ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

INVASION PREPARATION FOR SOUTHERN FRANCE

Lt. Col. Larson and Capt. Fisher (S-3) checked in with the 71st MA Brigade and were told that the 443rd’s new Fifth Army assignment was with the 36th Division. They went to the location they had been given for the 36th and discovered that the 45th Division was there. The 71st MA Brigade finally said that it had made a code name mistake and that the 443rd’s assignment would be attached to the 45th Division. This attachment cancelled all further visits to Rome by 443rd personnel. On 20 June 443rd gun-tracks were loaded on LSTs at Anzio Port and moved by sea to Salerno and thence to the Battalion assembly area four miles north of Battipaglia. Battalion wheeled vehicles moved on 21/22 June to the same assembly area. Until 2 July the unit engaged in amphibious training with the 45th Division and its units, under control of the Invasion Training Center in Salerno. On 2 July a verbal order from General Truscott, II Corps Commander, detached the 443rd from the 45th Division and re-attached it to the 36th Infantry Division — an attachment that was to continue for the duration of the war. Lt. Col. Larson and Capt. Fisher contacted the 36th Division Commander and determined that the 443rd would remain in position and complete training with the 45th Division while its Batteries maintained liaison with 36th Division Regimental Combat Teams. Upon completing amphibious training the 443rd moved to join the 36th Division north of Paestum.

There, a new training program was begun under supervision of the Battalion Operations and Training officer, Capt. Fisher. It included special lectures and demonstrations, a Renshaw Trainer School conducted by naval personnel and special training and drill for Antiaircraft Intelligence Service crews. On 17 July the 443rd moved with the 36th to the Staging Area at Qualiano.

At this same time General Walker left the 36th Division to return to the U.S. and become Commandant of the Infantry Training School at Fort Benning. General Walker was replaced by Major General Dahlquist. The latter, in preparation for the Southern France invasion needed an aide, fluent in French. The 443rd’s Lt. Wells Lewis, who had lived in Paris, was selected and transferred to the 36th Division as aide to General Dahlquist.

Also, during this time, two additional commendations were received by the 443rd. Lt. Col. Larson addressed the following to 443rd personnel:

"I am proud of the fine example and untiring spirit that every officer and enlisted man has displayed during the strenuous combat days that have just passed. When this war of destruction and death is left behind us we will have rich memories of the 443rd, the gruelling experiences, the fast moves by night and by day, the interesting new sights, the different types of peoples, their strange languages and the triumph of knocking planes out of the sky. Until that time arrives, I know you will continue to give of the best that is in you".

Upon the departure of the 443rd from II Corps in Italy, a commendation was given the Battalion by General Keyes, II Corps Commander. Forwarded through the 7th Army, it did not reach the 443rd until 19 July, as follows:

" To officers and enlisted men of the 443rd AAA AW Bn (SP):

"I noted with regret the departure of the 443rd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion from the ranks of II Corps.

"Your service with this Corps was exemplary. The outstanding success of the Corps during recent operations was due almost entirely to the splendid manner in which you, who composed it, labored and fought as individuals and as a team.

"I know that your unit accomplished in full measure the role assigned it.

"For myself, as your recent commander and in behalf of the nation we serve, I want to express to each of you a deep and sincere appreciation for your courage, fortitude and sacrifice and a heartfelt wish that success and victory will follow your future engagement and enterprise".

On 29 July the 443rd Battalion Ordnance Section doubled the firepower of the twenty-four M-3 gun tracks by replacing their twin .50 cal. machine gun mounts with quadruple .50 cal. machine gun mounts. The new guns installed (96 of them) were heavy barrelled weapons. All Batteries then test-fired the new weapons. And on 1 August, all battery gun sections, on schedule, began training on a telephone pole-mounted Antiaircraft Trainer, developed by Lt. Col. Larson. Lead variances necessary for hitting planes travelling at different speeds were stressed in using new ring sights.

Except for service echelons of Batteries A and D and part of Headquarters Battery, scheduled to sail for France at a later date, all combat vehicles were loaded on landing craft. By August 10 the Southern France invasion fleet was anchored in the Bay of Naples, ready to sail.