On this day the men of the 36th Division, which included my uncle 141st Reg, Cannon Co, invaded Salerno, Italy. Regretfuly, this was done under the command of Gen Mark Clark. Clark had the not so brilliant idea about a sneak attack and sent these boys in without naval bombardment. As they brave soliers hit the beach, the Germans announced on a loud speaker " Come on in and surrender, You're all surrounded" !!! Of course they never surrendered but fought to the death to establish a beach foothold. As they were being totaly blasted from the hills above Paestrum, only one cannon out of 5 made it ashore, it was my uncles unit. He fought on untill KIA on 12/12/1944 in Eastern France. An incredible footnote I just found. His brother, my uncle Orrvile, was with the Navy and was delivering men in LST boats at Salerno !!! He was hit and spent 14 hours in the waters off Salerno before being rescued. I don't know if they ever knew each other was at this brutal battle together.
