1 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                     ITALY

            Didn’t expect my letter about Africa to create such a furor, but I sure am glad you enjoyed it.  Am afraid an epistle like that will be a little out of the question up here though there is much of interest to relate.  You must not even rely on receiving these notes regularly because one never knows.  Dad - the check I sent was in payment of the deposit you made to my account.  Don’t know why I endorsed it wrong.  Audrey - thanks, but an identification bracelet is useless to me now.  To mom - a loving remembrance on Mother’s Day.           

                                                                                               

                                                                                                           

2 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                     ITALY

            Met Clark today - I think you know who I mean.  Is easy to talk to, very tall, and more mature looking than his pictures show.  An unusual incident yesterday - An anti-aircraft man got tired of the inactivity (they haven’t seen a Jerry for weeks), walked thru our lines, up the main street of an enemy held town, captured three Krauts, and got back alive!  In broad daylight!  Bill Barr is on his way to California.  Send me Bob Hahn’s overseas address.  Mom - did you get my Easter flowers?  You didn’t mention them.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

3 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                     ITALY

            I have had French eggs lately.  They were shipped over to us in refrigerated Liberty ships.  Anzio beach-head is now getting eggs and beer.  They feed us quite well up here. (10 just came in)  Took some prisoners today - one a scruffy Serb and one a young Nazi.  Most talk freely.  I took a hot shower today in sight of the enemy positions.  By the time you get this maybe you’ll be reading about us.  Got Audrey’s letter about the wedding today.  It must have been charming.  I WROTE HAHN TODAY.

                                                                                                                       

 

5 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ITALY

Just a note to let you know that everything is OK.  We too, have pools on the probable invasion “D” day.  Many have “pots” of $20000 and over.  Went back to the rear on business yesterday and was surprised to see all the grape vines had sprouted leaves.  Roses, poppies, and iris abound in our area even on the front.  Will write when I can.  Really have no time to go shopping for quilts.  Maybe when we go to Rome.                                                                                               

                                                                                                                       

 

7 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ITALY

            Now we are set up in an old farmhouse, surrounded by haystacks and vineyards.  All very peaceful in the hazy spring air - fruit trees blossoming pink and white.  Looking out the door I can see ahead the high ground rising one mile into the air - held by the Germans.  You’ve seen, no doubt, pictures of the abbey hill at Cassino.  Well, this hill is three times as high - snow peaked and majestic.  Feel confident that we will take it.  No need to worry about a thing.  I am living quite normally.  Audrey’s description of the wedding made me feel as though I had been there.

MOM’S LETTER OF  25 MARCH ARRIVED TODAY.                                           

                                                                                                                       

 

8 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ITALY

            Had a call from “Rich” Nichols today.  He’s going to try to get up tomorrow but I don’t know whether he’ll be able to get this far up.  He’s at Fifth Army Headquarters.  Our meal in the middle of the day is now a “K” ration.  It consists of crackers, cans of potted meat and cheese, fruit bar, etc.  Highly concentrated, it contains all the necessary vitamins.  Another “hard” ration is the “c” consisting of one can of stew or hash and one can of biscuits.  The soldier blames “C” ration for the trench foot, dandruff, broken arms, and all other ailments.

                                                                                                           

 

9 May 1944                                                                                                     AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                     ITALY

            Rich Nichols did “bum” his way up here today.  He’s a Tech 5th with the Air Force and has been overseas 14 months.  I showed him around the area and took him up to the front line to look at some German positions from an OP. While up there a close one landed near the jeep we were in and shell fragments cut the leaves off the tree we were under.  He’s the first local boy I’ve seen since I’ve been over.

            They’ve opened the beaches and hundreds of soldiers go swimming daily.  That’s a little hard for us to do at present.

                                                                                   

 

10 May 1944                                                                                                   AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                     ITALY

            Not much to write about at this time.  Up to now things are quiet - if you discount Jerries usual spasmodic shelling.  Extensive preparations are being made and we’ll have all the support we’ll need.  Sally, the B_ _ _ H of Berlin, is now on the radio playing the latest swing and exhorting us to lay down arms.  In this locality malaria is a dread scourge and the army takes every precaution to prevent it.  We take ATABRINE daily, use nets, and an effective insect repellant call SKAT.  Keep the letters coming, as they’re appreciated to no end.

                                                                                                           

 

11 May 1944                                                                                                   AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ITALY

            Everything is fine and going OK (and I hope fast by the time you get this letter).  Today is another date to circle on the calendar.  I hope you are not distressed, by my telling you of what goes on up here.  Many men tell their families they’re still in a training area.  I think that’s silly.  And give some news in your letters.  You don’t have to tell me you’re thinking of me in every letter - I know that.  Kidding aside, I appreciate you numerous epistles.

                                                                                                           

 

13 May 1944                                                                                                   AT THE FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ITALY

            D-Day hit with a bang!  By this time you know what is going on.  Preceded by a 45 minute artillery preparation, the front jumped off at 11 o’clock.  As the infantry fights for key positions inch by inch, he knows he fights a determined and skillful foe.  But we’ll come thru believe me.  It is rough - worse than the mind can imagine, but the men fight brilliantly and with bravery that is super-human.  It is hard to describe your feelings.  At first your very body aches (not with fear, something else), can’t eat, can’t sleep.  Soon a calm develops and stays with you.  I was bombed today.  I’m OK.  Everything is in good shape.  Don’t worry.                                                                                                                               

 

 

16 May 1944

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ON FIFTH ARMY FRONT

            This place is a madhouse - you can’t imagine the confusion, the hustle, rushing around of total warfare.  This thing looked pretty black for a long time with heavy casualties and many officers killed and little success with the enemy counterattacking six times in one hour the men fought and died superbly - everyone deserves a medal - absolutely super-human.  Then the thing broke - we killed and captured Krauts by the hundreds - the bastards fighting to the last minute - hand to hand fighting rolling them out of their holes.  They’re withdrawing and we’re pursuing with tanks and air support.  Looks like a route but will probably be to a new line.  They sent GI dive bombers to stop us but failed.  One company took a regimental objective of an adjacent of ours, 337th regiment. (Unable to read)

            One tank officer took a self-propelled by himself.  Today we’re moving so fast we can’t keep track of the front line.  Our regiment is doing a great job, the 100K  (?) an objective last night that was holding up the division advance.  The French, the Goons, the Poles, the British are doing a wonderful job.  Cooperation is wonderful - combat does that to you.  We haven’t had sleep in four days but still raring to go.  We’ve been supplied with everything we could possibly use.  Abandoned stuff, dead mules, burned trucks, blown guns, bloated German bodies everywhere.  Medics, telephones, men, and artillery are doing a perfect job.  See the new title?  Gold leaves now - came in during an artillery barrage.  No one back there can ever conceive of this thing - pictures do it an injustice.  I take off lots to the infantry (the rest is cut off)

            I could go on for days - these thoughts are being written in this heat of battle. Don’t worry, I’m fine and well, get plenty to eat, even shaved this morning.  It’s rough as I said before - not to me, but to the front troops.  Sometimes feel I’m doing no good in a headquarters when men are out fighting so courageously, but someone has to do the job.  Replacements come up nightly and keep us up to strength.  There’s no fear after the first day.  These men haven’t slept, washed, or changed clothes since the push started, but their spirit is excellent.  The American can fight with the best.  But the Boch is a skillful and tenacious fighter and only surrenders when we’ve cut him off and kept him without food and ammunition for several days.  Everyone is elated to the point of near hysteria. Don’t misunderstand - everything is under control and the best job possible is being done.  Prisoners of War (F’W’s) have been coming in by hundreds […. business urgent be with you another day].  No, back again.  Report that our troops advancing up the coast meeting little resistance.  Still got a long way to go Rome but we’ll get there!  Death doesn’t mean much anymore - you see so much of it, you take it impersonally.  Anzio will see something.  You probably have this by now.  It sure has been an experience to watch this whole thing.  We’ve kept up with the whole Italian front up to now but we’ve lost it now

Love to all - Henry       (WILL WRITE… [unable to read]).

 

 

 

18 May 1944                                                                                                   [phrase censored]

Dear Family-

            Still going great guns!  Germans are pulling out all along the line. We’re pursuing as fast as supplies can keep up. Wish I could write the things that happen here in one hour- it’s wonderful.  [There are] Knockia and Kraut tanks, abandoned (word unreadable) pieces, stinking corpses, and blown-up horses everywhere. Everything is moving -artillery, motorcycles, tanks, Italian mule teams, French cavalry, solid column of vehicles for mules.  Our regiment is doing a bang-up job keeping out in front and taking care of strongest resistance. Battles cooperation is perfect.  Haven’t had 4 hours sleep any one night but elation keeps you going. SAVE ALL NY TIMES ARTICLES, LOOK MAGS AND ARTICLES ABOUT THIS (word cut off)

 

 

19 May 1944

Dear Family                                                                                                      [phrase censored]

            I am sitting at table in CP, in Italian tailor shop in an abandoned and shell marked town.  The Krauts are pulling out so fast we’ve lost contact - seems strange not to hear the “crunch-crunch” of Jerry shells landing near.  He fought to hold to [phrase censored] but that is no more.  Some of the fiercest fighting of the war took place in front of this regiment.  Casualties were naturally high but not too many killed.  Haggard refugees are coming out of the caves and we’re hauling them to the rear by the hundreds.  PA’s continue to come in as we mop up.  Planes by the hundreds cross our lines each day to harry the retreating army.  Despite what hardships the men have endured their spirit is the best and they know they’re headed for ROME.                              

           

 

19 May 1944                                                                                                   ON FIFTH ARMY

Dear Family-                                                                                                    FRONT ITALY

            They’re still on the run and we’re in “hot” pursuit.  Tonight we motorized a battalion, reinforced it with tanks, self propelled artillery, recon element, engineers, and it’s on its way to gain contact and push thru as far as it can go.  May shoot ahead to make the front pages.  Everyone has some German equipment - fine field glasses, pistols, machines pistols, utensils, horses, tanks, motorcycles, radios.  Communication has been fine.  By wire or radio we have all units under our control at all times.

                                                                                                                                   

 

21 May 1944

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ON FIFTH ARMY FRONT

            Well, they’re still on the run but we’ve come in contact and we’re pushing them back.  We took one town today and several mountain peaks.  Plan to gain a coastal town tonight combined with an amphibious landing.  The regiment has gained a named for itself - all the way to Naples they say it’s the best in the Corps.  They’ve been in the lead since the big push started.  We continue to take many prisoners including members of a Russian Labor Battalion.  German artillery, always present, is not as formidable as before.  We’ll soon be knocking on [word censored] back door.          

 

 

23 May 1944

Dear Family-                                                                                                    AT THE FIFTH ARMY FRONT

            Ran into the enemy again and have now been fighting several days.  Its rough but we’re pushing ahead.  Took a tunnel yesterday the Germans have been using for reinforcing and evacuating the front line.  Was three miles long and had a road and railroad in it - defended by two enemy battalions.  They reinforced the town we’re approaching, but now seems to be evacuating the town in the face of out attack.  If so, the Hitler Line (renamed the d’ORO Line.) falls.  When Anzio pushes we’re on out way to ROME.  We are still taking many prisoners and killing more.         

 

 

24 May 1944

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ON FIFTH ARMY FRONT

            The town fell this morning at 0815.  “Hell” is not exactly the word for it - in the face of our terrific artillery bombardment yesterday and because he was almost surrounded on three sides, he pulled out hurriedly during the night and we walked in.  It feels funny to walk into a town soon after its fall or tour the recently fought over battlefield.  As our tanks, trucks, guns, and troops go roaring thru the streets you see a group of prisoners standing against a wall, our tanks topped by enemy rockets - charred. Tracks down, taken off by mines, German signs showing mine fields and headquarters, blown field pieces, enemy [the rest is cut off].  Ammunition and guns everywhere, their carts and trucks, horses cut to pieces by our artillery, destroyed bridges and cratered roads, buildings sheltered by our shelling, and the Italians who kiss your hands and throw you flowers.

            In several CP’s we found food on the table and complete defense plans for the sector north of here showing his positions, mines, beach defenses, etc.

            Much of the heavy fighting yesterday took part around a large and elaborate Italian cemetery.  The Germans had an excellent defense there using the vaults and mausoleums as protection and the chapel to store ammunition.  Today it is a mess- trees blasted everywhere, graves disinterred shell holes everywhere, three dead Krauts slightly green.

                                                                                                           

 

24 May 1944

Dear Family-                                                                                                    AT THE FIFTH ARMY FRONT

            They bombed us again tonight.  Little damage - I slept thru it.  Everyone has some German equipment - pistols, eating utensils, razors, field glasses, compasses, cameras.  Much of their stuff is well constructed and made from the finest material.  The fortified town we’re about to take has proved a harder nut to crack than we thought, but with it falls the Hitler Line (renamed by the High Command the d’ORO LINE).  We still continue to ferret out snipers and hideaways from these hills in our rear areas.  Yesterday the report got out that 100 Germans were coming down the draw that leads to the CF. After sending a small army to cope with the foe it turned out to be a false [unable to read].

                                                                                                           

 

 

26 May 1944                                                                                                   AT FIFTH ARMY FRONT

Dear Family-                                                                                                    ITALY

            Ah!  The calm after the storm.  It’s almost like a dream.  As soon as the town was mopped up we had a beach de-mined.  We set our EP up in a pink villa on the side of a hill overlooking the warm blue sea.  We went into reserve and gave the men (who have fought well and hard, many a mile) a chance to rest to bathe in the sea, to sun themselves on the gleaming beach, to get some hot chow, to get clean clothing.  This was a famous resort in its day and has beautiful buildings and cathedrals.  Flowers abound and it’s sunny and beautiful.  The men love it.  Now rested, we’re ready for the next move, which ought to be swift.

                                                                                                           

 

 

28 May 1944

Dear Family-                                                                                                    AT FIFTH ARMY FRONT

            We’re now back in a rest area, preparing for future combat missions.  In this section the people are hysterical in their welcome of out troops.  They cry, kiss your hands.  Throw us flowers, and stand along the roads for hours to wave as we go by.  They come back from the caves where they’ve been hiding.  They enter their churches again.  We went out bartering tonight and brought back eggs, a chicken, and some potatoes.  BE SURE TO SAVE THE RELIABLE ACCOUNTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.  –WRITE-

                                                                                                            Love, Henry