ww2letterproject

“Say mom if you ever get a good picture of Fan, Sam, Pat, Annie & Victor & Dad together send them and a picture of you & Ruth. I think I have a picture of you and Ruth in my photo album that can be carried in a billfold. I’d sure love to have them.”
–May 7, 1944

May 1-5: Bill and Company I of the 337th engage in the active defense of the front line. All three battalions are on the line with two companies in reserve. Time is spent patrolling and strengthening defensive positions with wire entanglements and mines. The front line is subject to enemy shelling and mortar fire daily with negligible results. Early on the morning of May 5, the enemy is able to sneak into the 337th position and carry away a Company C man as a prisoner.

May 6-11: There is active patrolling. On the night of May 7-8, Company I remains with the 349th to continue normal patrolling, training and preparation for offensive combat. On May 10, parts of the 337th march to the assembly area in Tremeansouli to be in reserve. Company I continues patrolling the 88 Division Sector. At 2300 on May 11, covered by fire from artillery and heavy weapons, the attack “jumps off,” marking the US Allies’ fourth major assault of the Gustav line.

 
The Gustav Line was a line of German military fortifications that ran across Italy from north of where the Garigliano River flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, to the mouth of the Sangro River on the Adriatic coast in the east. It was fortified with concrete bunkers, gun pits, machine-gun pillboxes, minefields, anti-tank obstacles and barbed wire, and was held by 15 divisions of the German Army, commanded by General Albert Kesselring. The center of the Gustav Line included Monte Cassino, where there was an old abbey on top of a mountain.

 

May 12-18: No regimental troops participate in the initial attack. By 0400 Company A moves out to support the 339th which had run into bitter opposition in their attempt to take hills 66, 69, and 79. At 0430 Company K moves to assist the 3rd battalion: 339th. The company suffers heavy casualties but manages to establish a foothold on Hill 69. Company I rejoins the 3rd battalion: 339th in defensive positions to back up the line. Hill 69 is captured at 1500. Hill 66 is attacked but in the resulting action, Allied troops are forced off the Hill and back to Hill 69. With strong artillery support, a follow-up attack on Hill 66 at 1830 results in close combat. Enemy mines, artillery and automatic weapons cause significant casualties. The Hill is ultimately captured and the 1st battalion organizes defense for the counterattacks they know will come at daylight.

 
May 13: At dawn, the enemy storms Hill 69 with force but is repulsed. Troops on Hills 69 and 66 have been under constant artillery fire. Evacuation of wounded and dead and resupply is a serious problem.
May 14: Enemy troops attack Hill 66 in the morning. They reach the crest but are forced back. Later that day, Hill 108 is taken after fierce fighting.
May 15th: The 3rd battalion moves up the line and launches an attack against Castellonorato where the Germans continue to hold tenaciously. On the way, Company I overruns Hill 104. In the skirmish, Captain Robert, Company I Commander is killed. Allied troops take Castellonorato by dark.

May 16: Allies receive reports that the enemy is withdrawing all along the Line. The Gustav Line had been broken.

For action during the month of May, the 337th receives:
13 Bronze Stars
34 Purple Hearts
1175 Combat Infantry Badges

Casualties for the month of May:
11 officers 169 enlisted men

 

 

 

May 2, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mom & all

Just a few lines to say hello and to tell you I’m well. Must be getting plenty to eat because I feel ornery. Had a little touch of spring fever today but they shook that out of me. Got another long letter from Ardis today. She’s sure swell mom. She sounded like she was tired and disgusted. She must have worked hard today. Did I tell you she has a new job. She’s earning 6.75 a day and six days a week. Not bad eh! Well how’s things on the farm these spring days Mom and how’s Dad. I sure hope he’s well.

Did he ever get the letter I sent him to give to John Fable. Tell him I’ll write soon. How are the kids getting along. Tell Fan, Annie, Sam, Vic & Pat I said hello. How’s Dick making out now. Is he working anywhere. Say Mom did Velma say anything about the rugged letter I sent her. Serves her right. She shouldn’t have wrote to me the way she did.

Well give my love to Grandpa and everyone when you see them mom. And I could sure use a few more of those good doughnuts if you’d like to send them.

Well bye now. Lots of love to all.

Your loving son
Bill

May 3, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mother

Just a few lines to tell you Mom that I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. Rather I should say I received both of your v-mails this morning.

So you want me to state clearly that I want a package from you. Ok. Mom I want you to send me a package and put in it some candles, a bottle of ink, and a few of those big Blue Bandanas. I’ll see that you get some money right away. And always add a few eats. will that be alright. Say, Mom I’m sure glad you sent those things to Ardis. That was swell of you to do that. She’ll really appreciate it. When I get back I’ll bring her home to meet you and let you find out for yourself how swell she is.

Well so Abbie is taking the big boat ride is he. I was in hopes he wouldn’t have to come over. I’d sure like to know where he is now. Wonder if he got seasick. We’ll see in due time. I’d sure love to see the pup that dad got for Pat. I’ll bet he sure has a time with it, if he’s anything like the rest of the boys in this family.

Gee with the weather we have here its sure hard to realize that it was trying to snow back home in April. I’m glad there isn’t any snow here. I’m a hot weather bird anyway. So Dad’s working is he. Hope he’s well.

This morning Jerry got ambitious and almost spoiled my breakfast but I can hang on to a mess kit full of chow like a miser holds on to a dollar. Some fun! Well give my regards to Mr Quinn and Grandpa and all the rest. Tell the kids I send my love.

Lots of love always
Bill

[note on back of letter] Make the ink a permanent black

May 7, 1944 — Italy

Dear Mom & all

Just a few lines to say Hello and let you know I’m well. As usual all I think about is my stomach. Sure wish I were home for a Breakfast of Hot Cakes & Ham or for some good old Fried Chicken. But I’m putting all my trust in Ruth to take care of my share when she’s over to see you. Tell her I said so.

I received a letter from her the other day and this morning I got a mail from Ardis & an old friend in Ordenville, Utah, Cerelius Dad.  Ardis tells me she received the card & picture and thinks they’re sure nice. Thanks a million mom. She also told me she was sending a box.

Say mom if you ever get a good picture of Fan, Sam, Pat, Annie & Victor & Dad together send them and a picture of you & Ruth. I think I have a picture of you and Ruth in my photo album that can be carried in a billfold. I’d sure love to have them. Give my love to Grampa and Dad & the kids and I’ll see you again soon.

Lots of Love to all
Bill

* “Italy Defense Lines South of Rome 1943 4” by By Stephen Kirrage [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

** “Santa Maria Infante001” by Unknown – United States Army in World War II: The War against Germany and Italy – Pictorial Record, Washington, D.C. 1988. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons