Area of operations.
Saturday, January 1, 1944
Put anti-freeze in trucks.
Tuesday-Wednesday, January 4-5, 1944
Russians cross Polish border. Still hauling gravel for company area when we have no other work.
Thursday January 13, 1944
We are supposed to be about to take Cassino. Rumor that all men overseas for 18 months get to go home.
WAR UPDATE: January 17, 1944. Allied forces launch attack on Cassino, Italy. The Battle of Monte Cassino begins, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
The Battle of Monte Cassino was one of the pivotal battles of the Italian Campaign. The Germans held the high ground and the battle to drive them out was long and bloody. This was the enemy's last line of defense before Rome and the fight was fierce. [courtesy: www.lonesentry.com]
Friday, January 21, 1944
I turn 29 today.
Saturday, January 22, 1944
Hauling ammo to dump 0420. Germans shell the dump for several hours. I unload my own truck under shell fire.
Tuesday, February 1, 1944
Haul Italians from 0414 to staging area near Naples.
Saturday, February 5, 1944
Send $50 home.
Tuesday, February 8, 1944
Move out of the woods into a field. More gravel hauling and ditch digging. Still plenty of rain but not so bad.
Sunday, February 13, 1944
Haul British ammo to Caira, go within 2,000 yards of Germans.
The route (in red) we took to get to the northern front during the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Tuesday, February 15, 1944
Monastery is bombed [the abbey atop Monte Cassino]. We are making trips up there every day.
The abbey atop Monte Cassino as it appears today. [courtesy: www.italianvisits.com]
Wednesday, February 16, 1944
Haul British Indians to near Caira.
"British Indians," also known as Sikhs, at Monte Cassino, 1944. [courtesy: Discovery Channel]
Friday, February 18, 1944
We hear a troop ship is sunk. 10,000 men lost.
Sunday, February 20, 1944
Our 1st Sgt. is transferred.
Monday, February 21, 1944
Sgt. Gietzel is our official acting 1st Sgt.
Tuesday, February 22, 1944
Start turning in our folding cots.
Friday, February 25, 1944
Haul Italian pack mules from Maddeloni to above Venafro. I lose mule out back of truck. Mikeski runs into ditch and gets hurt.
The pack mule was often the only means of transporting supplies in the rugged countryside of south-central Italy. This photo was taken near Venafro, 1944. [courtesy: www.45thdivision.com]
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