Italian Campaign

At The Front

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85th Division

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    While reading about battles and strategic campaigns, it is easy to forget about the men who were involved and how the war impacted their lives.  So, this is intended to put faces and personal stories to the Italian Campaign.  The title of this page was borrowed from a recent book published by Tom Brokaw.   This is a tribute to the soldier's who served their country by telling their story.
   A brief biography is provided on each of these soldiers, along with a photo or two.  This provides a glimpse into the lives of the men who fought in Italy.  Click on the photo or name to open up the biography sheet.  The names are in no particular order.  I began with my Dad and listed them as I recieved the biographies.  I listed one of my uncles last, since he did not serve in Italy.
    I will add more biographies as I receive them.  One stipulation is that I have a photo of the individual in uniform.
Email me if you want to contribute or provide comment at Steve.

Comment:  For convenience, I don't distinguish between ranks of "Private" and "Private First Class".  No offense to the PFC's.

Staff Sgt Newton F. Cole  Forward Observer, Battery B,   328th Field Artillery Battalion,   85th 'Custer' Division   Webpage contain photos, stories & history of 328FA and 85th Division. Bio gives some personel info before and after the War.

Go to:   328th Field Artillery   Stories -  Italian Front   Photos - Italian Front

Died on May 6, 2005

Private Jimmy Hill Company L,  142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th 'Texas' Division My Uncle Captured at Salerno Sept '43, Prisoner of War Bio includes photos and recent interview with a Veteran from his squad.

Private Lee McCloud Company C,  310th Engineer Battalion, 85th 'Custer' Division Many of his photos are posted on this site, including ones of captured German equipment.

1st Sgt. Cecil C. Walker Company K, Heavy Weapons Platoon,  338th Infantry Regiment, 85th 'Custer' Division Medal for Heroism for risking his life in Non-Combat action.

Private  Cleaston Patterson Company K,  339th Infantry Regiment, 85th 'Custer' Division   Reported Missing in Action on May 14, 1944 during early phase of the Spring Offensive. Officially declared KIA 11 months later.

Private Seymour Sarokin Company D,  337th Infantry Regiment, 85th 'Custer' Division   Enlisted Jan 1942, but didn't arrive in Italy until Oct 1944.  Read Bio to find out Why?

Pvt James W. Thompson Company F,  6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division Served in N. Africa & Italy. Discharged before end of War.

Go to  Private Paul Brown's Anzio Diary

Private Paul Brown Grave Registration Service 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th 'Thunderbird' Division GRS collected the bodies for burial. His very personal Anzio Diary is included on this Website. (38pages)

Capt Robert E. Roeder Company G, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th 'Blue Devil' Division Survived Pearl Harbor. Killed in Action at Gothic Line. Describes action that earned him the Medal of Honor.

PFC  Richard D. Foss Company G, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th 'Blue Devil' Division One of the few who survived the fight for Battle Mountain.  After the war, he never spoke a word about his experiences in Italy.

1st Sgt  Erich Bauch   Battery B,   328th Field Artillery Battalion,   85th 'Custer' Division  Enlisted in 1935.  In 1942, selected as part of initial cadre that formed the 85th Division at Camp Shelby.  Retired from Army after 23 years.

PFC Clarence D. Mills  HeadQuarters Battery,   328th Field Artillery Battalion,   85th 'Custer' Division  Trained & served in the same unit as my Dad for duration of the war.

Capt. William Dempsey Battery Commander, Battery C,   328th Field Artillery Btln,   85th 'Custer' Division  Trained with other officers of the battery. After the war he kept in touch with many of the officers and wives.

S/Sgt.  Walter Keane    Battery A,   328th Field Artillery Btln,   85th 'Custer' Division  Enlisted in 1938 and discharged in 1941.  Then he joined again to serve his country.  Read how Sgt Keane saved the flag of the 328FA from being lost in some government warehouse.

Pvt Warren Stichtenoth  Company C,  310th Engineer Battalion, 85th 'Custer' Division Another combat engineer who had a special talent that may have saved his life.  Check out his story. Died November 26, 2005.

Lt  Stancy Lewis  Company B,  310th Engineer Battalion, 85th 'Custer' Division Entered combat as a Sergeant and recieved field commission as an officer.

PFC Henry Guarnere         Medical corpsman  47th Medical Battalion   1st  Armored Division Killed in Action near Cassino at Mt Porchia on 6 Jan 1944. Brother to Sgt. Bill Guarnere of "Band of Brothers" TV series.

Sgt Lars Erlandson    Company G, 168th Infantry Regiment 34th 'Red Bull' Division Wounded twice but returned home to marry his girl-friend. Presidential Unit Cit.

Thomas Wadsworth     Gunner & Driver  15th Royal Artillery Regiment,   7th  Armoured Division      'Desert Rats'  Member of a mechanized artillery unit of the British 8th Army in Italy.  Before arriving in Italy, they drove through Bagdad. His brother served in the Royal Engineers.

Desert Rat's Patch Unit served in Desert Strom I & II.

Sgt  'Sid' Ayres   474th Bomb Squadron  456th Bomber Group  15th Army Air Force Tail gunner on a B-24 based at Cherignola, Italy.  In 5 months, Sgt Ayres was credited with 50 missions.  He recorded each mission in his journal. Bio includes photos of his crew and two of his aircraft.

Private Clyde V. Hill  Company C,  119th Infantry Regiment,  30th 'Ole Hickory' Division My Uncle - Did not serve in Italy. Severly wounded in Germany and disabled.

* They are "Famous" with respect to their post-War careers.  I do not intend to imply that some soldiers are more famous than others.

Commerative Stamp

Staff Sgt Audie L. Murphy  Co. K, 15th Regiment,    3rd 'Marne' Division Most Decorated GI in WW2.   Movie Actor. Bronze Arrowhead to Campaign Medal for assault at Sicily & Anzio.  Bronze Star for destorying tank on 2 March 1944 at Anzio.   Rank and Decorations during service in Italy.

Lieutenant Robert Dole Company I, 85th Mtn Regiment, 10th Mountain Division He was severly wounded 14 April '45 at Hill 913.  After 3 years and 9 operations he recovered but lost the use of his right arm.  US Senator from Kansas and ran for President against Bill Clinton.   Official Biography  (+ EXTERNAL LINK)

Lieutenant Daniel Inouye  442nd Regimental Combat Team    Near Hill 913, where Lt. Dole was wounded, Lt. Inouye was hit in his abdomen by a bullet, barely missing his spine. He continued to fight until his right arm was shattered by a German rifle grenade.  He lost his right arm. US Senator from Hawaii. His Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded  to a Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000.

The 442nd RCT were  Americans ofJapanese ancestry.  Fought in Italy and France.

Read McGovern's Biography

Lt. George McGovern    455th Bomb Group    15th Army Air Force Flew 35 missions in B-24 Dakota Queen based at Cherignola, Italy. Senator from S. Dakota and Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972.

15th AF flew strategic bombing missions into Italy, Germany, Rumania, etc.

Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. 332nd Fighter Group 15th Fighter Command  (15th Army Air Force) Ramitelli & Cattolica, Italy. First black USAF General.  Duty: 35 years. Died July 4, 2002.

Commanded the all-Black unit, the "Tuskeegee Arimen".  Escorted bombers into Germany, Rumania, etc.

Bill Mauldin  45th Infantry Division  A Cartoonist who created "Willie & Joe". Won the Pulitzer Prize.  After the war he wrote and was a political cartoonist.  He was in movie "The Red Badge of Courage" with his friend, Audie Murphy. Died Jan 23, 2003.

A List of Hollywood and TV personalities who fought in Italian Campaign.
 

Joe E. Brown	Actor in the 1940's.  He did not serve in the military.  However, he logged 200,000 miles at his own expense to entertain the troops.  One of few civilians to be awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Burt Lancaster	Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and was assigned to the Special Services Division of the Fifth Army as an entertainer.
Norman Lear	Served as a radio operator in the Fifteenth Army Air Force at Foggia, Italy and flew 57 combat missions.
James Arness	Served in the 3rd Infantry Division and was wounded at Anzio.   Awarded Purple Heart and Bronze Star.   Leading Actor in "Gunsmoke".
John Huston	Enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 to film war documentaries.  He was discharged as a Major.
Frederick Faust aka Max Brand	A war correspondent killed on 12 May 1944.  Before the war he wrote hundreds of pulp fiction books, including 'Destry Rides Again' and  'Calling Dr. Kildare'.
Other Personalities
Henry Wellesley, Captain	Duke of Wellington, 2nd Commandos.  Died of wounds on 16 Sept 1943,  near Salerno.
Shelby Foote   WW2 Photo at  bottom of page       Camp Shelby	Captain in the artillery in the 50th FA Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division in France.  He was at Camp Shelby at the same time the 85th Division was there.  He became a noted author and was featured in Ken Burn’s PBS-TV “Civil War” series.   (But Foote did not serve in Italy.)

 

US Uniforms, Medals and Insignia This page has information on the Awards & Campaign Medals earned by most soldiers who served in the Italian Campaign.  This page will help you identify the patches, pins and insignia on your father's uniform or in your collection.       MEDALS & RIBBONS     DUI PINS     PATCHES & BADGES

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