Cannon Company • 133rd Infantry

34th Inf Div Assn history 133cannon 4404.html

• SiteMap • Message Board

The Unit Journal of Cannon Company, 133rd Infantry
April 1944 - May 1945

---

1 April, Saturday

The men again set to work digging drainage ditches, work which lasted all day, while other men had to work on the guns. Colonel Carley L Marshall, CO 133rd Inf, called for a 12-man detail to help dig in the Regimental OP.

1015 hours. Again enemy aircraft were overhead; the planes are coming in one at a time and dropping their bomb loads. The anti-aircraft guns are making life very miserable for them during the time they are over the beachhead. Again the bombs were dropped very close to the Company area, but none of them were hitting in it, and there were no casualties. Pvt Max A Campbell who was in the Hospital was notified he was to go home on rotation. He is the fourth man of the Company to receive this break of returning to the U.S. Pvt Joseph Marchetta who was transferred to the Medics in the Alife area rejoined the Company today.

2 April, Sunday

Another clear day with the enemy territory very plainly visible; again the men were put to work draining the swampy area around us and putting used oil on the ponds [for mosquito control]. We now have almost twenty different plans to follow in case of counter-attack; we have aerial photographs of all the areas surrounding us. In the afternoon the men worked on their personal equipment; some of them even attempting to take a bath in the old bath tub which some other outfit apparently brought out from town and put near the stream.

Again the enemy planes were overhead all night, one of the raids starting at 2230 hours and lasting continuously until 0115 hours. This time all the bombs were dropped to our rear, but at times the 90 mm ack-ack guns were firing and bursting directly overhead, showering our area with flak. About 0330 hours another air raid started and this time bombs were unloaded on three sides of us; reports later confirmed that the Hospital to our rear was bombed. T/5 Ronald L Iserman came up from the rear to join the Company during the night.

3 April, Monday

Today we received a lot of the men back from the line companies, those that were transferred out in the Alife area. Because we are now back on the original T/O [Table of Organization] with eight guns we need the men. The men returning were Pvt Joseph Matyok, Pvt Franklin L Clark, Pvt Joseph Kuder, Pvt Edward Matthews, Pvt John C Welch, Pvt Robert Wagner, Pvt Michael Marince, Pvt Mario J De Simone, Pvt Robert M Curtiss, and PFC Vincent J Di Gilaramo, all of whom had previously served with the Company. These men dug in while the other men worked on camouflaging the area. Again we had two air raids during the night, but this time we did not hear the bombs dropping; in the second raid large bombs were dropped on the rear areas. Again the anti-aircraft guns put up a furious barrage. One new replacement came in this evening, Pvt Herschel R Peterson; he will go into the Communication Section as he has had a lot of experience with our new radio types.

4 April, Tuesday

Capt John R Karlson, Lt Eudell R O'Brien, and Lt Norman Raner left to go forward to look over positions the Company has selected to move into. This position is at coordinates 9725, from this area they went forward to a bridge at 981251 to confirm that the bridge was intact. The men from the Gun Platoons went forward to work on the new gun positions, while the men from Headquarters Platoon worked on an operational room for the ___ men which were to be held in this area. The men of this Company are to act as Umpires, Major Clough is to be in charge and is presently attached to the Company. These problems are to start tomorrow night; the battalions [of this Regiment] are to attack positions the Company has set up, we acting the part of the enemy and they having the part of a battalion in attack against defensive positions. The 100th Infantry Battalion will go through the problem first. The officers and NCOs of this Company will go with the attacking companies while our other men set up the defensive positions. Capt Karlson is to act as Chief Umpire. 1st Lt Howard B Ralston, who has been attached to the Company for only a few days, is to return to the U.S. on rotation. Since the gun sections were not finished with their work as Headquarters Platoon finished with the operational dug-out, they will continue to work on into the night; the kitchen served hot coffee at midnight. A few shells barely cleared the hill in front of the area, going over the draw we were in and landing about 500 yards to the rear. T/4 Clyde E Neiswender left today to cook at the Divisional Headquarters School. Pvt Robert Compoyl returned to this unit; he too had been with us until Alife.

5 April, Wednesday

Since the men worked late last night, breakfast at 0900 hours started the day. 1st Sgt Woodrow E Bailey took out the men who were to act as the enemy on this problem to show them how the problem should go, and to pick out positions. Our Anti-Tank Company has a detail of men digging a small-arms firing range just behind our CP; by afternoon a company had started firing on the range just back of the CP and the men working on the operations dugout were nearly under overhead fire. Supper was served early and the detail to remain in camp to do guard duty was picked; T/5 Bernard J "Bud" Nolan was placed in charge of guard during the problems. The men left to set up their defensive positions, while the men to serve as Umpires remained in the area, there to join the companies for which they would be umpires. Just before dark the men of the 100th Infantry Battalion came into the area, ready for the problem.

Just after dark they moved out toward their 'Line of Departure'. The 100th Battalion sent out patrols; our men in the defensive positions captured some, but many of our outposts were captured by the 100th Battalion men. The Company used tin cans and sticks to simulate machine-gun fire. The best 'boner' of the night was pulled by PFC George V Snyder. He was on an outpost and a small group of the 100th bore down on him; when he beat on his tin can to simulate MG fire, they withdrew. He heard and reported a five-man patrol on the way; While he was telling how he'd killed at least two of the patrol, the full Battalion stood up and started running toward our men, capturing them and ending the problem. The 'enemy' members of our Company returned about 2330 hours, but the Umpires did not get in until about 2400 hours when the kitchen served hot coffee. Not a single enemy plane was over during the night, but we had nearly a 'cross-fire' with our artillery and the enemy artillery all night, one shell landing in an area near the Company but doing no damage.

6 April, Thursday

Immediately after breakfast the men took off to their defensive positions; the 100th Infantry Battalion is to come back from the opposite direction on a daylight attack. The problem went off without any confusion this morning. Pvt Elmo H Shuey on outpost reported to 1st Sgt Bailey that the attack was coming from the left flank; immediately the Sergeant strengthened his left flank only to find an equal number approaching the right flank. Our men were captured one-by-one until the end of the problem. Most of the afternoon was spent cleaning up and sleeping. Capt Karlson called T/5 Tom D Pierce Jr. and T/5 Iserman in and told them that their names had been picked to return to the US on rotation, but they will not leave just yet. The regular guard was put on as there is no problem tonight or tomorrow, and breakfast will not be served until 0900 hours. PFC Campbell returned to the Company from the Hospital; everyone thought he was already on his way home, but he has not heard of his going until he got back to the Company. He will leave with Pierce and Iserman now. PFC Paul Radford who was injured when we were bombed in this area returned to the Company. Again no enemy planes were over all night.

7 April, Friday

The morning was unusually quiet, most of the men were working on personal equipment or writing letters. After dinner the Umpires were called together for a 'critique' of the problem that was held the night before. There is to be another problem tonight with the 1st Battalion opposing our Company. After supper the men again left for their defensive positions, while the officers and NCOs went out as Umpires. PFC Kuder reported a patrol coming in at about the center of the line. PFC Kuder, Pvt Shuey, and Pvt Joseph Marchetta set out to try to flank the patrol, to bluff them into believing the patrol was surrounded. When they thought they had the patrol surrounded, they stood up and ordered them to surrender. But what they thought was a patrol was the entire C Company of the 1st Battalion.

2135 hours. Enemy aircraft came over the area. Since the men were out in the open they laid flat, some even digging slit trenches with their helmets. One plane was shot down in the dock area; we saw it fall in flames. Bombs were dropped on the extreme right and to the immediate front. All the ack-ack guns were firing and the flak was very heavy, but no one was hurt from it. The Company returned and coffee was served, but enemy shelling was again very active after midnight.

8 April, Saturday

Again the Company set out early to take up their defensive positions. After dinner no special duties were required of the Company and most of them slept or wrote letters.

2125 hours. Again enemy aircraft were overhead; no bombs were dropped in our vicinity, but the raid lasted a full hour. As soon as one plane came over and dropped its load, another took its place. The anti-aircraft guns were firing constantly. Tonight the planes sounded especially low and everyone was sweating it out. Pvt Dewey R Archer was evacuated to the Hospital tonight, not as a casualty, but sick.

9 April, Sunday

It was Easter Sunday to most people, but to the men of Cannon Company just another day. But it will be remembered for a long time by T/5 Tom D Pierce Jr. and PFC Max A Campbell. They were up early and on their way to the rear, returning to the U.S. Both men were well liked in the Company, Tom Pierce admitted he even hated to leave the men he had been with for so long; Tom was known for his quick laugh and was always out for a good time. Max would enter into any kind of an argument as long as it was in fun.

Because the firing range in back of the Company was not in use today, the men fired on it again, each man firing only ten rounds. There is to be another problem tonight with the 3rd Battalion in opposition.

After supper as the men were leaving for their defensive positions it started to rain. The 3rd Battalion arrived in the Company area and took off just after dark. There was a lack of interest shown, but this could be blamed on the miserable weather. The kitchen served hot coffee again at midnight. There were no enemy planes overhead tonight as the ceiling is too low and it's still raining.

10 April, Monday

The problem this morning went off very well; all the men commented on the excellent way the 3rd Battalion handled different situations which arose on surprise attacks and such. By noon the problem was finished and the Umpires again had a critique on the problem by the Battalion. Three men were attached to us from the 100th Infantry Battalion, OP men to help 2nd Lt Dick Harano on the Observation Post. They are PFC Oscal Fukino, PFC Yukjo Okahario, and Pvt Masanori Moriwaki.

1830 hours. Captain Karlson called all the NCOs together, giving them the picture of what was expected of us and how our Company would react to it.

2130 hours. Enemy planes again attacked the beachhead. The first planes in dropped large bombs in the rear areas. Once during a lull a terrific blast went off, shaking the hillside on which we were dug in. The planes coming in later dropped personnel bombs. It is hard to describe the ack-ack, at times it is so deafening that one's ears hurt and then, as if at a given signal, not a single gun fires. One enemy plane strafed along the top of the ridge above us, many of the men went to check the different holes to see if anyone had gotten hit, but none had. This was one of our longest air raids yet, lasting until nearly midnight, with an enemy plane overhear all the time.

11 April, Tuesday

Orders were received that we are to go into the line tomorrow night, we are to relieve the 168th Infantry Regiment. Immediately after breakfast the men started loading their equipment onto the trucks and getting things ready to move out Capt Karlson and Pvt Shuey, who is now driving for the Captain since T/5 Pierce left for home, went forward to look over the positions. When they returned they had not decided whether we would go into the positions of the 168th, or take up the positions our men had gone up and dug about five days ago.

It started raining again after supper. The men moved out to take up defensive positions against the 2nd Battalion which was to go through the maneuver tonight. The rain will make it very miserable in the positions. The 2nd Battalion had not seen any action yet, and had a lot to learn according to the ways the other Battalions had done it. No enemy aircraft were overhead tonight as the weather is very miserable. The kitchen again served coffee for the men when they returned.

12 April, Wednesday

Again the defensive positions were taken up by the Company. The problem went off very well this morning. After dinner the men started to take down the dug-outs we had put up; we are to take along the lumber that we had used for the roofs of our dug-outs. We are to move out at 2000 hours. S/Sgt George W Heath, T/4 Henry Lafferty, and Cpl Tom S Detwiler were reduced today. Pvt Lafferty has volunteered to join one of the OP crews.

1840 hours. It still being daylight, it was unusual to see enemy aircraft over the beachhead, but they did not stay long, only dropping a few bombs in the port area.

The Company loaded and left this area at about 2000 hours, arriving in the new positions about 2115 hours. The Platoons are quite far from the OP this time, and the CP is in a house partially occupied by the 435th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. The gun crews finished digging in while the wire crew laid wire to the OPs, and the radio section dug a dug-out outside of the house. Pvt Shuey had to take Lt Norman Raner to the OP. Approaching the house he was to use as the OP he noticed it was on fire. Lt Raner said he'd look for a new area and Shuey came back.

0010 hours. Enemy aircraft came over the area and the ack-ack is up again. The raid lasted about a half-hour, about ten planes overall. None of our men were exposed to any of this. T/5 Ronald L Iserman left for the rear today, he too is on his way home. He was our Company artificer, well liked by the men who will miss his rumors.

13 April, Thursday

The kitchen brought up a warm breakfast to the men, they had not yet moved from the old area. They have to come forward and go back before dawn as we are under direct observation in this area. Ahead of us the mountains forming a ring around the entire beachhead can be seen very plainly. Smoke pots help to block out a lot of the enemy's vision, which would be very clear without the smoke. Most of the men slept late as there is to be no movement around the houses during daylight hours. Mussolini at one time had set up each farmer in this vicinity with a house, barn, and a small building to cook in. Each farm is identical, about a quarter of a mile apart. The land is very level, rolling in only a few places. Even the roofs and windows in each house and outhouse are identical to the ones next to it.

Before dinner the artillery on each side was very quiet, opening up some after dinner and firing quite regularly until 1700 hours. For Dinner we ate the K rations brought up by the kitchen early this morning. Lt Silverstein and Pvt Charles Thayer returned from Regimental Liaison, as did 'ole man Rhoe', the driver. At 1330 hours Lt Hooghkirk called to register the guns on a base point, the crossroads at coordinates 051258, which was recorded as Concentration 1. At 1600 hours 2ndLt Raner called to register the guns on a base point for him, a house at coordinate 030286. Just before dark we sent a detail down to clean up a room in the house behind the platoon area, as the kitchen is to move up tonight. During the night Lt Hooghkirk called for fire on some enemy personnel that were possibly a patrol. Lt Raner called for fire on a self-propelled gun and reported that he thought it received a direct hit while we were still adjusting on it. T/5 Charles H Boltz 'cooled 10 points' for the prize boner of the evening. When the jeep he took to lay wire ran out of gasoline, he took off a can which he thought had gas in it, but instead it contained some of the famous Italian vino (wine). He had to call another jeep to pull him in, surprising a lot of the men that the stuff wouldn't burn; most of the men swear that a lot they'd had would. During the night there were no enemy aircraft overhead, and it sprinkled a little before morning.

14 April, Friday

The morning was very clear, the smoke pots have not started as yet to lay out the heavy fog that they usually have out. The mountains are very clear ahead of us. Morning also found the phone lines out to Lt Raner and Lt Dumalaski of the 2nd Battalion; they were laid only last night. Lt Hooghkirk called for most of the firing as his line was still in. Most of his firing during the day was on defensive lines, houses, and draws where possible, troop movement might occur during the night.

1430 hours. We were called to lay down a heavy barrage because the 3rd Battalion has to move some vehicles and wants our firing to cover for them. Lt Dumalaski called for fire using the radio, his phone line is still out. He observed one ration party moving back and scattered them.

During the night E Company of our 2nd Battalion was pinned down by small arms fire; we were called to fire for them, Lt Dumalaski doing the adjusting, this time by wire as the wire crew have it in again. Our Regiment gave us credit for breaking up the attack as it was driven back. Pvt Donald A Swartout was evacuated to the Hospital with heart trouble.

15 April, Saturday

Already we have a number of concentrations. We were firing Concentration 13 for Lt Dumalaski early in the morning. At 0625 hours Lt Dumalaski called for fire on two tanks that were firing into the 2nd Battalion. We fired 24 rounds at coordinate 043280, hits were recorded all around them and they were driven off. From 0615 hours until daylight enemy planes were over the beachhead; they dropped their bombs in the rear and, for some reason, did not draw much anti-aircraft fire. During the morning we did not fire much as it was very foggy out there. Lt Dumalaski fired on tanks again in mid-morning, but did not report any results.

During the afternoon fire missions were very frequent, firing on different houses possibly used as OPs, tanks that were doing harassing fire, and some movement of enemy personnel. Very little movement was happening on either side of the line during the daylight hours.

Pvt Shuey was taking a gun back to Ordnance with his jeep during daylight. In the middle of the road directly behind our house a large caliber shell landed and blew up about half of the road. The hole was big enough to drive a jeep into. When Shuey returned he took Capt Karlson up to Blue OP where he met Lt Raner who asked if anyone had seen PFC Kuder. Kuder had gone out to fix a line and it was learned later that he had been hit by shrapnel and evacuated to the Hospital. He was hit on the upper part of his body, suffering a severe gash just below his eye. Pvt Thayer then took his place on the OP. PFC George K Meyer is trying to beat T/5 Boltz out of his ten points earned for prize boners. He was tying a wire to a concrete block; when he went to the other end and started to tie it in he discovered the things that resembled a concrete block were bovine droppings ... Was it still warm, George? During the first part of the night we had patrols out in our sector, so we could not fire. One new replacement arrived at the OP, coming from the 151st Field Artillery Battalion of this Division; he was PFC James Martindale.

16 April, Sunday

During the early part of the morning enemy shells landed just to our direct front, every time they landed our house shook, so they must have been a very large caliber. At 0430 hours enemy aircraft were overhead. Nearly all the guns on the beachhead were firing, even the 40-mm gun right beside the house. They dropped their bombs not far from the house, the concussion shook the windows. The raid lasted about twenty minutes. Reports say that over half of the planes in the raid were destroyed. Lt Dumalaski called for a lot of fire early in the morning on machine-gun positions from which the 2nd Battalion was receiving a lot of fire.

Capt Black of the 151st Field Artillery Battalion called for us to fire harassing fire at coordinate 02262966. Lt Dumalaski fired at a house where enemy personnel were digging in around it at daybreak. We had one hit on the house and many around it. Capt Jacobs called for and adjusted fire on an enemy dug-out they had been watching for nearly two days, we made one direct hit and many near misses. From noon yesterday until noon today we fired 1,058 rounds of HE (High Explosive) and 78 rounds of Smoke [about eight tons]. Observation is very good today.

Lt Raner tried to adjust fire on a very narrow enemy OP. He adjusted two guns on it and called it Concentration 27. Just after that he fired on some mortar positions; the front line troops reported he made at least three direct hits.

1635 hours. Lt Dumalaski adjusted fire on an enemy machine gun, causing it to move out whie we were still shelling it. Our 2nd Battalion called for harassing fire on four different points during the night. Rate of fire is two rounds per hour on three of the guns and four rounds per hour on the fourth. The fourth gun stopped firing at 2130 hours as we had a patrol in that sector. Pvt Compoyl requested a transfer back to I Company of this Regiment and we received Pvt Wyls Camp in his place. No enemy aircraft were over the beachhead tonight.

17 April, Monday

Capt Black called for fire just after midnight on Concentration 17. At 0130 hours enemy mortars were firing from very close to Concentration 16; we fired at it and silenced them. Again during the night we fired at enemy machine guns close to Concentration 6.

Just at dawn we laid out the 'White Barrage' and fired on mortars at Concentration 35, then we fired on a tank at Concentration 19 which had been firing into our area; the results were not reported. In the past 24 hours we fired a total of eighteen missions using 512 rounds.

In the early afternoon Pvt Arthur Leighton called for fire on a house in enemy territory where he had observed a man looking out of one window. Two direct hits were recorded.

1430 hours. Lt Raner observed a lot of movement around a house at coordinate 044285; we adjusted each gun on it and then laid in heavy fire. We registered seven direct hits on the house, firing a total of 127 rounds on this target.

1510 hours. Pvt Leighton called for fire on enemy personnel with mortars, we adjusted and then used timed fuze, making many direct hits over the target. In all we fired 70 rounds on this target.

In late afternoon fire missions were again very heavy, both Platoons firing at the same time; most of the missions were against enemy personnel, but a few houses were also among the targets. Again we scored many hits on the houses. In the vicinity of Concentration 2 at coordinate 029286 there is a continual movement of enemy personnel; we fired the rest of the afternoon at this target, the results were reported very good, in all using 148 rounds.

We are to fire all night, harassing Concentrations 2, 3, 5, 6, and 19. Rate of fire is six rounds per gun per hour. [Information as to how each platoon was engaged is garbled.]

Because it is very cloudy tonight, attempting to rain, no enemy aircraft came over.

18 April, Tuesday

During the early hours of the morning we fired at Concentrations 33 and 27, having to stop our harassing first to do so. Then, just at dawn, we ranged in all guns on Concentration 2, from where we had been receiving a lot of mortar fire. The morning dawned very clear with no wind blowing, so the smoke pots have us well concealed from observation. Just after breakfast two rounds of enemy artillery landed in the artillery positions behind us. Immediately all the guns opened up, so in exchange for two rounds they received about 400 back. It gives one a definite feeling of superiority to hear one round coming in for nearly 200 going out. Again, in the last 24-hour period we fired 18 missions, 776 rounds of ammo.

1420 hours. We fired on Concentration 42 and 43 which were enemy personnel, no results were reported.

1610 hours. Pvt Leighton called for fire on enemy personnel that he could see digging in. Since most of the enemy did not run but just laid down we kept firing, expending 149 rounds on this target alone. Many hits were made and enemy medics could be seen later working in the area.

1855 hours. Three enemy guns of about 10 centimeters started firing into our gun positions, the first landing behind the guns, but working down through the middle of the 2nd Platoon. The concussion from one of the shells knocked out S/Sgt Harold Muschamp, but not wounding him. One of the shells hit just the corner of Pvt John A Akerlund's dug-out, throwing dirt and roof in on top of him, but not a piece of shrapnel hit him. In all, the barrage lasted about three-quarters of an hour, some 40 rounds falling in the gun area. Some of the shells landed very close to the house where the kitchen was set up, which was also an observation post for the 39th Field Artillery Battalion. They ranged in their guns and fired their 155s at the enemy. We received no reports of the enemy guns being knocked out, but they were silenced. At suppertime we received six new replacements: Cpl Vincent Rabbene, Pvt Bric, Pvt Maderia, Pvt Magiluzzo, Pvt Barnett, and Pvt Licate. Pvt Roland H Burst returned from the Hospital at the same time.

Tonight the 2nd Platoon is to fire harassing fire all night. They are again firing at Concentrations 2, 3, 5, and 17. Rate of fire: 6 rounds per gun per hour. The 1st Platoon is laid on Concentration 19 which is to be fired only if the raiding patrol in that vicinity runs into trouble and needs artillery fire to withdraw. We expected harassing fire all night from the guns that had shelled us at 1855 hours, but only two rounds fell in the area all night, causing no damage. Again no enemy aircraft were over the beachhead as the clouds are very low. It is not that the men pray for bad weather, but it is a way they can get a full night's sleep.

19 April, Wednesday

The morning dawned very clear, and up until noon we had only fired three concentrations: 41, 6, and 27. No results were reported on any of these. In the last 24-hour period we fired 947 round of HE and 69 of smoke. Just after dinner we received a call from 1st Lt Luther D Spurlock who is now on the 3rd Battalion OP that he had spotted a tank. He fired on Concentration 51 and adjusted from there. We fired eighteen rounds at it until it withdrew.

1340 hours. Lt Dumalaski requested fire on enemy personnel. He adjusted the 1st Platoon on them and fired a total of 110 rounds, some of them time-fuze. Later medical men were seen in the area, so some casualties must have been inflicted.

1400 hours. Lt Spurlock adjusted fire on Concentration 10, enemy personnel were seen around there. We fired 48 rounds at them, no results reported.

1520 hours. Lt Spurlock again fired at a house in enemy territory that is possibly being used as an OP. We fired 40 rounds with good results.

1550 hours. We fired for Lt Hooghkirk on a house where there is an enemy machine gun firing. We fired 74 rounds, made at least four hits, silencing the machine gun.

We are again firing harassing fire tonight, but only until 2200 hours. Regiment called and we are to fire only 200 rounds per day now. No target will be fired upon unless specified as urgent or requested by Battalion commanders.

Lt Brian Harned left for Rest Camp today, returning to Sorrento by LST.

20 April, Thursday

0315 hours. "Red 4" called and requested fire on Concentration 34; we fired 24 rounds on it, then set 1st Platoon to a point 50 yards on its left, but were not called to fire this. Again we had no enemy aircraft over our sector, making this the third night in succession: unusual, but greatly appreciated.

The only firing done all morning was for Lt Hooghkirk, calling to register on a new base point.

Up until 1900 hours we had fired only three rounds of Smoke to register on Concentration 20 for Lt Hooghkirk.

Pvt Lafferty called for fire on enemy personnel grouping for a small counter-attack; we fired 35 rounds on this just before dark, it was broken up.

During the night we are to fire harassing fire on Concentrations 2, 3, 5, and 26. Rate of fire is to be two rounds per gun per hour

Another new replacement was received today, Pvt Edward Thomas. Pvt Clifton H Mabry left for Rest Camp today, returning to Caserta by LST. Pvt Ernest D Braman was promoted to Corporal today, and T/5 George A Hooker was promoted to T/4. Again no aircraft were overhead. one plane was heard early in the evening, but no attack was fired on it.

21 April, Friday

0240 hours. Our 2nd Battalion commander requested fire on Concentration 51; they could hear sounds as if men were sawing timber in that area. We fired twelve rounds and no more noise was heard.

0410 hours. Enemy aircraft were overhead. They dropped flares just to the right of our house and then a second plane dove and dropped a large quantity of personnel bombs just behind the house. 'Sweating out' the sound of the bombs falling was quite [harrowing]. The bombs landed all around the ack-ack guns to our rear, but there were no casualties. The only thing hurt was the mother cat of four small kittens that the men in the house have adopted as a pet. The ack-ack gun fire was again very heavy, seeming overhead like an area on which a person could walk.

Just at daybreak about fifteen planes flew in very high and dived on the port section to our rear, starting a very large fire, perhaps an ammo dump as the column of smoke is very high and flares up quite often. It was reported the four of the planes were shot down.

It's another clear day, with our smoke pots laying a heavy fog over the front lines. The first fire mission for the day was Concentration 10 for Lt Hooghkirk. In the past 24-hour period we fired only 154 rounds.

We did not have another fire mission for the rest of the day, but we are to fire harassing fire tonight. The 2nd Platoon is to fire on Concentrations 2 and 3 all night at the rate of 2 rounds per gun per hour. The 1st Platoon was called on to fire two twenty-minute barrages on Concentration 27, the rate of fire being one round per gun per minute. During the night Colonel Marshall called for us to fire on enemy personnel unloading from vehicles at coordinate 0318; we fired 24 rounds. Then Lt Hooghkirk called for fire on an enemy tank firing directly into our troops, but by the time we had fired four rounds it had withdrawn.

Pvt John R Clark returned from the Hospital today.

22 April, Saturday

It was another clear morning, but the smoke pots were very effective in laying down a heavy fog. We are now having three meals a day, the men doing the last guard shift are taking a jeep down and bringing the food back in Mermite cans.

1000 hours. We fired on a target, but after ranging in with Smoke discovered it was out of our range.

Just at noon we fired a battery of seven rounds at Concentration 51. In the past 24 hours we fired 267 rounds. The only fire mission of the afternoon was to mark Concentration 3 with one round of Smoke and three rounds of HE. Tonight we are to fire harassing fire for our 3rd Battalion, the 2nd Platoon firing one round per gun per hour at Concentrations 33, 5, 3, and 56, while the guns of the 1st Platoon are set on Concentration 27.

PFC Joe J Haren is 'back from the farm', helping with the plowing, cleaning out barns, herding cows and goat. Could it be the little (?) Italian girl there??? We received two more replacements: Pvt Donald R Meeder and Pvt Clyde Hall. Again no enemy aircraft were overhead.

23 April, Sunday

Several fire missions were attempted in the morning, but the haze hanging over the mountains is so thick that observation is impossible. Lt Hooghkirk tried to adjust on some enemy personnel near Concentration 63. Up until noon we fired only 157 rounds of ammo in the past 24 hours

Again both sides took advantage of the lull; most of the men from our Company were sunning themselves. The area around the mountains was so hazy that it could not be observed.

Just before dark we fired on Concentrations 51 and 56. Lt Hooghkirk recorded a new concentration, enemy personnel. In all we fired 121 rounds on it with very good results. While observing on this mission Lt Hooghkirk and Pvt Lafferty were shot at many times by a sniper, but only the first shots came close. Just before dark we fired 32 rounds on a tank, but it was dug in so well we could do no damage to it, and it was dark before we were able to adjust on it.

The guns will be ready tonight to place harassing fire on Concentrations 27, 5, 10, 61, and 62. They will call when needed. One gun is to fire two rounds per hour at Concentration 64. Again no enemy aircraft were overhead tonight. PFC James J Carl and PFC John G Elliott, "Radio Red", came up from the rear today.

Pvt Lafferty tells of a German sniper that nearly everyone has fired at, including our cannons, heavier artillery, and all. But at the close of each barrage he gets out of his hole and waves a red flag to simulate "Maggie's Drawers" [target missed].

24 April, Monday

As described by Cpl Alton C Thornton, today is a wonderful day: a good night's sleep, no aircraft, mountains hazy, no fire missions, and a wonderful sun to bathe in. We did not have any fire missions up until noon, when the 24-hour period for ammo check came up we had fired a total of eight missions and 336 rounds. We are now allowed 95 rounds per gun per day, a total of 280 rounds per day [something wrong here, we have eight guns].

Fire missions in the afternoon were very few until just before dark when enemy personnel offered many targets. Lt Hooghkirk tried adjusting on a house where a light was showing, but darkness cut off observation.

2140 hours. Enemy aircraft were over the beachhead but they did not stay long as the ack-ack guns greeted them very roughly. We did not hear any bombs dropped, but they were possibly in another sector. The 3rd Infantry Division was to make an attack tonight, but this was called off. We did not fire any harassing fire for this reason. We received one new replacement, Pvt Howard J Einhouse, who will go to the wire section as he has had wire training. Two men returned from the Hospital: Cpl Walter J Ferguson and PFC Thomas J Brady who has been gone from the Company for a long time.

25 April, Tuesday

During the early hours of the morning there was a lot of small-arms fire heard directly in front of us. Again this was a clear day with smoke pots blocking our observation. The first fire mission was not until just before noon when both Platoons fired on two different concentrations, results were not reported. In the past 24-hour period we fired 392 rounds of HE and sixteen rounds of Smoke on a total of sixteen missions.

Lt Harned returned from Rest Camp and four enlisted men are to leave: Cpl Dewey Boltz[?}, T/5 Bernard J "Bud" Nolan, Pvt Franklin L Clark and Pvt Robert N McClelland.

26 April, Wednesday

Our guns fired sporadic missions through the late afternoon and four harassing missions during the night. Most of our missions seem to be directed at enemy personnel with good results. One lowly Italian bovine placed herself too close to one of our shells and found herself incapacitated for the duration. We fired one problem at enemy mortars causing a large fire. Communication still seems to be a big problem. Our wire men are out every night trouble-shooting. Radios are proving very inadequate; the new radio sets are inefficient and so wire communication is of paramount importance. Two enemy recon planes flew over the beachhead but dropped no bombs and received little ack-ack opposition. Reports have it that the Krauts made a heavy attack against our White Battalion, with our OP in that sector calling for heavy fire. Total number of rounds from yesterday noon until today noon were 447 HE, 7 Smoke. Pvt Michael Marince was evacuated to the Hospital today, illness.

27 April, Thursday

Fire missions in the morning were strictly routine, the usual missions fired on enemy personnel. Both Platoons fired harassing fire during the night at the rate of one round per gun per hour. One enemy aircraft was over the beachhead with several bursts of ack-ack greeting him. In the last 24-hour period we have fired 202 HE and 22 Smoke. We were ordered to cease firing for two hours this morning as a P-38 reconnaissance plane was over enemy territory taking pictures. Communication difficulties still remain the same, radios working quite satisfactorily. The wire men were out until dawn, but just at daylight wire to Red and White OPs were knocked out by a heavy enemy barrage. The entire situation here on the beachhead can be summed up in the word 'Stalemate'. At times the monotony of it is almost unbearable. The 'screaming-meemie' is not in evidence in weapons the Krauts are using here, but they have used the 'flak-wagon' extensively.

28 April, Friday

Harassing fire was fired through the night, with only one special mission requested, Maj Warren Chapman [CO, 3rd Bn, 133rd Inf] directing fire at a Kraut emplacement. In the last 24-hour period we fired 330 rounds of HE and 77 rounds of Smoke. Communication by wire was established early last evening, and all lines but Red were up at 0800 hours this morning. By 0930 hours the line to Red had again been repaired. There is much nightly patrol activity on both sides, and many German prisoners are being taken. We seem to have the edge during this phase of the operations. German 'poop-chests' [propaganda leaflet packs?] were fired in the Red sector yesterday, and the doughboys leaving their holes are fired on by mortars. S/Sgt Lawrence D Emon returned to the Company from the Hospital and Pvt Mabry returned from Rest Camp. Again no enemy aircraft were overhead tonight.

29 April, Saturday

Only nine mission were called for in the past 24 hours, results of these were not reported. Most of the fire missions were at enemy personnel. In all 216 rounds of HE and four rounds of Smoke were fired in the last 24 hours. All wires went out at least twice last night, the entire wire crew was working all night. But by noon all wires were back in operation. Again no enemy aircraft were overhead last night. Enemy artillery has been firing sporadically from dusk to dawn, as was our own. S/Sgt Davis reported to the Company tonight. He will possibly work with the Communication Section as that was his training. PFC Burst and S/Sgt Leonard P Smith returned to the Hospital this afternoon.

30 April, Sunday

There was little change in the situation today, both Platoons fired the usual types of missions with two enemy OPs and one enemy vehicle being hit. Another attack was launched by the enemy in the White Sector last night, we fired heavily for a while, 96 rounds in all being fired at this target. In the last 24-hour period we fired 376 rounds of HE and 24 rounds of Smoke. Enemy aircraft were overheard last night, dropping all bombs in the rear and port secions; they were greeted by a tremendous ack-ack barrage, at least one enemy plane was shot down.

1 May, Monday

Blue and White requested harassing fire during the night. In the last 24-hour period we fired fifteen missions mostly at enemy personnel. Results were reported as very good on targets that could be observed. In all we fired 403 rounds of HE and sixteen of Smoke. Enemy planes were over the beachhead last night, and again the ack-ack units performed brilliantly, bringing down at least two. All bombs were dropped in the rear areas and port section.
[Red, White, Blue were radio code names assigned to battalions of the regiment.]

Today we were issued our first beer; it seemed very weak but still resembled beer, which is all we can ask for. Again we fired harassing fire during the night.

2 May, Tuesday

In the last 24 hours we fired sixteen missions, using 371 rounds of HE and 35 rounds of Smoke. Most targets were enemy personnel, no immediate results available. Again we were called to fire on an enemy tank, no results reported. One target was enemy mortars at which we fired 52 rounds, knocking out at least three mortars. Weather remains clear and bright. The four men came back from Rest Camp today, reporting a wonderful time, plenty of rest(?), and plenty of good shows.

3 May, Wednesday

Unusually quiet morning, then at 1230 hours we fired for the 2nd Battalion, registering on a point where enemy personnel seem to pass each day at meal time. It was recorded as a Concentration.

1620 hours. 3rd Battalion called for fire on a self-propelled weapon that is firing on one of the houses in their area. After seventeen rounds we were not called for more fire and no results were reported.

Lt Wynek, who is now attached to us from the 2nd Battalion, called to lay fire on Concentrations 84 and 85. We fired 32 rounds on these targets, again no results were reported. He then called for fire on a machine-gun emplacement which was silenced after many direct hits around it.

Just before dark we fired on enemy personnel at three different points; the results were very good, enemy could be seen running from the area and medics were working around the places where our shells hit.

2230 hours. Enemy aircraft were overhead, they again dropped large bombs on the rear areas. It is very clear tonight; during the time the planes were overhead the enemy artillery was very active, possibly shooting to disrupt our anti-aircraft fire.

4 May, Thursday

0430 hours. Many enemy aircraft are overhead, dropping bombs of all sizes and types. Not many hit in this immediate area, but a large ammunition dump in the rear area is burning quite vigorously. Two of the enemy planes were seen to fall in flames.

In the last 24-hour period we fired 395 rounds of HE and fourteen rounds of Smoke, a total of 409 rounds. It was an unusually quiet day and night, only a few missions being fired the entire day. Just at supper time Lt Wynek called for fire on enemy mortar positions; we made many direct hits. We put out heavy harassing fire all night. Ne enemy aircraft were overhead this night.

5 May, Friday

It's another clear day with everything very much as it has been for the past two weeks. There has been a noticeable decline in enemy shelling and an increase in ours. In the last 24-hour period we fired 371 rounds of HE and 32 Smoke rounds, a total of 403 rounds. Our line companies are on patrol continually, and bringing in good results. Our Company's actions are much the same. The Gun Platoon men are getting really brown from lying around in the sun, playing 'Hearts' is the main pastime.

Our fire missions were on the usual targets all day, houses in enemy territory, machine guns, and mortars. Just before dark we fired on mortars which had been firing into the 1st Battalion area, covering the target with good results. 1st Sgt Woodrow E Bailey, PFC James Martindale, Pvt Patrick J Ryan and Pvt Joseph O Scafidi departed for Rest Camp today.

No enemy aircraft were overhead tonight. The nights lately have been very bright, almost like daytime.

6 May, Saturday

Fire missions were again very heavy, most of the targets the usual things. Cpl Arthur Leighton directed fire on an enemy 'flak wagon' that had been firing on our Piper Cub which is observing for our heavier artillery. Direct observation is not possible, but black smoke came up from their target area. There has been a lot of enemy movement in the woods at coordinate 025297; on this target alone we fired over 100 rounds. Since we are now only allowed 400 rounds per day, we passed this limit by far, firing eighteen missions, using 18 Smoke and 756 HE, for a total of 774 rounds expended.

Again there is a full moon, almost like daylight. No enemy aircraft were overhead, this the third consecutive night, the most nights running with no planes coming over. Pvt Dewey R Archer and Pvt Michael Marince returned from the Hospital today.

7 May, Sunday

Another clear day, but during the morning we did not have a single fire mission. Even the heavier artillery was quiet all morning. Possibly we have reconnaissance patrols out. During the afternoon we were firing very heavily, one mission being on a 70 mm mortar which was neutralized. Again most of the targets were enemy personnel.

1800 hours. We received orders that II Corps Artillery had requested the area we are in, and that we will have to have it cleared by Friday. Capt John R Karlson, T/Sgt George V Jindra, S/Sgt Samuel H Leininger, and Pvt Elmo H Shuey have gone on recon. On returning, they reported no gun positions for sure; they had picked a small draw on the map, but this proved to be full of water. They are going out again tomorrow night. Again there were no enemy aircraft overhead all night. In the past 24-hour period we fired a total of 430 rounds.

8 May, Monday

Another fine day, but no fire missions during the morning. During the afternoon fire missions were very heavy, especially just at dusk. At this time we have over 100 marked Concentrations, leaving hardly a spot in our sector that doesn't have a Concentration very close to it. During the night we fired very heavily for the 3rd Battalion, driving off a small counter-attack in their area. The reconnaissance party is out again, finding positions at coordinate 013253 with the OP in another house at 015246. This is very close to the front line; there is so much heavy artillery on the beachhead now that there are no positions further back. The joke around the Company is that since II Corps Artillery is 'pulling rank' on us we are going to have to 'pull rank' on some light machine-gun positions. Three men from each Gun Platoon have gone forward to work on gun pits, while a detail from Headquarters has gone up to clean up the house for the OP.

There were no enemy aircraft over the beachhead. Fire missions for the past 24 hours expended 400 rounds.

9 May, Tuesday

Another very clear day; we are to move forward tonight. All the men of the Gun Platoons are taking down the roofs over their holes; we are to take along all the excess lumber to use over dug-outs again. Fire missions were very few. We were called on to lay harassing fire tonight, but could not as we will be moving and cannot re-register the guns until daylight. None of the Company did much other than getting ready to move. The kitchen and some of the Headquarters, plus the drivers and maintenance, are to stay behind as there is not enough room for all the men forward, and no place to park the trucks.

2140 hours. The Company moved out, all the men going forward in relays to work on getting things set up for tonight. This is the first time across the Mussolini Canal for most of the men. Again no enemy aircraft overhead during the night.

10 May, Wednesday

Neither Gun Platoon registered today. They fired only one round for the OP to use as a base point. The guns are right beside a road and the firing raised a lot of dust along the road. The rear party is to bring up oil to sprinkle in front of the guns tonight. No ammo expenditure today. Enemy aircraft were over the rear areas twice tonight, but being this far forward no bombs were heard dropping. Artillery of both sides were very quiet.

11 May, Thursday

Again a very clear day. Most of the men slept late as they had worked well into the night. No one is allowed to walk around the house in the daylight hours as we are under direct observation. During the night Engineers blew up the house just to our rear, leaving us wondering if it was mined or if an enemy patrol had come through our lines. The detail from the rear came up. T/Sgt Hartwell M Oldham had a detail out in the afternoon filling sandbags in the rear and bringing them up after dark. The room used as an OP in the house now has a room that is entirely lined with sandbags. The gun pits have become regular forts.

Just after dark a jeep and a 6x6 from different outfits ran into each other and injured a man from the 100th Infantry Battalion. This happened just in front of the Gun Platoon. The rest of the night was very quiet in this sector. From the upstairs windows in the OP house we could see many small-arms fights; the tracers made a weird pattern across the sky.

12 May, Friday

Today our smoke pots concealed observation better than they have in the past two weeks. The rear party had to move out of the house in our last area, but most of them have moved up with our drivers in the house across the road. Nights find everyone with their ears glued to the phones; everyone on the beachhead that has a radio plays it and runs the music over the wire. One good one on our medic, PFC Pantak, called "Doc": well, he was listening on the phone when he heard someone say, "How's that, Doc?" Thinking the question was directed to him, he answered, "Welllll, I don't know." But the "Doc" being sought was in a different Regiment. Our forward OP team can look back and see very plainly the house where our main OP is set up; Pvt Henry Lafferty, forward, described it to Pvt Shuey who was sitting inside the house.

In the early afternoon we started firing, using mostly Smoke shells to re-register the concentrations we had in the last area. 1st Lt Luther D Spurlock was doing most of the adjusting. 1st Lt Jerome R A Monks tried to register on a bridge at 041310 but no hits were observed, only near misses. Cpl Lester A Lampe has come up to the OP to stay and cook the rations being brought up. Dinner is to be the first meal of the day, then supper at the regular time, and a meal close to midnight as another supper. The rear detail again brought up more sandbags, this making a total of 9,000 in the gun positions alone.

13 May, Saturday

Capt Karlson has decided to use only one Platoon at a time, alternating so that we can keep our positions under cover as much as possible. The majority of the fire missions are merely for the purpose of re-registering on former concentrations. We fired on a mortar, neutralizing it, and registered on a crossroad. 2nd Platoon did all the firing today, using 72 HE and twelve smoke.

14 May, Sunday

0900 hours. Our Gun Platoons were bracketed by high bursts, all three about 200 yards high, causing no damage. Counter-battery fire did not follow. The main targets today were an enemy ammo dump set afire, directed by Lt Monks; he then fired on a tank with no results, then on an enemy OP in a house, having at least three direct hits there. Blue Battalion had an enemy shell which was a dud (luckily) land in their OP, knocking their kitchen down. Our OP team took it all quite seriously, but despite everything they took very good care and emerged with unscathed hides.

15 May, Monday

We are still using only the 2nd Platoon for fire missions. The best results on targets were directed by Lt Norman J Hooghkirk who made two direct hits on an enemy machine gun, then several direct hits on a house used as an enemy OP. Lt Monks made a direct hit on a self-propelled weapon which was firing on our troops. PFC Thomas J Brady relieved Pvt Arthur W Reynolds Jr. on the OP. In the past 24 hours we fired 377 HE and 22 Smoke.

16 May, Tuesday

The outstanding fire mission today was a direct hit on an enemy dug-out causing a large explosion and fire; this was possibly a place where ammunition was stored. It was in our 2nd Battalion sector directly in front of our gun positions, Lt Murdock, now observing for that Battalion, did the adjusting. 2nd Lt Dick Harano, 100th Inf Bn observer, went back to the rear to get a shower and a little rest. Lt Eudell R O'Brien went up to that OP. Lt Harned, who had been on duty with Regiment as Counter-Mortar Officer, returned to the Company. All firing is still being done by the 2nd Platoon, they fired 398 HE and fourteen Smoke today.

17 May, Wednesday

Today Blue Battalion registered on eight targets to be fired on tonight. One of the best fire missions today was a direct hit on a mortar position. 2nd Platoon is still doing all the firing. In the last 24-hour period we expended 397 HE and twenty Smoke, firing eleven different missions. Some of the men from the Platoons went back to the rear to get showers tomorrow.

18 May, Thursday

Capt Karlson left the OP early this morning to go up to White OP to do some shooting and look over the situation that we are up against. He reported some enemy movement, but it was too close to our lines to fire on. Cpl Leighton adjusted fire on enemy mortars with excellent results. Pvt Lafferty and Cpl Vincent Rabbene came down from the Red OP after dark to visit the men and returned later. In the last 24-hour period we fired 392 HE and five smoke in eight missions.

19 May, Friday

The 1st Platoon took over the firing today. Our missions ran like this:
(1) 24 HE at personnel in house at 0072990, personnel ran from house, directed by Lt Monks.
(2) Four Smoke and 21 HE at house at 0062992, target area well covered, again Lt Monks directed.
(3) Concentration 42 at 05172467 was registered by Lt Hooghkirk.
(4) Six smoke and 26 HE marking Concentration to be used in "RAM" Plan.
(5) Twelve rounds HE fired at Flak Wagon by Lt Murdock, results not reported.
(6) Twelve HE were fired at mortars at 03342892, but too cloudy in target area to observe results.

Harassing fire began at 1730 hours and continued until 2100; this was for Blue Battalion, requested by Blue 5. Lt Silverstein left for Regiment at dark and returned at 2300 hours.

20 May, Saturday

Fire missions were as follow today:
(1) Twelve HE at mortars at 012530401 time 0440 hours, requested by Blue.
(2) Twelve HE fired to re-adjust Concentration RAM at 04462395.
(3) Called to fire again on RAM, fired 18 Smoke and 220 HE.
(4) 21 Smoke and fifteen HE fired on mortars at 065256, this done by map as communication with Blue is out.
[no (5)]
(6) Seven Smoke and 45 HE fired at house at 06432527, several hits on target, communication repaired with Blue.
(7) Twelve HE fired on mortars at 065263, requested by Red 5, hits in target area, time was 1400 hours.
(8) Six Smoke and 30 HE fired on enemy personnel at 04882664, enemy ran from target area, time 1420 hours.
(9) This time 36 HE on enemy personnel at 05882664, again enemy ran from target area, time 1715 hours, directed by Lt Hooghkirk.
(10) Harassing fire, 41 HE at 01293088, 04942706, 00903055; fire requested by Blue 5, time 1730-2100 hours.
(11) One Smoke and sixteen HE on house at 05852664, several hits in target area, time 1810 hours.
(12) 24 HE and no Smoke on enemy personnel at 05852535, target well covered, time 1820 hours.
(13) Twelve HE fired on enemy personnel at 03503045, fired by Lt Monks at 1830 hours, no results reported.
(14) Two smoke and twenty HE on mortars at 07372440, requested by Red 5, adjusted by Lt Hooghkirk, time 1930 hours.
(15) Three Smoke and twelve HE fired at tank in Blue Battalion sector, adjusted by Lt Monks; heavy Field Artillery took over before the mission was completed, time 2000 hours.
(16) Two Smoke and six HE fired at enemy personnel, results unknown as darkness closed in before completing mission, time 2040 hours.
(17) Fifteen Smoke and 169 HE fired on "Red Barrage", adjusted by Lt Hooghkirk, requested by Red 4, very satisfactory results.

Lt Hooghkirk called and asked to have gas masks sent up; a prisoner had been taken who said they had planned to use gas. This, of course, proved to be a false alarm. All of the battlion that Lt Hooghkirk is with has been ordered to have a gas mask. Capt Karlson left for a meeting of all Company Commanders at Regiment. Our Company also received orders to carry gas masks at all times.

21 May, Sunday

Most of the fire missions today were against enemy personnel, directed by Lt Hooghkirk. Two missions fired on enemy mortars were called in by Lt Murdock. At 0905 hours Red 5 called requesting fire at 05102680, but we were already firing at that point; Lt Hooghkirk was out at the Red OP, had already spotted the target and called for fire. Lt Slominski called and wanted to know how many of the targets assigned to us by S-3 were in support of "Buffalo Plan" which will probably be the big plan if we are to stage an offensive here soon. Lt Hooghkirk first called for fire on some troops but cancelled it as he could see the men wearing American uniforms. Capt Karlson called Capt James R McClymont, our Regimental S-2, who reported that neither we nor the 1st Special Service Force had any patrols in that sector, but we did not fire as Lt Hooghkirk still insisted they wore American uniforms. Later they were proven to be Americans. Capt Karlson had a meeting of all the Company officers giving them a picture of what was expected of Cannon Company during the "Buffalo Plan", which is a measure to break out of the Anzio Beachhead. The Commanding Officer of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, came into the OP wanting to know if he could use this building as an OP for the night and have his troops outside. Permission was granted. They have not been on the beachhead for long. [Confusion here: the 3rd Div assaulted Anzio on 22 January.]

22 May, Monday

Usual fire missions all day, most of the targets are again military personnel. Lt Harano is now up on the OP of the 100th Infantry Battalion which has relieved our 1st Battalion, and so Lt Hooghkirk and that OP crew are off the line for a while. The rear detail came up again with hot chow and the next day's rations. In the rear, around the last area we had, they are having volleyball games in the afternoon; the smoke pots have that area very well blotted out from observation. All the firing today was done by the 1st Platoon: fourteen missions, with 393 HE and 23 Smoke rounds expended.

23 May, Tuesday

The Infantry has been attacking, not meeting as much opposition as they had planned for. Lt Harano is running into a lot of Armor, and calling for a lot of fire on self-propelled weapons and tanks. But it is withdrawing and our men are making big gains. Both Platoons are firing today, but our missions were not much heavier as the larger artillery is doing a wonderful job. We fired 589 rounds of HE and 14 Smoke at different targets. The rear detail came up again. Lt Hooghkirk is back up also as they have to report back to Red which is the reserve battalion.

24 May, Wednesday

Lt Spurlock, PFC Brady, Pvt Howard J Einhouse, and Pvt Reynolds left for the Bulo OP this morning. 1st Lt Raymond I Cox went out on reconnaissance at 2000 hours. Because the line Companies are moving ahead, we have to move be able to cover all parts of their front so, at 2330 hours, the 1st Platoon moved out. Cpl Alton C Thornton, Cpl Tom S Detwiler, and Pvt Wyls Camp moved ahead to set up the Fire Direction Center and to run a night survey on the gun positions. No enemy aircraft over this area, but they were further to the rear.

25 May, Thursday

0600 hours. The 2nd Platoon moved out and were in firing position by 0900 hours. Regiment called for Lt Silverstein at 1400 hours. Capt Karlson were to Regiment at 1430 hours and returned at 1500. As they were going into position early this morning, the 1st Platoon ran into a pocket of Germans who were left behind, the were forced to shoot one and take two as prisoners. Regiment called at 1645 hours and notified the Company to move into an assembly area. We moved out at 1930 hours and arrived at the assembly area at 2100.

26 May, Friday

Lt Silverstein came into the CP with further orders at 0800 hours. At 1100 hours six Germans walked into the Company area to surrender; they had been left behind and passed up by the doughboys. T/4 Donald W Miller was the first to see them and was very flustered as he had no weapon, but the Germans had had all the fighting they wanted for a while. S/Sgt Lawrence D Emon and Lt Ray R Murdock took the prisoners back to Regiment and turned them over. Regiment phoned at 1100 hours saying that we are to again go into the attack. Lt O'Brien, Lt Cox, and Lt Norman Raner went on reconnaissance at 1500 hours and returned to the Company at 1700 hours. At 1910 hours the Company moved out and were in the new positions at 2115 hours.

27 May, Saturday

Another clear day, the Company did no firing as our troops are moving too fast for us to know their positions with certainty, and at present they are not running into any resistance that calls for artillery fire. S/Sgt Delbert F Leet brought up rations for the Company just before dark. At 2300 hours Regiment called for a meeting of all OPs, Capt Karlson left the OP.

28 May, Sunday

Just at noon Lt Silversteincame into the OP and returned to Regiment at 1300 hours. Lt Harano stopped in the OP at 1400 hours, and left again to go to the OP at 1430 hours. Lt Cox and Lt Raner also left then on reconnaissance; the Company is nearly out of range, and we have to be within firing range of the enemy if the Battalions call for support. By 1630 hours the 1st Platoon had already moved out, going into position, and the 2nd Platoon moved out at 2000 hours. We always keep one Platoon ready to fire, and do not move a platoon until the other one is in firing position.

29 May, Monday

Wisecrack 5 called at 0300 hours, asking us to lay a barrage at 0530 for the troops to move under. The barrage was fired with good effect as the troops moved forward and we had no call for fire the rest of the day. Just before dark Mess Sgt Leet brought up hot chow and rations for the next day.

30 May, Tuesday

Again we were asked to lay down a heavy barrage just at dawn; only a few targets presented themselves. The doughboys are meeting limited resistance, but the defensive plan we're working is very effective. Lt Murdock came in from the White OP as he felt sick, Lt Cox went out to take his place.

31 May, Wednesday

Today was an unusual day, the only fire missions were smoke barrages laid down for the Battalions to move under. No real targets were presented.

1 June, Thursday

Early this morning we received a call from Cpl Arthur Leighton, which did not exactly make sense over the phone. He had been hit and was calling to report that an enemy mortar barrage at approximately 0730 hours had made direct hits on the dugouts used by their OP, killing 1st Lt Raymond I Cox and PFC Millard E Vandermark. Lt Cox was very well liked by every man in the Company, always being around a bunch of the enlisted men kidding them; he was in charge of the 1st Platoon, came from Pennsylvania. PFC Vandermark had been with the Company since the beginning of the year; he was from New York state. Cpl Leighton was evacuated to the Hospital, we did not know the extent of his injuries.

2 June, Friday

Because we are again losing two of our guns, one from each Platoon, we are also losing men from the Company. Twelve men were transferred out.

3 June, Saturday

S-3 called at 0930 hours, telling Capt John R Karlson to have the Company ready to move out in two hours. At this time we are just below the town of Lanuvio. There is much small-arms fire-fighting going on in the town. Lt Brian Harned and 1st Lt Jerome R A Monks went out to contact the different OP sections. The Company moved out at 1145 hours, arriving in new positions at 1400 hours. Lt Norman Raner who was on the OP was notified to take things as easy as possible, as he is to report back to the Company and return to the U.S. on rotation.

4 June, Sunday

The Company was alerted to move at 0730 hours. Lt Harned left on recon at 0745 hours. The Company moved out at 0945 hours, arriving at a new position at 1200 hours. But we did not fire from this position as the front line troops are moving very fast. We moved the full Company out again at 1430 and arrived in new positions at 1830 hours. The kitchen joined the Company again in this area. We are having to shuttle the platoons, then have the trucks return for the kitchen as we do not have enough transportation. The full Company spent most of the day[?] in the town of Genzano di Roma waiting for the road to be cleared. The area we moved into after leaving there was an apple orchard; we are not setting up the guns in this area. While there we heard the news that the first of our troops had entered Rome, our Regiment participating in the taking of it

5 June, Monday

Most of the morning the men were busy with their personal equipment; they are turning in a lot of the excess things they have, having a show-down inspection to see how we can cut down on some of the equipment, making more room in the trucks for hauling things in. Lt Norman J Hooghkirk left on recon at 1430 hours. Capt Karlson left the Company area to recon roads going to Rome, as we are to follow behind our troops who are meeting only scattered resistance. Our Company moved out at 1600 hours, leaving the kitchen behind until we get into our next position. When the Company moved into the city of Rome itself it was dark, but one of the most impressive scenes any of the men had seen came when going by one of the large white buildings built by Mussolini. On the steps leading to the street a German soldier lay, possibly shot while trying to come out of the building, and then rolling halfway down to the street. The Company moved into an area on the edge of Rome where there was a very large, but occupied, house. We did not set up the guns. The kitchen was brought forward after the guns arrived in the area. A few planes came over but no bombs were dropped near here.

6 June, Tuesday

Nothing much was done by the men today. We were not allowed to leave the Company area, but many men watched the people walk by. A few men were able to go into the town itself and see the places they had studied about in History classes. Most of the men were put to work loading their trucks in such a way that they could get to the ammo and parts of the guns, ready to go into action, even on the road if necessary. S/Sgt George N Lehnertz loaded his truck, then received an order to unload it. When he next got it reloaded they told him to unload it again as the trucks were to haul troops. Just as he got it half unloaded, they again changed the order. Lehnertz then asked, "Just how is this truck to be: loaded, unloaded, or just half-way?" Lt Silverstein came down to the Company to give us orders to move out. The Company left this area at 1700 hours, going out on the main road.

7 June, Wednesday

Most of the night was spent on the road, arriving in a bivouac area a little past midnight. Our transportation had to be unloaded as the trucks have to haul other troops most of the night. During the night enemy aircraft were over the area, dropping small bombs along the roads and strafing main highways. Most of the men slept late, this bivouac area is about fifteen miles north of Rome.

8 June, Thursday

The Company moved out at 1000 hours and arrived in a new position at 1800. We passed through the town of Civitavecchia, which is the port of Rome. This town is very badly damaged, although the scenery riding along the coast road is very beautiful. In this area we can see small-arms fire very plainly, as our main troops have pushed out ahead, leaving a lot of the enemy still dug in along the coast. We were called to fire quite frequently in this area. One enemy shell burst directly over the Company area, the fire was not directed at the Company, but rather at "Rover Joe", the Piper Cun observing for the heavy Field Artillery.

9 June, Friday

The Company moved back to a Rest Area at 0900 hours, about three miles east of Civitavecchia. The kitchen rejoined the Company at this area. Cpl Thomas O Trout received word that he is now a Sergeant. There were enemy aircraft over the area; a little strafing was heard during the early part of the night, but the flak fell heavily all around the area. There is much Anti-Aircraft Artillery around the port area. We are to move again in the morning.

10 June, Saturday

The Company moved out into an area near Tarquinia. We are going to stay for a while; our area is in a large grove. Lt Silverstein went up to one of the nearby houses to investigate a civilian report saying that the woman in the house was hiding a German officer. Investigation showed the report to be false.

11 June, Sunday

We already have a schedule directed by Regiment. For today it was care and cleaning of equipment, the men really need that opportunity.

12 June, Monday

Nothing unusual is happening, the Company followed the drill schedule.

13 June, Tuesday

The Company followed the drill schedule again. S/Sgt Leonard P Smith and Cpl Arthur E Ashenfelter returned from the Hospital. Tonight there was a show in the Regimental Area.

14 June, Wednesday

We had drill in the morning: a "Cannoneer's Hop". We were paid at noon and went to the beach in the afternoon.

15 June, Thursday

There is already an airfield set up about two miles from our camp, mostly fighter planes stationed there, but a lot of transport planes are using the landing trip. [The USAAF units were HQ 324th Fighter Group with their 314th, 315th, 316th Fighter Squadrons flying P-40s out of Monalto di Castro.] We are only about two miles from the beaches of the Mediterranean, but only one beach has been cleared of mines, no one is allowed to swim anywhere else. In the morning we attended a Mine and Demolition School on the use of 'booby traps' put on by our 109th Engineer (Combat) Battalion.

16 June, Friday

The Company followed a half-day drill schedule with athletics in the afternoon.

17 June, Saturday

The Company followed the drill schedule which included an eight-mile hike, 1st Lt Luther D Spurlock in charge, which took them into the town of Tarquinia. Cpl Morton B Nelson returned from the Hospital.

18 June, Sunday

The Company followed the drill schedule. Pvt John R Clark went to the Hospital with an old back injury.

19 June, Monday

The Company followed the drill schedule.

20 June, Tuesday

There is no drill today. We are following a Sunday schedule. Cpl Ernest D Braman returned from the Hospital and Capt John R Karlson went to the Hospital with a head cold.

21st June, Wednesday

No drill again this morning, we are getting ready to move out, again into an assembly area. The Company moved out at 2345 hours, going north.

22 June, Thursday

The Company arrived in position at 0530 hours after having traveled all night. The kitchen was set up and breakfast was served before the men went to bed to sleep. This area is very close to the town of Grosseto. Pvt Russell F Schmieder left for the Hospital with tonsil trouble, also PFC Martin McGrath The Company was given Typhus innoculations today.

23 June, Friday

The drill schedule included a twelve-mile hike. Pvt John Clark returned from the Hospital.

24 June, Saturday

The Company moved out at 0630 hours into a new area, but we did not set up the guns. The area is near Gavorrano, a small town on a hillside.

25 June, Sunday

The Company moved out again at 0600 hours and arrived in a new area at 0745 hours, there is no town close to this area. The kitchen is right with us, serving hot meals. The Commander of the Regiment, Col Carley L Marshall, gave a talk to the men. Our trucks were sent back to bring up more of the doughboys. We almost moved into a minefield here. We moved out again at 2330 hours going into the town of S. Vincenzo (Livorno), then set up our guns a short distance out of town.

26 June, Monday

Wisecrack 5 called at 0900 hours, asking if we were firing, but since we were not, Maj Warren Chapman, Regimental S-3, told Lt Brian Harned to move forward into a supporting position. The 2nd Platoon moved out at 1100 hours and were in position by 1130. The 1st Platoon moved out at 1230 hours and were in position by 1300. The coordinates of this position were 224969. Pvt Edward Matthews received a shrapnel wound on his hand while at the White OP and was evacuated. Capt Karlson returned to the OP at 1900 from the Hospital.

27 June, Tuesday

At 0100 hours an ammo truck from our 151st Field Artillery Battalion, positioned just behind us, ran over and killed PFC John Cannon who was sleeping near the road. John was an 'old man' with the Company, having come overseas with the 1st Battalion in Northern Ireland. His home was Waterloo, Iowa.

The Company moved to a new position near Campiglia Marittima at 0700 hours. From this position we were called on to fire eight different missions totaling 912 rounds. Most of the targets were self-propelled weapons; there were no direct hits, but our firing routed many or caused them to cease firing. The best target of the day was the last mission, firing on enemy personnel loading into trucks. Many of the vehicles were destroyed and the personnel routed. We received one new officer today, Lt Joseph Brady.

28 June, Wednesday

Fire missions started just at the break of day, most of our targets were movements of enemy personnel and self-propelled weapons. After firing at one target nearly out of our range a large fire started. No results were reported on any specific targets. During the night we fired only sporadic harassing fire which was plotted in the OP by S/Sgt Wesley L Banghart and his crew.

29 June, Thursday

At 0915 hours the 1st Platoon moved out, going into a position just to the right of the village of La California. Between the time the 1st Platoon moved out and the 2nd Platoon followed, an enemy self-propelled weapon placed direct fire right down the middle of the road. One shell made a hit on the house we were in, but luckily it had a quick-fuze and these walls in the Italian houses are very thick; no one was hurt. At 1015 hours the 2nd Platoon followed. Just before we moved the self-propelled weapon again fired down the road, but during our time of movement it did not fire, as our heavy artillery had ranged in, possibly on it as the target. Today we had 13 fire missions totaling 1929 rounds:
(1) 342 rounds at enemy trucks, no results.
(2) Four rounds at self-propelled weapon very close to our troops, so we decided not to fire.
(3) 207 rounds at self-propelled weapon, results good.
(4) 324 rounds against counter-attack on left flank.
(5) Ten rounds at self-propelled weapon which withdrew.
(6) 99 rounds at self-propelled weapon, one direct hit and personnel abandoned it.
(7) 102 rounds at moving truck, no results.
(8) 53 rounds at enemy personnel, target well covered.
(9) 560 rounds on counter-attack in 2nd Battalion sector, it was repelled before it gained any ground.
(10) White 6 called for 59 rounds at target near house, well satisfied with results, then he called for 140 rounds at coordinate 165175, no results reported but satisfied.

30 June, Friday

The Company is in the same area. All morning and into the afternoon the full Company fired constantly, as there were many targets. The enemy has decided to make a stand here, but are being driven back. Again most of our targets are groups of enemy personnel trying to form to counter-attack, costing them heavy casualties. As the men in the front lines advance they are coming across a lot of German casualties in places on which we had just finished firing. At 1700 hours we received counter-battery fire, the artillery being light, but very accurately directed. Some of the men hauling ammo to the guns were caught in the middle of the barrage. PFC Richard J Reynolds, one of the jeep drivers, was helping to haul ammo and received a shrapnel wound in the middle of his back. He was evacuated to the Hospital immediately. A lot of the men in the Gun Platoons were lucky to get through it, many of them had shells land nearly on top of them, with the concussion nearly throwing them out of their holes. One of our 1-1/2 ton Pri-movers was hit and started to burn. Most of the equipment on it was lost as the men did not have time to unload while moving it into position. The fire was extinguished, but only after doing serious damage to the truck. We were able to resume firing immediately and fired constantly the rest of the afternoon. In all we fired eighteen different missions, expending 1300 rounds.

We received another new replacement, T/5 Robert A Laneri, a truck driver. Rations were brought up before dark, but the truck was held back from returning until after dark. No one got much sleep during the night.

1 July, Saturday

We were again shelled during the day, but had no casualties. The guns firing on us were back-tracked and we poured shell after shell into their area. Very good results were noted, a small fire was started and some men were seen to leave the area running while others fell when our shells hit very close. In all we fired 336 rounds at this target. We were fired on by them no more!!! We fired fifteen missions this day, expending 1704 rounds.

2 July, Sunday

The Company moved into an area which is very close to the town of Cecina, arriving at 1130 hours. This has been our objective for some time. The OP was set up in a house which had been under machine-gun fire earlier in the morning. One of the Field Artillery units making a reconnaissance near this house in the morning had one of their vehicles blown up, injuring two and killing one of their men. We did not fire from this area as targets have moved back out of our range.

3 July, Monday

Our Company is in the same place and our Regiment has been placed in reserve. Our kitchen has moved in with us and is serving hot meals. During the night enemy planes came over in large numbers, strafing the area and bombing in and around the town of Cecina which our troops have now occupied. There were no casualties in our Company, but a lot of the men lost a lot of good sleep.

4 July, Tuesday

Our Company moved forward, passing through the town of Cecina and into a reserve area near Collemezzano. The men are getting their clothing in shape, washing, and other jobs.

5 July, Wednesday

The Company is in the same area, no training schedule. It is very plain that there is action ahead of us. The Battalions are grouped around us.

6 July, Thursday

We are still in the same area. The only detail for today is going to showers and getting a clothing exchange, something no one has to be begged to do.

7 July, Friday

The Company was ordered to move out at 2200 hours. Capt John R Karlson and the officers are on recon this afternoon. As we moved out, we went back into the town of Cecina, turned right, and headed up into the mountains. The ammunition crew will well remember the directions that Lt Joseph Brady gave them. Heavy artillery is landing to our direct front.

8 July, Saturday

Our first fire mission came at 1000 hours. The target was enemy personnel at 221334. Again at 1130 hours the target was enemy personnel at coordinates 216334, the area was well covered. Our fire missions were not very heavy, most of them fired at enemy personnel.

1600 hours. Enemy artillery started landing in our area, with many shells hitting all around the gun area; there were no casualties. We are open to observation along our entire left flank, most of the incoming fire is from that direction. Only 145 rounds were fired today.

9 July, Sunday

The fire missions started very early this morning; visibility in the entire area ahead of us is very clear and a lot of small-arms fire can be heard coming from there. All the morning fire missions were very heavy. In the afternoon it became very foggy ahead of us, so we did not have effective observation. The only fire missions in the afternoon were at enemy personnel in vehicles, the results were not reported. The total number of rounds fired were 611.

10 July, Monday

We're still in the same area [until 15 July]. At 1000 hours enemy artillery again started landing in the Company area, lasting more than a half hour. The men who were in the motor pool had to take cover in a small culvert, many shells hitting within 25 yards of them. No casualties resulted, but much equipment such as truck tires, water cans, and gun equipment was hit. The drain pipe on one end on the culvert where the drivers took cover was blown out by a shell. Many shells hit all around the house where the OP had been set up, but there were no direct hits.

Fire missions were extremely heavy in the afternoon as observation was very good. Most of the targets during daylight hours were enemy personnel, but just at dusk both Platoons were kept busy firing on enemy vehicular movements. There were eleven fire missions today, 675 rounds fired.

11 July, Tuesday

No enemy artillery fire hit in our area all night, but it was very heavy to our front and right flank. At 1100 hours we were called on to fire on some enemy guns. They were out of our range so the 151st Field Artillery Battalion took over the mission with Lt Eudell R O'Brien doing the adjusting. At 1700 hours Lt O'Brien called for fire on enemy mortars at coordinates 23393789, starting a fire in their immediate area. The total number of fire missions was seven, with 580 rounds fired.

12 July, Wednesday

Enemy artillery was landing just short of the Company area all night. At 0500 hours the enemy launch a counter-attack; our guns were firing very heavy. The attack was repelled with heavy losses to the enemy. At 1500 hours the enemy tried a stronger attack against our left flank; again we gave them heavy fire. 1st Lt Jerome R A Monks did the adjusting on this. Again the attack was repelled. 549 rounds were fired today on ten fire missions.

13 July, Thursday

The fire missions were not so heavy today, most targets were movement of enemy personnel. At 1615 hours Blue 6 called for fire on coordinates 23904047, the results were reported 'good' and the area was well covered. Today we fired only 134 rounds. S/Sgt Raymond A Anderson was told he is to return to the United States on a 30-day furlough and left the area on the ration truck.

14 July, Friday

The air is very humid today, the men in the Gun Platoons are working almost naked. The fire missions were very heavy in the afternoon: nine fire missions and 335 rounds fired.

15 July, Saturday

The Company moved out at 0700 hours, arriving in the new position at 1000. We are now near the village of Poggio S. Mario[?] Our fire missions started as soon as our guns were laid. Most of the day the fire was directed at coordinates 20764491 where there is much enemy movement. We had 21 fire missions today, 752 rounds fired.

16 July, Sunday

The Company moved this morning at 0900 hours, arriving in new position near the village of Ermo[?] at 1000. No firing during the morning, but in the afternoon and until almost midnight both Platoons were kept very busy. Lt O'Brien directed 86 rounds of fire at enemy mortars just at dusk, silencing them. After dark most of the targets were enemy machine guns and mortars. A total of thirteen missions were fired, expending 985 rounds of ammo.

17 July, Monday

We're in the same area. Enemy planes were over last night dropping flares but did not strafe or drop any bombs. There were many targets for us this morning at all points on our sector's front. Our men are attacking and many small groups of the enemy are counter-attacking. Before noon we had already expended 786 rounds. In the afternoon we fired another sixteen missions, expending another 432 rounds, for a total of 1218 rounds [estimated nine tons]. This was our heaviest day of firing for some time. The firing this night was mostly against identified concentrations. PFC Steve P Brinza left today to participate in the Fifth Army swimming meet.

18 July, Tuesday

Again the lines have moved forward, leaving us almost out of range. We fired only four mission, 115 rounds, up until 1300 hours when we moved to a new position. We arrived in the new position at 1400 hours and are in the vicinity of La Quadria[?]. Even in this position we are still out of range, no firing was done here and we are to move again.

19 July, Wednesday

Our 133rd Infantry Regiment was placed in reserve, and so we do not need to move. Our men are visiting the town ahead of us; there is a lot of good wine in this sector.

20 July, Thursday

Another quiet morning, with the Company moving to an assembly area at 1600 hours. The village of Lorenzana is just above us on a hill. A small stream runs through the area and some of the men have been swimming there. We also have a field for the Piper Cub [Artillery observation plane] just behind us. The men kept busy working on their equipment.

21 July, Friday

No drill schedule, we are preparing to go back into action tonight. Early in the afternoon we were paid; most of the men are taking out money orders, sending it home as they don't want to carry the money into action with them. The Company moved out at 1700 hours, leaving the kitchen and supply behind. Our trucks are to return and haul the infantry forward. This means we have no troops in front of us; we are the front line and the enemy's lines are not very far out, so the guard was doubled. The village here is Collesalvetti.

22 July, Saturday

The guns were laid last night; the first fire mission was not until nearly noon, when the 2nd Battalion called for fire on an enemy patrol. We fired only six missions the rest of the afternoon, expending 214 rounds.The Company moved again, arriving at the new area, in the vicinity of Vicarello at 2130 hours.

23 July, Sunday

Late last night S/Sgt Clifton L Paul and PFC Herbert E Lang were notified that they are to return to the US on furlough. Both men, Paul from Sioux City, Iowa, and Lang from Jessup, Iowa, have seen a lot of action.

Only three missions were fired during the morning: Lt O'Brien adjusting on enemy personnel. For the day the total was four missions, expending 190 rounds of ammo. The kitchen is to bring 10-in-1 rations.

24 July, Monday

From Vicarello we can see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, really an impressive site. Lt Brian Harned has taken over command of the Company; Capt Karlson who is presently at the Rest Camp is also to receive a 30-day furlough. His home is in Minneapolis.

There were six fire missions today, expending 696 rounds of ammunition.

25 July, Tuesday

Heavy artillery landed just ahead of the Gun Platoons last night. At 1100 hours we again had artillery land very close to our guns, but no casualties. No fire missions in the morning, but they were frequent during the afternoon, in all eight missions. We laid harassing fire for the Blue Battalion from 2130 hours until 0500 hours, in all expending 595 rounds.

26 July, Wednesday

The entire Company is getting ready to move from here, near Vicarello, into a Division Rest Camp just behind the city of Livorno (Leghorn). Some of the other Regiments have already moved back. There was only one fire mission today to harass coordinates 14156486, firing 96 rounds at it. B Company of this Regiment has been around our area in reserve; a lot of big crap and poker games during the lull of the day. They moved out just at dark. At 2300 hours enemy aircraft were overhead, drawing a lot of ack-ack fire. We again had enemy artillery just ahead of our buns, but no casualties.

The Company started back to the Rest Area at 0700 hours, arriving in the vicinity of Rosignano at 0900 hours. This area is very close to the coast and everyone plans to get in a lot of swimming. We are in a very nice area; most of the ground around us is cultivated and there are plenty of trees to give sufficient shade.

27 July, Thursday to 5 August, Saturday

Rest Camp: no training, cleaning unit and personal equipment the first day.

5 August, Sunday to 3 September, Sunday

We're now on a drill schedule every day with Sundays off. Most of the afternoons are devoted to athletics and swimming. PFC Sidwell and Pvt Franklin L Clark went to the Hospital, while T/5 Walter G Moeller returned. We received one new replacement today, Pvt Levi A Anderson. Pvt Ward of K Company came into our Company to replace Pvt George W Heath who was transferred to K Company. Pvt Tom S Detwiler went to Service Company on Detached Service for Guard duty.

4 September, Monday

T/4 Robert L Boucher received word he is to return to the United States of furlough, his home is Stratford, Iowa. T/Sgt Samuel H Leininger went to Rome to play baseball for the 3rd Infantry Division team.

5 September, Tuesday

Pvt Edward A Jeller was attached to this unit as Company Medic. The Company spent the day getting ready to move out at 1115 hours, arriving in an assembly area near Castel Fiorentino at 0300 hours.

6 September, Wednesday to 8 September, Friday

Usual camp duties in the assembly area.

9 September, Saturday

The Company moved into position near Cercina[?]. T/Sgt Samuel H Leininger and PFC Regg left the Company to return to the States for a furlough

10 September, Sunday

The Company moved near the town of Legri; the roads were jammed with traffic and we had a hard time getting to our area.

11 September, Monday

The Company moved again near the town of San Pietro in Casaglia; we stayed here only a short time, then moved again near the town of Quaranta. We moved for the third time, this time near the town of Pulica. On this move the 2nd Section truck turned over, but no one was injured.

12 September, Tuesday

The 1st Platoon fired for the first time since we came back on the line. After firing 90 rounds we moved near the town of Prugnana.

13 September, Wednesday to 23 September, Saturday

At 0930 hours the 2nd Platoon fired the first rounds of the Cannon Company into the defenses of the Gothic Line. During this period there were numerous fire missions; some of the targets were personnel, machine-gun nests, mortars, and houses. During this period we fired approximately 6000 rounds. While on the OP Lt Norman J Hooghkirk and Pvt Edward Matthews were wounded. While leading an attack during the night Col Schildroth, 133rd Infantry Regiment Commander, was killed when he stepped on a mine. Lt Bartik and Lt Erchardt were two new replacements that came to our Company.

24 September, Sunday to 27 September, Wednesday

The 133rd Infantry Regiment was placed in Division reserve and we moved near Montepiano. The Jerries landed a few shells in our area.

28 September, Thursday to 29 September, Friday

The Company moved again near Montescanelli[?], still in Division reserve.

30 September, Saturday to 2 October, Monday

The Company moved again, above Madonna dei Fornelli. While going into position we were shelled by the Jerries. One of our trucks got a direct hit; the truck and all of the men's equipment were lost. A shell also landed near the OP truck, destroying some of the equipment there. During this period we were also shelled by one of our own self-propelled weapons.

3 October, Tuesday to 4 October, Wednesday

The Company moved near Cedricchia. During these two days we fired over 1200 rounds.

5 October, Thursday to 6 October, Friday

The Company moved to Le Croci[?]. The roads were very bad and a couple of the trucks went into the ditches. T/Sgt George V Jindra left the Company to return to the States.

7 October, Saturday to 11 October, Wednesday

The Company moved to Gabbiano. We had trouble getting into our gun positions; the ones we were supposed to move into were under German artillery fire, so 1st Lt Luther D Spurlock moved us into a new position. A few Jerry shells landed on our gun area. During one of those barrages PFC Richard J Pachl was wounded. While fixing the lines on 10 October PFC Vincent J Di Gilaramo was killed.

12 October, Thursday to 14 October, Saturday

The Regiment was relieved and we moved near the town of Monuzzio[?]. Most of the time was spent in cleaning our equipment. S/Sgt Lawrence D Emon and T/5 Franklin A Seibert went home on furlough.

15 October, Sunday to 10 November, Friday

The company moved near the town of Fornacetta While in this area Pvt Washington M Barwick and Pvt Merlin L Adams were received as replacements. There were numerous fire missions, both day and night; we fired over 13,539 rounds. Cannon Company, 135th Infantry Regiment came in to relieve us; while they were setting up Jerry threw in a barrage of 20 rounds. Pvt Franklin L Clark of the 2nd Platoon was wounded.

11 November, Saturday to 19 November, Sunday

This Division was relieved and the Company moved to Montecatini Terme for a rest. The first four days were strictly rest, a training schedule was set up for the following days.

20 November, Monday to 30 December, Saturday

The Company moved back to the front lines. We relieved Cannon Company, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division at Casoni. S/Sgt Ronald O Davis was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to Cannon Company. T/5 Lester A Lampe and Cpl Arthur Leighton went to the States on furlough and Sgt Doherty was rotated. S/Sgt Clifton L Paul, S/Sgt Raymond A Anderson, and Company Commander Capt John R Karlson returned from their furloughs. While traveling on Highway 65 (Purple Heart Lane) Pvt Chester R Bucher's jeep was hit by Jerry artillery; no one was injured. On 23 December we had our first snow. Jerry had a few of his remaining planes out on several nights, but they caused only minor damage. On the day after Christmas Jerry threw in a few shells which landed in the Battalion kitchen area; two men from one of the line companies were killed. A dud landed right in the doorway of our kitchen. During this period over 2000 rounds were fired.

31 December 1944, Sunday to 10 January 1945, Wednesday

The Regiment was relieved, Cannon Company moved back near Piancaldoli; the whole period there was spent building up defensive positions. T/4 Robert L Boucher and PFC Herbert E Lang came back from their furloughs.

11 January, Thursday to 12 February, Monday

The Company moved near the town of Raccannello[?] [probably Baccanello] and took over the gun positions of Cannon Company, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division. T/3 Edward M DeAnda joined the Company to replace Sgt Doherty. The past couple of days[?] it has snowed heavily. On several nights enemy planes were overhead; some bombs were dropped. One morning the town of Raccannello was bombed by our own planes. We suffered no damage. The 2nd Platoon was shelled on several days and nights; some of the shells landed very close to their dugouts. On 5 and 6 February our Division made a local attack to determine the strength of the enemy; the entire 34th Division Artillery opened up. Our Company fired over 1000 rounds in this attack. During the entire period we fired over 3000 rounds, most of it as harassing fire.

13 February, Tuesday to 3 March, Saturday

We were relieved by Cannon Company, 363rd Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division and moved to our Rest Camp near le Croci di Calenzano. There was no training during the first five days, then we picked up the normal training schedule. Maj Gen Charles L Bolte, commanding 34th Infantry Division, visited our Company area. During this break we were presented the 100% Combat Infantry Streamer. Lt Eudell R O'Brien, T/Sgt George V Jindra, and Rex L Hall received the Bronze Star.

4 March, Sunday to 2 April, Monday

The Company moved from le Croci di Calenzano to new positions near Monzuno. On 16 March Maj Gen Geoffrey Keyes, commanding II Corps, inspected our gun positions. S/Sgt Lawrence D Emon, T/5 Lester A Lampe, and PFC Neff returned from their furloughs and Pvt Tom S Detwiler went home on emergency leave. Three other men of the Company also went home on furloughs. With our very good weather and observation, fire missions were plentiful, both day and night. On 20 March we fired 190 rounds stopping a Jerry counter-attack and on 23 March we fired over 550 rounds in support of an attack by the 168th Infantry Regiment. Approximately 5700 rounds were fired during this period.

3 April, Tuesday to 19 April, Thursday

The Company moved back to our old positions at Fornacetta, where the lines stopped moving last November. In this position we were preparing for the final offensive against the Germans. Observation was very good during this period and fire missions were going on both day and night. Every night, at different intervals until the push began, barrages were thrown at the Jerries. So when the push finally did came off the Germans were caught off guard. On 17 April we fired over 2,500 rounds in support of that push. Over the whole period we fired over 8,000 rounds. On 19 April we moved near Monte Belmonte, near K Company who were in reserve.

20 April 1945, Friday

At 1930 hours the 1st Platoon moved to new positions near Pianoro, and the 2nd Platoon moved in after the 1st Platoon was in position.

21 April 1945, Saturday

At 0715 hours Lt Silverstein came from Regiment and reported that our troops were at the 40 grid line. Capt Karlson and Lt Silverstein went on reconnaissance and, at 1100 hours, we prepared to move. At 1200 hours we started the move to the outskirts of Bologna. The entire 133rd Infantry Regiment was now in Bologna.

22 April 1945, Sunday

At 1330 hours the Company moved to an assembly area on the west side of Bologna. There was a terrific air raid this night with beaucoup ack-ack fire, but no planes were shot down. Jerry must have used his entire Italian airforce.

23 April 1945, Monday

In the morning the Company prepared to move, and at 1345 hours moved to a position near Modena No rounds were fired. We moved again at 1900 hours to a new position north of Modena; the Partisans were still cleaning up the town.

24 April 1945, Tuesday

At 0900 hours the Company moved to a new position near Reggio nell'Emilia.

25 April 1945, Wednesday

At 1400 hours the 2nd Platoon moved into a new position on Route 9 [the Via Emilia] between Parma and Reggio nell'Emilia. The 1st Platoon stayed behind to cover a road block that could not be reached from the new position. No rounds were fired.

26 April 1945, Thursday

At 1100 hours our Company loaded one rifle company of the 1st Battalion into our trucks and we started chasing the Jerries. The leading elements were four tanks and one platoon of Infantry, followed by our Company and the balance of the rifle company. Enemy resistance was encountered north of Fontanellato; we unloaded the infantrymen and went into position. We pulled out and reloaded the Infantry, but had to go back into the same positions again. At 2400 hours again we pulled out, reloaded the Infantry and rode all night long, bypassing a bunch of Jerries

27 April 1945, Friday

At 1030 hours we moved into position near Roncole Verdi, but we did not fire from there. At 2000 hours we moved again to Cermonda[?] and stayed the balance of the night there.

28 April 1945, Saturday

At 0930 hours we moved to an assembly area near Fiorenzuola d'Arda with I Company, 3rd Battalion on our trucks and stayed there all night.

29 April 1945, Sunday

At 0745 hours we picked up G Company of the 2nd Battalion and traveled 175 miles: back through Parma, Reggio nell'Emilia, and Modena; then up across the Po River and through Mantova to assemble near Breschia.

30 April 1945, Monday

At 1300 hours we moved again to the outskirts of Bergamo. At 1700 hours we moved to an assembly area near Reguit[?], stayed there all night.

1 May 1945, Tuesday

Our trucks spent the entire day hauling prisoners and surrendered forces, then at 1900 hours we moved out to our new area near Forulta[?]; we spent the night in a big factory.

2 May 1945, Wednesday

At 0400 hours we moved out toward a new area near Grˇggio. We arrived at 0800 hours often going through snow and sleet. At 1500 hours the radio (our own) announced that the Germans in the Italian sector had unconditionally surrendered. At 1800 hours we moved to Albano Vercellese.

3 May 1945, Thursday

At 1645 hours the Company moved to Castranno[?]. The guns were placed in position covering a road block. We are about twelve miles from the border of Switzerland.

4 May 1945, Friday

Nothing exciting; 1st Lt Luther D Spurlock and PFC George W Heath went home on rotation. The Company attended a dance and everyone was 'molto zig-zag'.

---

156,483 rounds of ammunition were fired during the Italian campaign, [approximately 1,170 tons].

Thus ended the Unit Journal of Cannon Company, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division.

Current page: www.34infdiv.org/history/133cannon/4404.html

Updated 2006 March 15.
Design Copyright © 2006 Patrick Skelly, for the 34th Infantry Division Association.
For further Website information, contact webmaster@34infdiv.org.
For further Association information, contact Jerry Gorden.

Low in Fat • No Frames • No Cholesterol • No Sounds
High in Fiber • No Movies • No MSG • No Animation
Kudzu Free • and Absolutely No Cookies.