The column also publicized the documentary film The Battle of San Pietro, by John Huston, depicting the action in which Waskow died.

He attended Temple Junior College on a scholarship, often commuting by foot from his parents' home, and taking on custodial duties on campus.

[4] Following his two years in junior college, Waskow was offered a position as a teacher but turned it down to attend Trinity University, which was then in Waxahachie, Texas.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt put the National Guard under federal control and activated the 36th Infantry Division, the Waskow brothers were transferred to Camp Bowie, Texas in January 1941.

Waskow was given his commission as a second lieutenant on March 14, 1941 and received training at Fort Benning, Georgia before being assigned to 'B' Company of the 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment.

[4] In early April 1943, the 36th Division, commanded by Major General Fred L. Walker, was shipped from New York Harbor to Oran, Algeria, and was then stationed in Rabat in Morocco.

[5][6] The 36th Division sustained very heavy casualties in the battle, and was held in Fifth Army reserve for the next few weeks, absorbing replacements and training for future combat operations.

Returning to combat in mid-November, Waskow and his men fought their way north past Naples, relieving the 3rd Infantry Division near Mignano and then marched on, largely on mountain trails to Monte Sambucaro (Hill 1205), near San Pietro Infine.

It was when the body was unloaded from the back of the mule in the middle of the night along with several other casualties, and his men made their emotional farewells with their commander, that Pyle was inspired to write the dispatch that memorialized Waskow.

[14]Pyle's story informed John Huston's documentary The Battle of San Pietro (released in 1945) and heightened interest in it.

[18] A large white stone memorial to Captain Waskow is located in the side yard of Ernie Pyle's former Albuquerque New Mexico home, now a branch of the Albuquerque Library system, reciting in stone some of Pyle's tribute to Captain Waskow: “I sure am sorry, sir,” said one soldier, his voice trailing off.

Before joining the others as they moved up the road to the next assignment, he paused for an extra moment, to “gently straighten...the points of the captain's shirt collar, and then he sort of rearranged the tattered edges of his uniform around the wound.”