Grave Location: IV. F. 10

A standard Commonwealth Grave Commission (CWGC) inscribed gravestone.

Austin O. Gunderson lived in Montana and was married to Marabeth from Helena, Montana.  He served in the US-Canadian unit, the First Special Service Force.  He was killed during the famous First Special Service Force attack on Monte La Defensa on December 3, 1943.  He is now buried in the Cassino Military Cemetery.

See this website, Monte La Defensa First Special Service Force Marker for more about the battle where Gunderson was killed.

From the CWGC Files:

Sergeant

GUNDERSON, AUSTIN O.

Service Number K/73846

Died 03/12/1943

Aged 24

1st 

Canadian Special Service Battalion, R.C.I.C.

Son of Helge and Cecelia O. Gunderson; husband of Marabeth E. Gunderson, of Helena, Montana, U.S.A.

INSCRIPTION

I ALWAYS WILL ADORE THAT GUY WHO TAUGHT MY HAPPY HEART TO FLY

About the cemetery: The site for CASSINO WAR CEMETERY was originally selected in January 1944, but the development of the battle during the first five months of that year made it impossible to use it until after the Germans had withdrawn from Cassino. During these early months of 1944, Cassino saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Italian campaign, the town itself and the dominating Monastery Hill proving the most stubborn obstacles encountered in the advance towards Rome. The majority of those buried in the war cemetery died in the battles during these months.

The text on the gravestone is written in English and reads:

K/73846        SERGEANT

A.O. GUNDERSON

SPECIAL SERVICE TROOPS

CANADIAN ARMY

3^RD DECEMBER 1943           AGE 24

(SYMBOL OF CROSS)

I ALWAYS WILL ADORE THAT GUY WHO TAUGHT MY HAPPY HEART TO FLY