Line and the three mountains that blocked Allied advances for months. We will be visiting each of these locations up close and personal in the days to come. I'm glad I read so much before the trip, when Ron refers to a location, general, or battle, I have some background knowledge.

Here is Ron's bio from the tour website:

 Ronald Drez (Captain, USMC Ret.) was, in his university days, Stephen Ambrose’s favorite student and, subsequently, Ambrose’s handpicked choice for tour guide. Together, the Silver Star decorated Vietnam vet and his mentor founded the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans. Drez has authored several books, including “Voices of Valor,” “Voices of D-Day” and “Twenty-five Yards of War,” but he leaves his desk behind to lead tours to the very same battlefields he writes about. 

Besides being an expert in military history, Ron is an excellent tour guide, knowing how to make the information come alive through anecdotal stories and touches of humor for an otherwise serious subject. Also, Ron is clearly retired USMC; when he speaks, we listen and when he says be at the bus at 1:30, we are! The Roche's are trying to shape up our act :)