November-December 1943--Landing in Naples, Italy

On November 9, we loaded onto L.C.T. (Landing Craft Tanks) and left Bizerte the next morning.  I saw Sicily, the Island of Capri and Mt. Vesuvius, with lots of smoke coming out of it.  We landed in Naples Harbor on November 13.  We traveled by convoy a few miles from Naples and bivouacked in an orange grove outside of the town of Maddaloni.  We were there a few days, and it rained constantly.  I received my first mail from the States while in this area. I got about 50 letters all at once, and it was wonderful to hear from my loved ones and friends again.

On the night of November 18, we moved up into our first line position.  It was south of Mt. Commino, near the town of Perchille.  We surveyed in the guns and then found a cave for us to live in.  We had numerous air raids, and we were all kept busy, each doing his own job. 

On Thanksgiving Day, we had a very good dinner, but I was sick and couldn't enjoy my dinner.  It was raining hard again, and we had to stand out in the weather and eat while our mess kits filled up with water.

One night, someone looked into our cave.  So, all eight of us got  up and pulled on our shoes and grabbed our rifles and went out looking for the person in our long, white underwear. 

On December 19, we moved up seven miles and moved into a large building east of the village of Magnano.  This position was right on the old German winter line.  Here we were under heavy shelling and bombing.  Saw many dead and many German planes shot down.

Personal Letter Home From Robert to His Family:  November 14, 1943--Here I am, somewhere in Italy.  This is Sunday, but it sure doesn't seem like it. I have eaten a lot of oranges and nuts since I've been here.   I carry my Bible on me all the time, and try to read it every day.  I say a prayer every day, too. I just got two letters from you from September!  Love and Kisses, Robert

Naples, Italy