re: Pictures from days gone by....

quote:

---

I would have to dig out his paperwork. I know he was under Patton in North Afrca and Sicily, and somehow wound up in Mark Clark's Fifth Army at Monte Cassino.

---

That’s true for most guys who fought in North Africa and later Italy. It wasn’t that he changed outfits, rather it’s the commanders above him changed. In North Africa the top US command was II Corps, under the overall command of British 1st Army. II Corps was first commanded by General Lloyd Fredendall until he got his arse handed to him by Rommel at Battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943. After Ferdendall was sacked, Patton took over II Corp and commanded them through the rest of the North African campaign and through the invasion of Sicily. Patton was later sacked due to bad press from slapping some shell shocked troops. He was sent to England to command the fictitious 1st Army Group. He would remain on the sidelines until 3rd Army was activated in Northern France to exploit the breakout from Saint. Lo.

Back in the MTO, after Sicily was secured and more American forces were in theater, the US 5th Army, under the command of Gen. Mark Clark, took over the upcoming invasion of the Italian mainland. American forces in Italy fought under 5th Army until the end of the war.

That’s why your dad fought under those different commands.

quote:

---

He and my uncle were both at Anzio at the same time, and didn't know it until after the war.

---

This tells me he’d have been in either the 34th Infantry Division or the 1st Armored Division. Two two divisions are the only two that fought in North Africa, Italy (without later leaving for France) and were present at Anzio.

Do you know what his MOS was? By that I mean what job he actually had in the army.

ETA: I just noticed you mentioned he fought at Monte Cassino. That narrows it down to the 34th Infantry Division. They fought at both Anzio (actually helped link up the Anzio beachhead with the main body of 5th Army if I remember correctly) and Monte Cassino. But 1st Armored, while present at the Anzio beachhead, never fought at Minte Cassino. Have you ever seen this patch among his things?




If that was his division, your dad saw some of the worst fighting of any American unit in any theater of WWII.

1906, Protesting the commercialization of Niagara Falls.

quote:

---

Speaking of WW2, here's a crew photo with my grandpa (top row, 2nd from the left) in it. 401st bombing group out of Great Britain. If anyone else has a relative in the 401st they have a pretty complete history and mission logs for each person. Here's the link

---

Wow that’s awesome. I’m guessing your grandpa was either the pilot, co-pilot, or bombardier.

quote:

---

That’s true for most guys who fought in North Africa and later Italy. It wasn’t that he changed outfits, rather it’s the commanders above him changed. In North Africa the top US command was II Corps, under the overall command of British 1st Army. II Corps was first commanded by General Lloyd Fredendall until he got his arse handed to him by Rommel at Battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943. After Ferdendall was sacked, Patton took over II Corp and commanded them through the rest of the North African campaign and through the invasion of Sicily. Patton was later sacked due to bad press from slapping some shell shocked troops. He was sent to England to command the fictitious 1st Army Group. He would remain on the sidelines until 3rd Army was activated in Northern France to exploit the breakout from Saint. Lo.

Back in the MTO, after Sicily was secured and more American forces were in theater, the US 5th Army, under the command of Gen. Mark Clark, took over the upcoming invasion of the Italian mainland. American forces in Italy fought under 5th Army until the end of the war.

That’s why your dad fought under those different commands.

---

Okay, these are the things I want to find out.

He was a Tec 5. All of his wartime memorabilia "disappeared" at the hands of another family member.

I am going to sign up at Fold3 and research this. It is a pay site, but I plan on spending the money. I have heard it is fairly comprehensive and has most records. I have a friend that found Confederate records on that site.

He permenantly lost his hearing in his right ear at Monte Cassino. He was stone deaf in that ear for the rest of his days. His fight did not end and it was several days before he had a doctor examine the ear.

One thing I remember him having. He had a discharge in Leghorn (Livorna) Italy. On the discharge it read "Leghorn". He laughed about being a "free and single man in a war zone for 18 hours". He rejoined instead going home as he could have.

"Matlock". If any Arkansas guys here had a grandfather, father, or uncle from Arkansas with the last name Matlock who fought in the Sicily and Italian campaigns. Please reach out to me. He was a fairly big man with dark hair. My Dad had a picture of him (disappeared with everything else). In the picture they were at a recreation fair thing set up after the war. My Dad was shooting at a rifle at shooting gallery and Matlock was behind him. Both were obviously imbibing heavily. If you have seen a picture like this in your loved ones things. Please touch base.

Dad died at 68 in 1991, so Matlock is also deceased now as he would be 100+. My Dad would have been 100 this year.

Sinead O'Connor when she was a good Catholic in H.S.

Interesting business design behind tattoo. I guess that's supposed to be a hotdog.

Downtown Houston, 1945