Custermen; Here is quite a bit of typing for this hot tamale.
The only 34th Divn. unit to land at salerno on "D" Day, Sept. 9,1943 was
the Minnesota 151st Field Artillery Bn. under command of Gen. E. Dubois,
Boone Ia. The 151st went ashore in support of the Texas 36th Divn. The
Germans struck hard and fast,their armor driving the 36th back to the
beaches. Knowing that if the Germans reached the beachhead all was lost,
the bravemen of the 151st Field artillery LOWERED their high angle fire 105
howitzers and BORE SIGHTED down the tubes and in rapidity of fire for
that weapon that would not have been believed to be possible but in the heat
of battle they knocked out tank after tank.
The 151st fired 10,504 rounds during the battle compared to 7,900 rounds
expended during the entire No. African and Campaign. The 34th Divn. Chief if Staff
quoted "if it hadn't been for the 151st the beachhead would have been
destroyed.
The entire 34th Divn left Oran Africa and landed in Salerno on Sept. 22, 1943
and all hell broke loose when WE hit Benevento.
There is a lot more to say but maybe I'll continue at a later date. OH one
thing I must add. On Oct. 13th my outfit the 135th Regt. launched a crossing
of the Calore River. using a guide rope and engineer assault boats we got
across and the krauts were waiting. In the Benevento area is where I got
the Bronze Star. NUF SAID. Roque J. or Marion Rocky r-----n.