SALERNO
by: Paul Deese

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)

Our training for the Invasion of Salerno began as we rested from the Sicilian Invasion.

On September 5, 1943 we boarded transports at Oran with the 36th Infantry Division and the 531st Engineers, and hit the beaches at Salerno on September 9, 1943 in very rough seas.

Ensign Robert H. Burch, Jr. and part of B-4 Company landed north of Red Beach, so this beach was called Red 1. Lt. George Rupprecht, Company Commander of B Company, and Ensign Hexamar landed on original Red Beach with Platoon B-5. This beach was called Red Beach 2. Lt. Floyd Childs with "A" Company also landed on Red 2.

Ensign Blunt landed on Green Beach with Platoon B-6. Platoon C-7 with Lt. J.R. Riley, landed on Yellow Beach along with Platoon C-8 . Platoon C-9 landed on Blue Beach under Ensign Linton.

A German machine gun had a stronghold, consisting of a stone tower and building directly ahead of Green and Red beaches. A steady hail of bullets covered these beaches. At daybreak, an English craft which looked like one of our DE's, backed up to the beach. (She got as close in as some of our LCVP's) and opened fire with every gun on board, sweeping the entire area with heavy fire. After this barrage, the Army and Navy stormed the stronghold. No more stronghold.

I remember Daughtery coming back over the dunes with gun belts over his shoulder and a handful of rifles. They didn't know if they were going to give him a medal or a Court Martial!

About daybreak, the German artillery started shelling the beach, as well as landing craft along the shore line and in the water. Some of the craft were hit. You could hear the 88s go "THUMP THUMP THUMP" as they went overhead. The German dive bombers began to drop bombs along the beach area and one LST had a direct hit. Many lives were lost. Our medical personnel had to go aboard and bring out the bodies. They were laid in a row on the beach in front of the LST.

In the early morning German planes would come out of the sun and strafe the beaches, you could look up at them and all you could see was the sun until they were overhead. If you were on the dunes you could almost reach up and touch them, you could see the German pilots almost at eye level as they went up the beaches. If you were caught in the open all you could do was to fall on your face and pray, there was no cover. What made it worse, was our own ships were shooting at the planes and because they were so low their bullets were hitting the beaches and dunes where we were, making it Hell on earth!

Remember those German tanks that almost got to the beaches? And the night our Paratroopers came in over the beaches and the ships and beach anti aircraft guns opened up on them thinking they were German ?

Every Sailor on that beach could tell you a dozen tales of what was going on and of their own experience, but on this page I just wanted to hit the high spots, so we wouldn't forget.

Email Paul at: poldez@live.com

Note from WebMaster:  We invite members of the 2nd BB to send their accounts of the Salerno Invasion.  They were on the beach that bloody morning and we'd like to share their stories with the readers.

The landings on Salerno began 9-9-43, and I was lucky to get on the beach on the 2nd wave.  It was still dark and those 88s were trying to reach us, but luckily we landed safely.  We dug foxholes when we landed, and prepared for action.  Just as soon as dawn broke, the 88s began firing rapidly.  Soon they hit some of our LCVPs that were coming onto the beach.

There was a sand bar about 20 to 25 feet from the beach that stopped all LCVPs.  When the ramp was lowered, the men were hesitant about getting their feet wet, until the 88s hit the water, one on each side of the boat.

Needless to say that the craft emptied in a hurry.  Many of the crafts were hit as they returned to the ships.

Some German tanks on a hill were giving the incoming LCVPs lots of trouble with the continuous shelling.  The light cruiser, Boise, with excellent information from one of our observers knocked the tanks out of commission in short order with their salvos.

Before that light cruiser Boise took control of the tanks, we had received word the Army was going to vacate the beach, and our 4th Beach Battalion would stay on the beach and try to hold these on-coming Germans.  But they were repulsed and we sure were glad because our 4th BB didn't have to fight them ourselves.

OUR SHIP WAS TORPEDOED

We were on our way back from Italy to our base at Arzew, No. Africa, just standing there on the starboard side of the LST. enjoying the sun.  The scene was peaceful and serene. All of a sudden there were two enemy planes coming at us out of the sun!  Even before we could react, a torpedo hit the LST's bow right below us.

The concussion threw us back into the ship, but luckily we were able to grab the side of the ship to keep from falling into the chasm caused by the explosion.  We surely were fortunate to be able to pull ourselves up to the deck side.

Meanwhile those men who were on the port side went over the side into the Mediterranean..  They could not be located ... everyone thought they were lost.  The damaged area was closed off by the ships crew keeping the ship afloat.

The next day a Canadian subchaser hailed our ship to ask if we had lost anybody overboard.  It was our shipmates, the ones who were lost overboard the night before.  We sure were happy to see them, whom we never expected to live.

That was a happy reunion for everyone, especially for our lost shipmates.

With the LST's damaged bow closed off, we were able to stay afloat, continuing slowly on the until we reached Oran, Algeria.

SALERNO MEMORIES
By:  Robert V. Autry
4th Beach Battalion, C-9

I remember that dark September morning in Salerno.  As I recall, we landed on Blue Beach, the last on the right flank.  It was very dark and Quiet !!  As we waded in and were supposed to do a "Hydrographic" sweep of the shallows, but in the dark couldn't find enough men to do the job.
  Another wave of boats could be heard heading for shore so the few men in the water went up on the beach.  I bumped into Elmer ("Johnny" Johnstone) just as one of the vehicles at that time (a half-track) hit a "Teller" Mine.
  We ran to the remains and in the dark discovered a "G.I." who had probably been blown through the gun-mount ring up front.  The poor guy was in terrible pain, and Elmer discovered he had a broken leg and a broken arm.
  Ever the "Medic", Johnny managed to administer some morphine, and we dragged him away from the vehicle for fear of an explosion.  We managed to get the man to the shelter of a low rise sand dune.
  Then all hell broke loose, as the Germans cut loose with fire from the tower area, tanks past the dune line and from the right flank near Agropoli.  In the terror & turmoil that followed, I lost track of "Elmer" Johnstone (never knew who the G.I. was?).
Later that afternoon, when Naval Gun fire saved our "A"s temporarily, we were told we had to "Consolidate" and move to our left.  I was helping the radiomen with their gear, carrying a TBX radio.
  At that time a group of G.I.s were sweeping for mines on the beach and a Jeep carrying a wounded soldier on a litter across the rear seat came from behind the dune line and slowly started to move toward Yellow Beach on our left.
  The non-com in charge of the mine detail told the Engineer Officer in the front passenger seat that the area was heavily mined and had not been cleared for vehicles.  The Officer obviously wanted to get the wounded G.I. to an aid station and told the soldier that "He" would take the "responsibility."
  In the lull I got a look at the stretcher occupant a recognized M.Sgt "Joe (Webmaster has chosen not to print his name since family may not appreciate it - r.t.)," 531st Engineers.  I had met "Joe" back at Arzew when we were attached in a bivouac area during training.  I discovered we were from the same hometown, Hartford, CT and had gone to "Hartford High" although Joe was several years ahead of me.  He was a milkman in civilian life and had been very reassuring to me aboard the ship on the eve of our landing.  "Don't worry, Bob, we'll be back in Hartford drinking a beer in no time at all."
  "Joe" had a bandage on his head but seemed to be semi-conscious as the Jeep started to roll ... WHAM!  The blast flipped me and others near like ten pins.  My ears are still ringing!  I was dazed and couldn't see.  Then I felt someone pouring water from a canteen over my face and eyes.  There was "Elmer" Johnstone, ever the "Medic!"  When the smoke & dust cleared, those that could, picked themselves up to survey the carnage.
  The Jeep was upside down, totaled.  The driver was in "La La" land, but suffered no serious injury.  The Officer was missing the top of his head.  My hometown pal, Sgt. "Joe," had been blown in half.  To illustrate the general state of shock that most of us were in ... after that night and morning of tragic events ... there was (no) panic, no screaming ... everyone gathered their gear and whatever courage we could muster, and moved off that Beach.
  Later I thanked Corpsman Johnstone for helping me out.  Johnny's reply, "Hell! Was that you?  I didn't recognize you with all that sand!"

Within days following the capture of German soldiers at Salerno, a letter was received by Adm. Hewitt.

                                                                            Prisoner of War Camp #0132

Dear Adm. Hewitt,

     I am a Colonel in the German Army, attached to the 42nd Motorized Panzer Division.  Doubtless by some trick of fate, which Der Fuerher and I will never understand, my unit was captured by a vastly superior number of British near Salerno on September 14th.

    As a member of the higher echelon I had a remarkable opportunity to observe the Allied invasion.  As early as 0700 on Sept. 9, we were aware of a new Allied weapons, Beach Parties.

    Truly they are amazing outfits.  In the bitter days to come we could match the tanks and infantry, but the Beach Parties we couldn't figure out.

    In fact of it hadn't been for the 1st Beach Battalion, we would have pushed dem bums into the sea.  You are to be complimented for the edge this Beach Party gives you.

                                                                            /s/ Col. Krauthead

(Copied from a 1st BB newsletter 10/31/43.)

OPERATION AVALANCHE

UNITED STATES AMPHIBIOUS FORCE

NORTHWEST AFRICAN WATERS

8 OCTOBER 1943

FROM:    The Commanding Officer, 4th Beach Battalion

TO:           Commander, Eighth Amphibious Force

Subject:      Report on Recent Operation:   AVALANCHE

1.    The following is a complete report concerning the activities of the Fourth Beach Battalion in the recent operation "AVALANCHE" in the Salerno area, Italy.

2.    The Fourth Beach Battalion landed on the four beaches from assault transports in various waves from the second through the sixth.  All platoons were landed on their proper beaches.

3.    As soon as possible after landing, communications were set up on all beaches and maintained throughout thereafter satisfactorily.  A delay was experienced on several beaches due to heavy enemy fire.  It is the writer's opinion that present radio equipment should, if possible, be changed to a more portable set.  At the present time, it is necessary for at least three men to carry the present equipment.  These men are scattered upon landing on the beaches and a considerable delay could ensue if any of these men failed to arrive.

4.    A hydrographic reconnaissance was made of all beaches, and channels found for LSTs to come in, but due to many enemy mines, it was necessary to delay bringing the heavy equipment in.  At the present time the system being employed by the Army in the demolition of mines is in my opinion altogether too slow.

5.    As soon as the beaches were cleared of mines, LSTs were brought in without any trouble whatsoever.  Pontoons were set up and maintained throughout the assault period, and also the follow-up trips of the LSTs.  The commanding officers and crews of the LSTs cooperated 100 percent with the Beach-Masters, and I believe the small craft operated to a high degree of efficiency.

6.    The bull-dozers, which were carried by the Beach Battalion, proved very efficient and helpful, but some difficulty was experienced in getting the APs to send them in.  Due to the extremely mild weather, no boats were lost by stranding or broaching.  One boat was lost by a direct hit but the engine and other useful parts were taken from the boat and returned to North Africa by LST.

7.    The heavy-duty pumps also proved very efficient, but in all future operations they should be left ashore with the Beach Battalion, instead of being returned to the APs as it was proven after the assault transports had left, a definite need for these was necessary due to LCTs having holes punched in them.  Four of these pumps were left after the APs had sailed, and at one time all of these pumps were in use on various LCTs with holes in them.

8.    In the future at least one LCVP per beach should be left behind with the Beach-Master in order to handle the pontoons with greater efficiency.  In the present operation it was necessary to draft LCMs which were urgently needed at the same time to unload M/T ships, and if LCVPs had been on hand this delay would not have occurred.

9.    The evacuation of wounded commenced on D-Day, and continued for the next twelve days.  It was apparent that the Army medical sections were not well versed in the system employed for the evacuation of casualties and many delays occurred due to the Army's lack of knowledge.  In future operations the Army medical section should be better trained and should have a larger personnel to handle casualties, as many times it was necessary to send our medical officers and corpsmen inland from the beaches to handle wounded.

10.    Once again it was noticed that a definite lack of sufficient Army personnel needed to unload small boats, and during the assault phase over 90 percent of all cargo and equipment was discharged by Navy personnel.  Also for at least two days the Army was unable to keep the beachhead clear due to insufficient manpower and a definite lack of vehicles.  At least 200 men per beach in addition to the Shore Party Regiment is needed to unload the small boats at a maximum efficiency.  This was definitely lacking in the recent operations and for the first two days, it was apparent that the Army had no established plan for handling cargo and equipment.

11.    As early as H plus 7 it was noted on three of the four beaches a considerable number of barracks bags and other personal equipment was piled along the beach head.

12.    Besides unloading on the beaches, it was necessary to reload various supplies, equipment and personnel at least twice a day for the first six days in order to ship these reinforcements to the north.  This necessitated a loss of at least three LCTs at all times, which slowed down the discharging of the follow-up convoy.

13.    The English type LST proved very unsatisfactory as their draft was too deep to permit them to come into the pontoons, and it was necessary with one of the LSTs to discharge its entire cargo into LCTs.  Also the English type LCTs proved unsatisfactory due to their extreme draft when fully loaded, and it was necessary at all times to discharge this type of draft either at the pontoons or DUKWs.

14.    Due to the lack of sufficient Army personnel to discharge ships, inload boats at the beachhead, and not enough truck drivers, it was necessary for the Army to work a twelve hour day from 0600 in the morning to 1800 in the evening.  This proved very unsatisfactory as trucks would stop coming to the beachhead at 1800 and all LCTs that were not fully discharged at this time had to wait till 0600 the following morning to be discharged.  This caused a delay in the continuous discharge of ships as no LCTs were available.

15.    A lack of DUKWs was noticed throughout the entire period.  A total of seventy-two DUKWs were available for the four beaches which was definitely an insufficient amount for the number of ships and LSTs to be discharged.

16.    On D plus three, smoke generators were sent ashore and set up on all beaches.  Each evening the generators were turned on, and with prevailing wind from land a very good smoke covering was given to all the ships, and it is my opinion that with the proper wind these smoke generators are invaluable to the safety of the ships lying at anchor.

       From the time the smoke generators were put in use until the Beach Battalion left, not a single ship was bombed during the night.  The duty and responsibility of this smoke control I believe is definitely an Army responsibility, but no smoke control was established by the Army until D plus four when the Army took over all smoke control.  I believe that in future operations that in the event that the Army cannot set up a smoke control system immediately upon arrival, then the Navy should send in smoke generators during the daylight hours of D-day in order that they may be set up and put into operation by sunset of D-day.  From my personal observation, I believe, providing favorable winds prevails, that smoke control for the ships at anchor is one of the best weapons that we can employ.

17.    I believe that during our entire stay on the beaches, all of the officers and men of the Fourth Beach Battalion were outstanding, and I also believe that they did a very good job in the performance of their duties.

                                                             /s/ J.E. Walsh, Lt.Comdr., USNR

(The first endorsement to this report was by the Commander, Eighth Amphibious Force.  He approved several improvements suggested by Walsh and made the following recommendation: "The Force Commander considers that the Fourth Beach Battalion performed its assigned tasks in an outstanding manner under enemy fire.  By copy of this endorsement, the Commander, Fourth Beach Battalion, is directed to submit recommendations for individual awards.")

                                                             /s/ E.H. von Heimburg, Chief of Staff

(The second endorsement confirms the above endorsement by Eighth Amphibious Force Commander, and approves Walsh's suggestion about the use of smoke generators in the assault area.)

                                                             /s/ H.K. Hewitt, Cmder., U.S. Eighth Fleet

Addendum

Much of the following information came from our own memories,

some from the 1993 Winter edition of the 36th Div. Assoc.

T-PATCHER newsletter, SALERNO (by Hugh Pond), some

(very little) from THE GOOD WAR (by Studs Terkel), and most

from Beach master Lt. Jud Bentley.

Is your memory still vivid of our climbing down those cargo nets

in pitch blackness from the troopships into those prancing

LCVPs and heading toward the beach ... breathing diesel fumes

and the smell of fear?

"Remember when we crouched down in those LCVPs heading

for Red Beach at Salerno? And several guys reported the

coxswain going around what looked like it might be a submarine. 

It appeared to be heading out to sea."

According to a British "SHIPS POSITION REPORT" the 

HM Submarine "SHAKESPEAR" had been operating in this

area for several weeks prior to the invasion. 

And those Krauts on the beach eagerly awaiting our arrival ...

"Ernte einbringen" (bring in the harvest!"). You'll recall, "They left

the light on for us!" ... those brilliant German chandelier flares.

(That Amish expression comes to mind ... "Throw the Germans

over the beach some Americans!")

A little research revealed that the German welcoming committee

consisted of a Major Duppenbecker, Commander of the 1st

Panzer Grenadier Battalion, 79 Regiment of the 16th Panzer

Division. Col. Stempel, with the 64th Panzer, 2nd Engineers,

16th Panzer Grenadiers, 3rd Panzer Regiment, was in the sector

between Salerno and the River Sele (between the British

Forces and the American Forces).

Col. Doering, with the 64th Panzer Grenadiers and the attached

troops, manned the defense in front of Paestum (where we hit

the beach!).  In addition to the numerous mine fields laid to

hamper the American invaders, antiaircraft guns were sighted in

positions where they also could be used against our tanks and

trucks.

4th. Beach Battalion  -- Amphibious Force North African Waters

Activities  during month of September, 1943

Contributed by:  David Benevelli

On September 1, 1943, the 4th. Beach Battalion was

stationed aboard Naval transports awaiting the combat loading

of Army personnel and equipment. On September 5 the convoy

set sail for its mission – the invasion of Italy.

(Photo Credit:  The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia
of World War II, Volume 5 Page 1162 Picture Acknowledgement: Keystone.) 

  The Battalion working with the 531st. Engineer Shore

Regiment and units of  the 36th. Infantry Division began  its

active part in the landing upon Italian soil by loading

from the transports into assault landing craft shortly

before midnight on September 8. Platoons B-4, B-5, C-7 and

C-9 composed the initial landing groups.  These units landed

in the third wave at approximately 0345, September 9, and

by 0900 the balance of the Battalion  including Company and

Battalion Headquarters units was ashore. The primary landings

were met by fierce opposition consisting of medium artillery,

mortar, machine gun and sniper fire, and no part of the

Battalion escaped fire from one or more of these  sources.

Shelling by German tank and artillery units continued in some

places as late as 1500 of D day.

      Lt.(jg) Robert H. Burch Jr. and twenty-six men of B-4 were  

landed in a stream far on  the  north flank of Red Beach

with a group of fifteen engineers. There was a lack of machine

gun  fire at this point, and Lt.(jg) Burch worked with a 531st.

sergeant and uncovered an  exit road. Navy and engineers

worked  on a roadway while the Navy also carried on

 reconnaissance of water along the landing strip. The onslaught of 

opposition on the beaches to  the south dictated this move as a

possible diversion for unloading combat equipment  with which

to flank the enemy opposing those beaches. The prudence of this

action was borne out in hours after the beach was  operative

when artillery was expedited to the relief  of hard pressed

beaches to the south. Sporadic artillery fire fell from the north

and south. Most of the shells landed in the water which made

reconnaissance hazardous, and one D-7 Bulldozer was a victim of

a direct hit. This shelling was silenced by destroyer fire at noon.

this beach was kept in operation separate from the original Red

Beach and designated as Red 1.

     Lt. George E. Prime, Company Commander of B Company,

and Lt.(jg) Hexamer landed on Red Beach with platoon B-5, and   

Ensign Blunt landed on Green Beach with platoon B-6 

(commanded by Lt.(jg) W.A.Tinney & Lt.(jg) Henry F. Jentz).

On Red Beach the engineers  were thrown into active defense 

work and the Navy laid  the initial road. Green Beach lay directly

ahead of a German machine gun stronghold, a stone tower and 

0building, and a steady hail of bullets covered this beach and also

angled onto Red Beach. At daylight  when fire became

increasingly heavy  an English craft shelled the enemy stronghold 

with smoke bombs and enabled Engineer and Navy personnel to 

storm it.  Clyde Daughtery S2/c and Charles A. Melanson CM3/c 

were outstanding from the Battalion in breaking up a German 

radio unit and machine gun point and clearing out snipers. Six

prisoners  were taken by these two men and an enlisted man of

the 531st. The original Red Beach was called Red 2, and it

was upon this beach that the Battalion Headquarters was 

established under Lt.Cmdr. Walsh.

    “A” Company, the reserve company, under Lt. Floyd Childs

landed on Red 2 at dawn under a barrage of 88s and worked on

this beach until 1500 when it was sent to Red 1. Underwater

reconnaissance was made under the direction of Lt. Walter

Connolly and Ensign Glenn Adams. Lt.(jg) Adams was killed by

shrapnel from the bomb of a ME109 which dropped at the foot

of a pontoon causeway on Red 2 on the morning of D plus 1.

     Platoon C-7 with Lt. John R. Riley, Company C commander,

landed on Yellow Beach followed shortly by platoon C-8 

(commanded by Lt.(jg) Donald M. Collyer). Platoon C-9 under Lt.(jg) 

Linton landed on Blue Beach. Yellow and Blue Beach  were 

harassed by mortar, machine gun and sniper fire. The fourth  

wave was the last wave to land on Blue Beach so intense was the 

resistance. About daylight German  artillery started shelling the 

beach and landing craft along the shore line and in the water. 

Sometime during the morning three German tanks advanced onto 

the beach itself a mere 200 yards from the flank of Blue Beach 

and proceeded to  shell approaching ships and small craft.  The 

enemy tanks were silenced shortly before noon. Blue Beach made 

an attempt to get a boat from Yellow Beach to evacuate casualties 

but when approaching Blue this craft was  sunk by mortar fire. 

One of the platoon, Andrew Alardi S1/c, without consideration

of his own personal safety, ran the gauntlet of sniper fire,

pulled off his clothing and swam out to give assistance to

the crew of the sunken boat. Two other craft made a similar

attempt but had to turn back on account of enemy fire. Shortly

afternoon destroyers shelled the beach and the Beach Party

had to move to the right to escape their fire. Fred N. Bingaman 

SM3/c exposed himself to Naval and enemy fire to semaphore that 

his platoon was in the area and succeeding destroyer fire was

well overhead. About 1600 of D day part of the 531st. and

platoon C-9 moved to Yellow Beach even though some snipers

remained in the vicinity and from that time on Blue Beach was

operated in conjunction with Yellow Beach.

     Despite the hail of German fire a reconnaissance of

Yellow Beach was attempted. Lt.(jg) Luther Kern of C-8 was

mortally wounded while attempting to find a channel for LSTs.

He was accompanied by Roy Andrew Bolstridge S1/c and Cox 

Lonzo T. Ayers and was making the effort from an English

personnel landing craft. The craft was sunk by three hits and the 

English personnel were lost.  Bolstridge and Ayers who had a 

shrapnel wound in his foot moved Lt.(jg) Kern to a scout boat which 

pulled alongside but Lt.(jg) Kern died before the scout boat could 

reach a transport.

     En route to Yellow Beach shortly after daylight the

C Company Headquarters unit was shelled by artillery from the

hills. Two shells landed extremely close and the tank lighter

was forced to turn away in the direction of Red Beach. The

TBY radio was placed in operation by Delbert D. Metz RM1/c at 

the direction of the communications officer, Lt.(jg) Eugene T. 

Gleason.  At this time Blue Beach was asking for assistance 

against the German tanks in its area but due to the limited range of 

the TBY, which was the only set in operation, they were unable

to gain assistance. The communications officer suggested

shifting to the channel of the Red and Green Beaches and

broadcasting the appeal for aid through long range radio and

telephone on either of those beaches.  Metz expertly made the

changeover  and expedited a message containing the exact

position of the tanks to Red Beach where it was subsequently

relayed to artillery and Naval Fire Control units.

     From D day afternoon control of the four operating

beaches: Yellow, Green, Red 2 and Red 1, was centralized at

Red 2 under the omnipresent attention of Lt.Cmdr. James E. Walsh. 

A lateral Navy telephone line was established early in the

operation and on D plus 6 radio communication was consolidated

on Red 2 and information was passed laterally by telephone.

Day and night air raids occurred until September 18.

     On September 23 most of the Battalion was  evacuated

by Naval transport and a skeleton force of seventy men and

six officers was  left  to maintain Naval control on the four

beaches.  Besides Lt. Floyd Childs who was placed in command

with headquarters on Red 2 there was Lt. John R. Riley on

Yellow, Lt.(jg) Stanley Linton on Green, Lt.(jg) Robert H.

Burch Jr. on Red 1, and Lt Cmdr. Harvey B. Savage Jr. and Lt.(jg)

Eugene T. Gleason in charge of communications.

     The signalmen of the Battalion deserve special mention

for the work performed in this landing. Naval signal work

of its nature demands exposing oneself to fire, but the signal-

men of the Battalion never flinched when messages were

to be sent and craft guided to favorable landing spots along

the beach. SM3/c Fred N. Bingaman of platoon C-9 previously 

mentioned, SM3/c Edwin Shaefer of B-4 and SM2/c James Lynch 

of A-3 were strongly commended by their respective beach masters, 

and it was conceded by all officers that the signal branch had 

done a splendid job under difficult conditions.

     The medical department of the Battalion carried on its

word courageously and efficiently. Several corpsmen distinguished

themselves by rendering first aid under heavy fire,

notably HA1/c Elmer R. Johnstone of platoon C-9. Army and 

Beach Battalion doctors worked untiringly to treat and evacuate 

casualties as quickly as possible.

     On the night of September 28 several days of heavy seas

were culminated by a severe storm which beached and mauled

many landing craft and several ships. All the salvage resources

of the Navy afloat and the Battalion  were brought into full

play and as of the last day of the month steady progress was

being made in reestablishing order along the shore.

MORE SALERNO BEACH TALES

Toward D-Day +5 the food supplies got so low that the Army cooks were faced with feeding the troops (including the Navy guys when we could break away) some standard Navy Beach Battalion fare ... yes, K-Rations and C-Rations.  The soldiers argued that they couldn't stomach such a low grade diet.  One of the loudest growling came from a Sgt. about the poor quality of the food. "Is this all the Army can afford to fed us?" Whereupon one of the cooks snapped back, "Perhaps you can do better!"

"Give me permission, " he snapped right back,"...and I'll do much better!" And with his officer's "Okay," he began a search of the nearby countryside.  In fact he had the problem solved about an hour later. Returning from a tour of the nearby farms, he presented the surprised cook with a rope, which was attached to a full-size cow.

The troops eyes lit up like Halloween lanterns.  And soon those hungry soldiers were banqueting on juicy steaks, etc.

The Sgt. answered the questions, "How did you manage that miracle?"  "I paid perfectly good lira to the farmer for that delicious food item for which he was more than amply reimbursed by the Lord of the Harvest by surviving the Invasion and the war.

4th Beach Battalion's Co. A-1 Hospital Corpsman Francis A. Boland relates an interesting personal experience at Salerno. We landed on Red Beach during the Salerno Italy Invasion shortly after H-Hour, Sept. 9, 1943 with the second, third or fourth wave and had been working on the beachhead five or six days.

The 540th Combat Engineers had landed along with us and we helped them with their assignment to set up equipment so that big trucks and tanks could cross the beach sand and reach the roads.

They brought in bulldozers and other equipment and a material like summerfelt matting (rolls similar to chicken wire entwined with strips of burlap and wider that a wide truck) which they would unroll for trucks and tanks to travel over so that they would not bog down in the sand.

Over the period of days the trucks and tanks by the hundreds had ridden over the summerfelt matting roads and had ground the sand into a consistency of confectioners sugar, or even finer.

At about 1000 hours I was walking toward the waterline of the beach when I noticed a small gathering near the waters edge. As I drew near, I recognized General Mark Clark, who had just landed and was talking to several officers.

The contrast was remarkable. Most of the officers and enlisted men present had been on the beach since D-Day and were grimy, sweaty and dirty. All had a few days growth of beard and belonged to "The Great Unwashed!"

Meanwhile General Clark, standing newly arrived on the beach, was (from what I could see) bone dry, sparkling clean with every item about his cap and uniform in immaculate shape.

His valet must have spent hours and hours on every aspect of his shoes and the creases in his pants and shirt. His collar stars and those on his hat just sparkled. general Mark Clark was "spit and polish" in every aspect.

The contrast between his attire and that of our Beach Party was so great as to be ludicrous ... absolutely absurd!

Well, General Clark walked up the beach, got into a Jeep and was driven away toward Naples.

The day went on with so many duties and other assignments to take care of on the beach that the General was forgotten.

It must have been after 1800 hours when the General arrived back on the beach. After having ridden through the dust that had been ground so fine by the Army trucks, DUKWs and tanks, he was a sight to look at. The sand was packed on his skin and was permeated throughout his uniform.

This time I saw him as he was passing, not as close as I had been this morning. Thank God for that, for seeing the General in his changed condition, I burst out laughing and hurriedly walked away so as not to attract his attention.

Even to this day, fifty years later, when I think of his arrival on Red Beach that day, and the condition he was in when he departed I still chuckle.

Texas Military Forces Museum

SALERNO STORY

36th Division in World War II 

(click on link for story)

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