PUBLICATIONS
Naples-Foggia: 9 September 1943 - 21 January 1944. By Col. Kenneth V. Smith, U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Salerno: American Operations From the Beaches to the Volturno: 9 September - 6 October 1943. Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1990. First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for the American Forces in Action series, 1944.
From the Volturno to the Winter Line: 6 October - 15 November 1943. Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1990. First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for the American Forces in Action series, 1945.
Fifth Army At the Winter Line: 15 November 1943 - 15 January 1944. Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1990. First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for the American Forces in Action services, 1945. This publication provides detailed information about the battle for Mount Pantano.
See Phase I: The Right Flank (29 November -9 December), for detailed descriptions of the main fighting of the 34th Division (Marv's assigned Division) and its 135th Infantry (Marv's assigned Infantry), on Mount Pantano (where Marv was likely wounded), on December 8, 1943 (date when Marv was wounded in Italy).
Excerpt from page 42: "From 5 to 9 December the troops of the 34th Division were occupied in consolidating positions and patrolling. Enemy activity was confined to intermittent interdictory and harassing fire from artillery and mortars. Artillery concentrations hit in the Mount Pantano area late on the 6th and again on the night of 7/8 December, when the 135th Infantry received heavy enemy shelling every four or five minutes. During 8 and 9 December relief of the entire 34th Division was begun by the 2d Moroccan Infantry Division..."
See Attack by VI Corps (15-21 December), for descriptions of the main fighting of the Moroccan Rifle Regiment, which relieved the 34th Division on December 9, including a photo of litter bearers of a Moroccan Rifle Regiment carrying a wounded soldier down the difficult slopes of Mount Pantano to the village of Pantano where casualties could be evacuated to hospitals.
Note: The photo on page 71 is the closest image I've found of what it must have been like when Marv was taken down the mountain. I do not know if he was carried down, but it's likely he was because he received bullet wounds to his left leg (along with shrapnel wounds to his left arm and neck) and told me that he dragged himself to an aid station after he was hit. NF
Regimental History: 135th Infantry: 15 May 1943 to 31 October 1943. Scan completed 22 April 2008, Iowa Gold Star Military Museum.
Note: This is a treasure that includes wonderful, detailed information about the 34th Division, 135th Infantry, during the time when Marv was attached to 34th Division and (likely) its 135th Infantry. NF
LECTURES
"A Tough Gut Rather Than a Soft Underbelly: Fighting In Italy" 1:14:22
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This presentation was part of the 2013 International Conference on WWII, which was presented by the National World Warr II Museum in New Orleans, Nov. 21-23, 2013. The presentation begins with oral stories of two veterans' experiences (excerpt: "I still have nightmares") and ends with the following panel presentations:
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"The Ground War In Italy: September 1943 - January 1944" by Col. Roger Cirillo.
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"The Battle for the Caves With the 157th Regiment" by Alex Kershaw.
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"Agony, Misery, and Heartbreak: The Ground War in Italy: January - June 1944" by Col. Roger Cirillo" 1:10:39
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This presentation was part of The General Raymond E. Mason, Jr., Distinguished Lecture Series on World War II, at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, April 14,2011. Roger Cirillo described the particularly challenging mountain warfare fought in Italy in World War II.
The U.S. Army Replacement System in the Campaign From 1944 to 1945. 1:41:30
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Historian Eric Klinek argues that the individual replacement system during WW II was ineffective, inefficient, and wasteful.
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Note: Marv was part of the U.S. Army Replacement System. NF
REFERENCES
VIDEOS
New York Port of Embarkation (NYPOE) Videos
U.S. Soldiers Get Off a Ferryboat to Board Ship at New York Port of Embarkation. 0:42
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No sound, Short black and white video tape.
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U.S. troops prepare to entrain (board train) at the New York Port of Embarkation, for transportation to the European Theater during World War II. U.S. troops in a single column get off a ferryboat. Views of the doorway of a covered pier to an open gangway as soldiers with barracks bags move onto a transport.
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Note: Perhaps the soldiers came from Camp Shanks, dubbed "Last Stop USA, the largest WWII Army embarkation camp. From Camp Shanks, troops were moved by rail to Jersey City or marched to Piermont, New York to board a ferry for the embarkation piers to the troop transport ships. NF
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Note: Or perhaps the soldiers came from Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. From Camp Kilmer, troops were usually moved by rails to Jersey City, to board ferry boats for the embarkation piers and transfer to the troop transport ships. NF
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U.S. Soldiers Prepare to Board Train at New York Port of Embarkation. 01:57
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No sound. Short, black and white video clip.
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U.S. troops prepare to entrain (board train) at the New York Port of Embarkation, for transportation to the European Theater during World War II. U.S. soldiers with full packs and barrack bags move. A train in the background. The soldiers move on a gangway. They stand beside railroads. A ferryboat moves across a river.
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Note: Since it appears the soldiers were near New York City (background?), were they boarding a train to go to one of the NYPOE piers? NF
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34th Infantry Division Videos
34th Division - The Red Bull Attacks 1:33:04
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Black and white narrated video on the history of the 34th Division, with the major focus on World War II, beginning with Operation Torch (invasion of North Africa) and ending at Rome.
109th Combat Engineers: 30 Videos
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These video histories of World War II of the 109th Combat Engineer Battalion of the 34th Infantry Division were recorded by Clifford Hullinger. They include memories of members of the US Division that had more days in combat then any other Division in World War II. They served in numerous battles, notably Kasserine Pass, Anzio, and Monte Cassino.
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Note: From what I've been able to figure out, the 109th Combat Engineers Battalion was made up of three companies. Each company supported on Infantry Regiment. Company A supported the 133rd Infantry Regiment, Company B supported the 135th Infantry Regiment, and Company C supported the 168th Infantry Regiment. NF
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Italian Campaign Videos
Tracing the Red Bulls From WW II to Today 27.52
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Black and white, narrative videos the 34th Division attacks in mainland Italy, including Battle of Cassino, Anzio Beachhead, the Winter Line, "mad dash" to Rome, and northward battles.
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Note: Marv was assigned to the 34th Divsion (Red Bulls) and (likely) its 135th Infantry. The battle for Mount Pantano, where Marv was wounded on December 8, 1943, is mentioned in the video from section 11:17 to 11:47. NF
The Combat Engineer in the Italian Campaign, Naples to Cassino 05:25
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A short, narrated black and white video of British and U.S. soldiers advancing and constructing a bridge over the Volturno River in Italy during the Italian Campaign.
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Note: Marv had likely joined up with the 34th Division before its first crossing of the Volturno River (Oct 12-13, 1943), and Marv would have joined up with the 34th Division before its second and third crossings (Oct 18-20, 1943 and Nov. 3-4, 1943). NF
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No audio. Short, black and white video clip of the 2nd Moroccan Division on parade.
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Note: During December 8 (the date Marv was wounded on Mount Pantano as part of the 135th Infantry, 34th Division) and December 9, relief of the entire 34th Division on Mount Pantano was begun by the 2d Moroccan Infantry Division, which had landed at Naples from November 21 to 30. NF
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Short, black and white, narrated video clip show surrender of Italy celebrations and Allies fighting in North Africa.
Thunderbolt 43:50
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Full-length, color, narrated movie shows video footage of the air war over Italy during World War II, focusing on the life and death struggle of a P-47 Thunderbolt squadron. Narrated by Jimmy Stewart.
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Note: Shows glimpses of the Italian mountains and Volturno River areas where Marv had been. NF
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Preview of Thunderbolt. 04:14
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Short, narrated video preview of the movie "Thunderbolt."
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Note: Shows glimpses of the Italian mountains and and Volturno Rivers, areas where Marv had been. NF
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British Troops Invade Mainland Italy at Calabria, September 3, 1943. 03:54
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Short, narrated black and white video clip of the Allied invasion at Calabrai ("toe of the boot) and Salerno (Sept. 9), capture of Foggia airfields.
The Battle of San Pietro 32:10
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A documentary film directed by John Huston about the Battle of San Pietro sixty miles from Naples during WWII. Unlike many other military documentaries, it was claimed Huston’s cameramen filmed alongside the infantrymen as they fought their way up the hills to reach San Pietro. Huston's claim that the film was made during the battle was proven false by the research of Peter Maslowski in his 1993 book, Armed With Cameras.
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Note: The Battle of San Pietro was a major engagement from December 8 to 17, 1943, in the Italian Campaign involving Allied forces attacking from the south against heavily fortified positions of the German "Winter Line" in and around the town of San Pietro Infine, just south of Monte Cassino about halfway between Naples and Rome. San Pietro Infine is located about 15 miles southwest of Pantano, near where Marv was wounded on December 8, 1943. Although neither Marv nor his unit were involved in the Battle of San Pietro, I listed this video because of its historical significance and film footage that shows conditions similar to where Marv had been. During the battle, Marv was likely in an Evacuation Hospital nearest the town of Pantano, such as the one located near Alife. NF
Battle of Anzio: Operation Shingle 1944. (28:08.
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Black and white, narrated film. One of "The Big Picture" films.
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Note: The Battle of Anizo was in important battle of the Italian Campaign that began on January 22, 1944, with the Allied amphibious landing known as Operation Shingle against the German forces in the area near the towns of Anzio and Nettuno. Although Marv has been taken out of action before the Battle of Anzio, I listed this video because of its historical significance and film footage that shows conditions similar to where Marv had been. During the beginning of the battle, Marv was still overseas, probably recovering in a hospital in North Africa; he returned back in the U.S. in March 1944. NF
Salerno Videos
Operation Avalanche - The Battle of Salerno 18:19
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Black and white, funny-sounding narrated video (narrator pronounces "corps" like "corpse") of Battle of Salerno (Operation Avalanche).
Allies Invade Italy at Salerno, September 9, 1943. 21:28
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Black and white, corny-sounding narrated video of the Allied invasion of mainland Italy.
Italy to a G.I. 3:50
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Short, black and white, narrated video clip of U. S. Army Private Patrick MacDonald at home in the United States speaking about his experience of being in Italy during World War II, including invasion of mainland Italy at Salerno (Operation Avalanche).
Allied Troops Invasion of Mainland Italy. 01:53
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No sound. Short, black and white video of Allied troops landing at Salerno and advancing to the town of Salerno .
The U.S. Fifth Army in Salerno. 01:56
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No sound. Short, black and white video clip of freighters, boats, burning ships, and a geyser formed from a bomb explosion in Salerno.
Volturno River and Volturno River Valley Videos
Engineers Restore Water Supply System and Volturno River is Bridged in Naples. 03:03
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A short, narrated, black and white video of a ruined city showing harbors, damaged ships, damaged buildings, debris and engineers restoring Naples water supply system, and building bridge over Volturno River.
The Combat Engineer in the Italian Campaign, Naples to Cassino 05:25
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A short, narrated black and white video of British and U.S. soldiers advancing and constructing a bridge over the Volturno River at the time of the Allied first crossing.
Volturno River Valley. 04:19
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A short, narrated, black and white video of troops in the Volturno River Valley [likely after Allied second crossing of Volturno River] and construction of a trestle bridge on the side of a steep mountain by Army engineers.
U.S. Troops Clear Rubble at a Town in Volturno River Valley. 03:43
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A short, narrated black and white video of the Volturno River Valley and Italian refugees traveling the roads [likely after the second crossing].
U.S. Fifth Army Vehicles Traverse Bridges at Volturno River, near Mignano. 00:59
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No sound. A short, black and white video clip of jeeps crossing a bridge, an MP directing traffic from side of the muddy road, and Army engineers repairing another bridge [likely after Allied third crossing of Volturno River].
Cassino Videos
Allied Troops Shatter Gustav Line. 0:31
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Short, black and white, narrated video clip of Allied battle for Cassino (May 18, 1944) and Anzio Beachhead (May 23, 1944).
German Video of Firing Artillery in Cassino. 02:29
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Narrated in German. Short, black and white video clip of German infantry firing various artillery and prisoners, mostly New Zealanders being marched.
German Video of Germans Firing Antiaircraft Guns at British Bombers. 03:39
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Narrated in German. Short, black and white video clip of Germans shooting down British bombers in Cassino.
German Video of Allies Bombing Mount Cassino Monastery. 02:26
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Narrated in German. Short, black and white video clip of the abbey before and after the it was bombed by the Allies, hauling treasures from the abbey to Rome, and Abbot Mare fleeing to Vatican City with a German escort.
Allies Bomb Mount Cassino Monastery. 03:36
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No narration. Short, black and white video clip of U.S. Army AIr Force B-26 Marauder bombers flying over Cassino and bombs falling and exploding on the abbey and before- and after-bombing views of the abbey.
U.S. Fifth Army Shell Mount Cassino Monastery. 01:32
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No sound. Short, black and white film of the Monte Cassino Allies shelling the Monte Cassino Monastery and a pamphlet telling Italian people to evacuate the area. Pamphlet text:
Italian friends,
BEWARE!
We have until now been especially careful to avoid shelling the Monte Cassino Monastery. The Germans have known how to benefit from this. But now the fighting has swept closer and closer to its sacred precinct. The time has come when we must train our guns on the Monastery itself.
We give you this warning so that you may move(?) yourselves. We warn you urgently: Leave the Monastery. Leave it at once. Respect this warning. It is for your benefit.
THE FIFTH ARMY