Thursday, September 9, 1943 "D" Day Our DUKWs left the LST #356 at 4 a.m. Firing some this morning. Jerry hasn't opposed much yet. At 10 a.m. the coast of Italy is in plain sight, looks mountainous. Our pontoons are lowered. Nothing but ships around us. I counted 76 from our position. Our gun batteries are reported to have met with some resistance. We were shelled out on the water, one ship being nearly hit. Left the LST about noon. Tom and Lynn rode with me. Though about 2 feet of water came over the hood, she never missed once. Came through fast. Air Cobra shot down in the water.
Came about 1 mile inland; moved again to some ancient ruins. Running around for me until after dark. Some resistance: machine gun fire and shelling.
Made a trip to Division Artillery of the 36th Division, and several to the gun batteries.
C Battery lost a 105 and a DUKW. A Battery knocked out 4 tanks. Things are going fairly well for us.
Air activity [mostly enemy.]
Monday, September 13, 1943 Guess I slept until almost 8:00. Dead tired. Slept through a hot battle. Sgts. Engstrom and Swanson were killed. Sgt. Murphy was badly wounded; his leg was shot off. Our gun position was not far away.
Had a good breakfast of C ration hash that I mixed with genuine Italian onions, tomatoes and peppers. Boiled some potatoes; made coffee that I got from Division.
A German soldier gave himself up. He got through our infantry and got to us. Talked a little German to him what I could. He is 20 years old, and he could have gone back to his battery and given away our gun positions, but had no desire to go back. Made me homesick to hear him talk. Took him back to the 36th Division P.O.W.
Back here again, then to Division Artillery, and on the way back had to come in under shellfire. One came too close for comfort.
Another German here now who gave himself up.
Quite a lot of artillery shells coming in on our position. Now 4 of our battalion have been killed.
Laid around until dark. About 6 p.m. a P-51 crashed not 150 yards from us, went down in flames and exploded. He was headed right for our position and would have about hit us, but went into a tail spin. We didn't see the pilot bail out.
Heavy artillery fire all day. 36th Division is definitely not as good as the 34th.
Took the other German back to Headquarters tonight. Nearly got hit by a 6X6 truck in the dark blackout.
The battery had moved before I got back -- I had to pick up the colonel's trailer and cycle. Lost it and smashed it up. I was the last vehicle still reported "out of position" tonight, which was definitely too close for comfort for me.
Germans were reported coming back in. We were called into an assembly area and had to move again, this time northwest of Division Artillery Hq.
To bed -- or laid down at 3:30 a.m.
Tuesday, September 21, 1943 Took Jurgenson to the beach again. We found B and C Batteries' rear echelons, but not the rest. I was glad to see Andy. He is B Battery's Mess Sergeant now, and a staff sergeant.
Went back to look again this p.m. but the others still aren't in. Mr. Jurgenson is getting really concerned, as everyone looks to him for supply -- you name it: food, mechanical service, mail included. But of course they had little use in the invasion itself, and were not in the original group that left Bizerte on September 5th.
Thursday, October 14, 1943 Up at 5:30. Still dark when the kitchen truck comes. C rations for the infantry and artillery battalions for the duration. Cleaned up. Cloudy and raining again. Have my side curtains up and motor running. Dry and fairly warm.
We are still forward C.P. Our infantry has crossed the Volturno River in places -- the objective in this battle. The 125th moved up last night. Other battalions still firing a little.
Read my Bible. Made one trip tonight at 8:00. Gets dark at 7:00. Wrote 3 letters: to Mom, Ray and Pat.
Tuesday, November 2, 1943 Back to the 151st and Division Hq. Caught in another air raid. Left the peep sit, and I headed for a haystack close by. No damage, and the hay brought thoughts of home that were worth the risk. Remember well last night -- no damage done, however.
Battalion moved up again; went out there after dinner. Got paid 2,500 lira. Got a nice letter and card from Jean Vaughn.
Slept a little. Went to bed at 7:00, up a few minutes later when I heard the "Wag!" from the guard. To the battalion again with items. Got in a tank convoy; had to crawl all the way in low gear.
Friday, December 17, 1943 An early trip to all battalions. Reb came with. Cleaned my rifle. A fellow from this battery was born in Piedmonte, lived there 9 years, then went to the States. Jack, Dick and I went to the battalions for a USO show at the 151, and the movie Top Man, not so bad. Real black on the way back.
I took Natalie and Jack Salzer in the peep, and we went to Natalie's relatives in the country. It was an experience. The family numbered about 5. They have a large house, mostly concrete and plaster. Nate talks Italian steady. Though I couldn't understand a word, it was worth a lot just to be able to take him there and see his relatives. They may have a farm somewhere; there is lots of garlic and onions hanging in the house. They gave us a lunch too. Haven't had a chance to get to know Natalie too well.
Wednesday, February 2, 1944 Chow at 7:00 instead of 6:00. Went to II Corps. Got my clothes back and took some more into another place. Back at 10:00.
Cleaned up, packed over my clothes. Warm and sunshine. The weather is half the war for me.
As yet we haven't taken Cassino. Have been here at Cervaro over two weeks. Steady firing. Hear a lot of screaming meemies coming in, but far enough away. Had a headache all afternoon. Wrote home.
Wednesday, March 22, 1944 Vic and I slept in a Diamond T truck box, covered. Rained. At 8:00 we all left for the docks. I loaded on LST #36, the only peep from the 151. Other T.O.M. trucks. A part of 135 Infantry, and B Battery of the 125th F.A. loaded on late in the p.m. Got chummy with a sergeant from Duluth.
I wasn't really happy about this move. Anzio didn't have a good reputation. From what we had heard, the fighting was about halted for Cassino, and here I was on another LST headed for another hot spot. Well, if this would help us take Rome, I supposed it's what was needed.
Was a bit lonesome too, as I knew no one and the only good connection was that most of 125th's B Battery was from Duluth.
Sunday, May 7, 1944 Up for breakfast. Hot cakes.
First Sgt. Vessey was made 2nd lieutenant. Took him to the docks. He's going to the rear for awhile. Stopped at 6 Corps. Went past the cemetery. Nothing but white crosses, probably several thousand. Read. To the rear echelon.
A package of candy from Mom. Letter from LaVonne with pictures. 2 letters from Mom.
To all battalions and Division.
Tuesday, May 23, 1944 Up at 6:30, slept with my clean coveralls on. Took a bath yesterday. Cereal and fried eggs.
Went to 6th Corps. They have moved to the vicinity of the Castle.
Read more in The Tree. Took Mr. Goodell to 11 Evac.
We moved this p.m. to 125's old area. Took time to get settled. To the 151 rear and front. Out again at 11:30 to the 151 with a special.
The long-awaited-for big push came off today. We are making big gains. Casualties, of course, are heavy.
Saturday, June 3, 1944 One special at midnight. Denendorfer came along. Then had to go to Nettuno this p.m. with Mr. Goodell. Had to move along to get back in time for tonight. Goodell is an older warrant officer, and is always afraid I'm going too fast -- but he always asks for me when he has to go somewhere. Another agent always takes my runs, so I really don't care.
We get on highway #7 now, good road. Only trouble is, my peep might start flying apart. It's really getting in rough shape -- this is either the 3rd or 4th one I've had now.Sunday, June 18, 1944 Went to Rome with Division Artillery bunch. Came back with the 151. Looked over St. Peter's Square, part of Vatican City. It's really beautiful. Can't really describe it. Went to the very top of it. Looked over other places of interest, including the Coloseum. Lots of girls on the streets, all kinds of people, really.
Stores are closed, though. Some merchants selling things on the street. Came back with a splitting headache at 10:30. Around 60 miles. Went on #2, and came back on #1.
When we got into St. Peter's, some of the farmer boys came out with the remark, "You could sure stack a lot of hay in here."
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