Hello Mr. Riojas,I just finished watching a History Channel DVD about the Italian campaign and wanted to ask you a question. Did you ever encounter any Italian troops who were actually fighting there? All I saw was alot of Germans!
Also heard that when Italy decided to stop fighting with Germany it took only a handful of motorcycled German troops to disarm two entire Italian Divisions!!!
All kidding aside, the impression I got is that you were in one of the roughest campaigns of WWII..terrible hard fighting in miserable conditions. Thank you for your service and thank you for sharing with us your wartime memories Sir.
Jim
Dogdaddy; In answer to your question about fighting in Italy.
First the Italion troops we USED, were used as mule skinners with three
GI's,one in front one in the middle and one bringing up the rear. Italy
surrendered when we,(34th), was headed for Salerno. As far as engaging
the enemy, we fought from hill to hill,mountain to mountain,town to town.
And yes there were some bad ones. Benevento, Mt. Pantano,Mt. Marrone,
San Vittore, the town of Cassino then Monte Cassino, where the Monastary
was and now is the new one built with your dollars. Anzio, the breakthrough
past Rome, Po valley, Bologna . Hell when we came down off the mountains
some had to be carried down in strechers,(trench foot), their boots had to be
cut off. Thank the LORD I came down ,No Problema, Hot Mexican blood!
I will tell you that we,(34th) waS NOT the only ones there. The 10th mtn. Divn.
the 3rd I.D. the 45th, the 36th. !st Armoured. I think you can call it a
team effort. Hey Joe you reading this? Also Watson Jones, give your sayso.
Y'all ketch me later it's 10pm mama just hollered from my favorite room.
Bye now. Roque. Dogdaddy if you can get the book like Marion has,GET IT.