Seaman Erwin Aberham, of Great Neck, Long Island, NY (far
right with M-1 carbine) stands as bodyguard for General George S. Patton in
Gela, Sicily, July 1943. Aberham is assisted by Seaman Jimmy Bayne, of
Philadelphia, PA (far left). The 4th Beach Battalion sailors, dressed as
soldiers were assigned this duty while on the beachhead of Sicily.
Men of the US Navy 4th Beach Battalion pose in front of their luxurious
housing - tin roofed Quonset huts. They were housed there while awaiting
assignment with Army units for invasions at Anzio, Sicily, and Salerno.
Erwin Aberham poses on a wall in Naples, Italy after the Salerno Invasion dust had settled. Barely visible in the background is Mt Vesuvius.