Dr. Walt’s Latest World War II Blogs

In late May, the front-line men realize that a vast operation is beginning. Night after night practically every cannon on the beachhead blasts the enemy positions. […]

Starting May 17, the 30th Infantry Regiment had several award ceremonies in the Pine Grove Corps Reserve Area. At the age of nineteen, Phil was promoted […]

Both VI Corps and the enemy suffered heavy losses in combat casualties during the four months between the Allied landing at Anzio on 22 January and […]

On the night of 11-12 May, the U.S. Fifth Army launched its spring offensive against the Gustav Line in the south so as to breakout and […]

For the 30th, the first three weeks of May were devoted to preparation for a giant all-out attack to smash out of the beachhead and carry […]

Phil wrote his mom from Anzio about his first possible promotion. Was he counting his chickens before they hatched?

History.com notes, “On May 8, 1945, Great Britain, the United States and other Allied countries celebrate Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). Cities in the U.S., […]

Everyone was now preparing for our big offensive. We studied area maps and worked tactics in the sand box and discussed how we were going to […]

On the morning of May 1, Phil’s 3rd Infantry Division was once again assigned to corps reserve, where they remained until May 21.[1]