This 2019 tour will escort you to trace the 85th’s WWII combat route from
Minturno (May 11, 1944) to Belluno (May 3, 1945)
The "full" name of this division is the
85th Division (Custer Division) of the
Fifth Army of United States of America of the
II Corp of the
15th Army Group
Who We Are
The inaugural customized tour had been arranged by:
Tour Leader Howard L. Gorrell is the son of
Paul Edward Gorrell, Captain of Company D
of the 337th Infantry Regiment,
and
337th I. R. Historian Don Jones is the son of
Roy E. Jones, Staff Sergeant of Company C .
TOUR PRICE
$TBA per person based on double occupancy
Due Dates
$500 deposit per person is due by
July 31, 2015**
$1300 balance is due by
September 1, 2015**
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE?
- All land transportation by a modern touring motor coach
- All road tolls and applicable taxes
- 10 Nights in good quality 3 & 4 star 1st class tourist category hotels
- 10 Continental breakfasts
- 9 Lunches
- 1 Farewell Dinner (beverages not included)
- All attractions as specified in the itinerary.
- All entrance fees as specified in the itinerary.
- Luggage handling at hotels
- Gratuities for Local Guides and Tour Coach Driver
- For more information about the tour, contact tour leader Howard Gorrell at 337thir@gmail.com.
- Please note that the tour itinerary and the tour price may be subject to change.
FREE OPTIONS WHEN THEY ARE REQUESTED
- Land Transfer from Rome Center to Cassino on Monday, October 5th.
- Excursion from Siena to San Gimignano and back on Saturday, October 10th.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
TOUR PRICE?
- Flights from home area to European gateway and return
- Lunch and Dinner on Saturday, October 10th
- 8 Dinners
- Extra drinks for lunches
- Italian Gelato - see the photo
- All items of a personal nature i.e. Telephone calls, laundry, pay TV. Hotel mini-bars in room.
- All entrances to museums, art galleries, etc. not specified in the website.
- Any public transport, Taxi, local bus, rail or flights not specified in the itinerary.
- Travel Insurance It is recommend that you purchase it for covering trip cancellation and trip interruption.
- Transfer from Venice to an airport for your returning trip.
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SIGNING UP & MAKING PAYMENTS
HANDS ON TRAVEL LLC has been appointed to process your deposit and final payments via PayPal.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE TOUR: Please email Charles (Hands on Travel’s account manager) at charles@handsontvl.com mentioning that you wish to sign up for the 337th IR tour.
HANDS ON TRAVEL LLC will send you a PayPal invoice for $500 deposit per person so you can pay online with your credit card. You will receive an invoice/receipt confirming your space on the tour after your deposit payment is processed. You will also receive another PayPal invoice for the balance due by September 1, 2015. It is convenient to pay securely online with your credit card via PayPal.
337th Infantry Regiment's
Combat Route
&
Timetable Summary
(Click map to open in a larger window)
These maps are credited to Steve Cole, Creator of the website
called "Custermen". His father, Staff Sergeant Newton F.
('N.F.') Cole Jr, was with the 328th Field Artillery
Battalion that supported the 337th Infantry Regiment.
April 15, 1942 to
March 24, 1944
April 15, 1942: The 337th Infantry Regiment is designated by the US War Department for re-activation with the 85th Infantry Division, one of the first all-draftee divisions.
May 15: Activation of the Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
March 26, 1943: The Division began participation in corps maneuvers in DeSota National Forest in Louisiana.
June 13: The Division is relocated to the Desert Training Center at Camp Pilot Knob, California.
October 12: Relocation to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for staging prior to oversea assignment.
Fact: At Fort Dix, most of our men did not know their final destination.
December: Relocation to Camp Patrick Henry at the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation.
January 1, 1944: The Regiment sails aboard the HMS Andes from Hampton Roads, Virginia.
January 9: HMS Andes arrives at Casablanca. Regiment bivouacs at Camp Don. B. Passage outside Casablanca until January 14.
January 14: 337th Infantry relocated by train to camp at St. Denis de Sig in Algeria for training in the Atlas Mountains.
February 6: Reassignment to the "Invasion Training Center" at Port-aux-Poules, Algeria.
March 23: Arrival at Oran, Algeria.
March 24: Departure for Naples via USS Florence Nightingale and USS Lyons.
October 2, 1942
"Early one morning in October 1942, orders were passed down to the 85th Division to begin an immediate police-up and check the neatness of the entire camp. A review of the troops were scheduled in the afternoon. Something big was about to happen. Obviously someone of importance was coming.
"After lunch, the entire 31st "Dixie" Division plus IV Corps and Third Army troops began to line both sides of Shelby's Highway 24, with men stationed every 5 paces apart and facing away from the road. The officer in charge of th 339th Regiment's Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon was ordered to place a guard around the 339th Regiment's parade ground.
"By 1315, troops began marching onto the parade ground as the entire 85th Division assembled with the 337th and 338th Regiments marching from other parts of the camp. Even General Haslip arrived---wearing leggings! That in itself was significant.
"A long, black limosine arrived and stopped next to General Haslip. President F. D. Roosevelt stepped out, as the General saluted his Commander-in-Chief. Then General Haslip accompanied the President as they reviewed the troops in the limo. The President had stopped by during one of his "secret" tours of the nation and the industrial plants."
Reference: Paul Schultz's book "The 85th Division in WW2"
[This photo was taken by 1st Lt. Paul E. Gorrell]
March 27, 1944 to
May 11, 1944
at 11 PM
March 27 1944: USS Lyons and USS Florence Nightingale docks at Port of Naples. The 337th Infantry moves by truck and foot to a bivouac at Mondragone, fifteen miles from the front lines near Minturno.
April 11-12: First night on the line for 337th Infantry relieves the 351st Infantry of the 88th Division.
April 14-May 5: 337th Infantry patrolled the that line.
May 2: The Regiment received a visit from General Mark Clark on May 2nd.
May 3: The 3rd Battalion captured two German prisoners - the first to be taken by the 337th.
May 5: The 337th Infantry lost a Company "C" man, 337th's first prisoner.
May 7-10: The Regiment marched to the "Reserve Area" east of Tremensouli.
At 11 pm on May 11th, "The Big Push", the Operation DIADEM began. It was the major push against the Gustav Line.
A Lonely Soldier
(A poem was written by First Lt. Paul Gorrell to his wife, Faith, on April 6, 1944, somewhere in Italy.)
A LONELY SOLDIER
While sitting under an Olive tree,
I take my pen in hand,
To write to my dear wife
In a far off land.
The moon is shining brightly
The hour is half past ten,
I am now guarding a bridge
With a few of my men.
The weather is warm,
And the land is flat,
The Mosquitoes are big
But our “Skat” helps that.
With planes flying overhead
And vehicles all around.
It makes me wish that I were
Back in our old home town.
I love my wife so dearly
I know she loves me too,
Our home shall be a wonderful one
When all this war is thru.
Grave days lie ahead,
The path will not be smooth,
But we are now quite safe,
Until our next move.
So until this war is over
We must put our trust in God.
And hope it won’t be too long
Until I can step on U. S. Sod.
Our travels have been far,
The experiences very strange,
But I’ll still take pre-war life,
Without too much change.
My poetry is poor,
But the thoughts are true.
So until I see you once again,
May God Bless you.
_______________________________
(Declassified: This location is
Minturno Bridge. See the photo)
Operation DIADEM
Operation DIAMDEM, also referred to as the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino, was an offensive operation undertaken by the Allied (U.S. Fifth Army and British Eighth Army in May 1944, as part of the Italian Campaign of World War II.)
[Click at this photo to see the Sketchmap: Allied plan for Operation Diadem on May 11, 1944]
May 11 & 12, 1944
May 11 at 11 pm: Nearly 2000 cannons opened fire on the German defenses of the Gustav Line.
No 337th troops participated in the initial attack.
At 4 am (May 12th), the 337th attempted to take Hills, 66 and 69 (in the area of Tremensouli) after the 339th Infantry Regiment was ordered to retreat.
There our 337th men had the first taste of "war battle".
At 4:30 am, Company "K" assisted the 339th to take Hill 69.
By the evening, Companies "A" and "C" captured Hill 66.
May 11 & 12, 1944
Another Map Version
(See the above official map)
Hill 66
"On May 12, 1944, Smitty [Private Homer James Smithson of Company D] and the 1st Battalion of the 337th advanced under a smoke screen toward Hill 66. Hill 66 was what they called the western side of San Martino Hill. It was in the afternoon when they made their first attack on Hill 66. On their first try, they were run back off. But, on their second try, they succeeded. Shortly after midnight, the hill was taken. This particular battle was one of the worst Smitty had seen so far. Almost all of Company C was killed. Only three or four men survived. There were bodies of fellow soldiers lying everywhere. Smitty remembers that this was when he realized that he was really in war. People were dying here and he now had the understanding that he could be next." Jordan Abbott, Age 11, Fifth Grade
[Click on the photo to read Jordon's entire website]
May 13 - 15, 1944
Battle along front line continues by holding Hills, 66 and 69, all day and night on the 13th and 14th.
May 14: The 337th captured Hill 108.
May 15: 337th took Castellonorato.
First signs of German withdrawal.
The 337th lost nearly one-fourth of it's WWII casualties during this first major engagement.
May 16 - 18, 1944
May 16: Our 337th men left Hills, 66 and 69, for Tremensouli for a hot meal and fully equipped and then marched up to Castellonorato with many new men.
May 17: The 337th troops scaled Monte Campese, Trivio and Maranola.
May 18th: The 1st Battalion assisted the 338th and 339th Infantry Regiments in the capture of Monte Conca and Monte Cefalo. The remaining of the 337th Regiment reverted to the Division reserve.
The Allies claimed a complete collapse of the Gustav Line on May 18th, when the Polish army took over the Monte Cassino Monastery.
Hill 69
(A poem was written by Don Curtus,
337th Company C Veteran)
I’d like to tell you my experience on line
The Night we took sixty-nine-
May 11th at 11 “PM”
Was the time set for the attack to begin.
This hill was part of the Gustave line.
The English had broken it, but fell back each time.
Now it was time for the Yanks to try
And each man was ready and willing to die.
At 11 o’clock we laid a barrage
That will go down in history, none ever so large.
The boys started out to this hell hole on earth
Facing machine guns and artillery bursts.
Through “Tremensouli” we had to move fast,
Fro it had the name of The Purple Heart Pass;
To get in position our chance looked slim
For most of them, Jerry had all zeroed in.
On the side of the hill we had to dig in
With mortar shells singing hell songs of sin;
Twenty-three hours on this hill we stayed
And many brave men went to their graves.
Each man prayed out loud and looked it t’ward to sky,
But the shells kept coming, brave men had to die
We accomplished our mission and broke the strong line
And Jerry pulled out, leaving wounded behind.
After they started running it wasn’t so bad
The 337th gave them all that we had –
We knew our object – it was to take Rome,
And we knew that each step was nearer home.
We marched through Rome June the 5th
Dirty and sore, tired and stiff,
The only regret we had on our minds
Was our buddies we left back on Hill 69.
May 19 - 21, 1944
May 19: The Regiment moved to Fondi.
May 20: 337th troop was ordered to move toward Terracina and then captured Monte San Biagio.
May 21: Our men were slowed toward Terracina by enemy resistance.
May 15-23, 1944
Another Map Version
(This map shows the movement
of the 85th Division)
May 22 - 25, 1944
May 22: The Regiment was Advanced toward to Terracina.
May 23: They renewed the assault on Terracina.
May 24: Our men fought on the cemetery near Terracina.
May 25: 337th men finally entered and captured the beautiful seaside resort of Terracina.
This victory enabled American tanks to roll down to the Appian Way and onto Terracina. Every 337th man was a hero!
German army had no alternative to a full-scale withdrawal across the southern front.
Then large quantities of supplies from Naples moved in long truck columns along Highways 6 and 7 to support the final drive on Rome.
May 26 - 28, 1944
May 26: The Regiment moved to Sabaudia, where the 337th men took their first rest after 49 days of continuous combat operations against the Axis Power.
During this period, our men had a chance to swim, following the clearing of a beach of mines by the Army engineers.
May 29 to
June 4, 1944
May 29: The regiment motored to Cori.
May 31: They advanced toward Lariano and encountered little opposition.
June 1: 337th men Advanced beyond Lariano.
June 2: They took Monte Ceraso.
June 3: 337th Infantry captured Monte Compatri and Monte Porzio Catone.
June 4: With the sight of Rome, they secured the Tiber bridges.
June 5, 1944
At 12:30 pm, the 337th men began the march through Rome to a bivouacs area at the other side.
As our men marched through the city, through the city, the Roman populace by the thousands thronged the streets to give the liberators of their homes a hysterical welcome.
The 337th regiment was quartered on the grounds of the ancient Italian Forte Trionfale.
However, taking Rome was obscured by the news of "D-Day" launched.
(Click on this picture to watch a 20-minute video titled "Liberation of Rome")
June 6 - 10, 1944
June 6: 337th men marched up on Route 2 beyond Rome to chase the enemy.
June 7: They captured Monterosi.
June 8: The troop fought at Ronciglione.
June 9. The Regiment approached to Viterbo:
June 10: 337th men got relieved by the 3rd Algerian Division at Viterbo and moved to Monterosi for rehabilitation until June 14th.
June 4 - 10, 1944
Another Map Version
(See the above official map)
June 15 to
July 12, 1944
June 15: The Regiment motored through Rome to a rest area on the grounds of the Castel Fusano, near the resort town of Lido di Roma on the sea, which was used as a rest and refitting area for Fifth Army units just out of combat.
From there, the 337th men could visit Rome and stay in any of the Fifth Army designated rest centers in the city.
The engineers cleared a bathing beach for the regiment and opened a club for enlisted men by the sea. (Click at the photo to see the beach at the present time).
During this period, they had more training, more rehabilitation and more recreation until July 12th.
July 13 to
August 29, 1944
July 13: The Regiment moved to a bivouac area near Roccastrada for mountain warfare training.
July 19: They motored toRosignano to learn how to pack mules.
July 28: The 3rd Battalion participated in the 5th Army Honor Guard to welcome King George VI of England.
July 30: Our men moved to an area near Volterra (shown on the photo) on the 30th and had a two-week regular training near Volterra until August 13th.August 13: The Regiment was ordered to relieve the front line elements of the 91st Infantry Division (south bank of the Arno River) for 5 days (August 13-17).
August 18: They were assigned to patrol the south bank of the Arno River from Castelfrance to Elsa until August 28th.
August 29: They moved to a bivouac area near Certaldo.
August 30 to
September 11, 1944
During this time period, our men engaged in a program of training near a beautiful medieval hill town of Certaldo (shown on the picture).
September 9: The Regiment celebrated the regiment's holiday called "Salerno Day". They witnessed the award of a Presidential Citation to Company C for outstanding performance for holding Hill 66.
Then they received the new attack order to penetrate the Gothic Line and debouching into Po Valley.
Their initial objectives were Mount Altuzzo (3,037 feet) and Mount Verruca (xxxx feet).
September
12 - 18, 1944
September 12: 337th Troop moved through Florence to Bivigliano.
September 13: They moved again to Borgo San Lorenzo.
September 15: The Regiment advanced to Grezzano.
September 16: They fought toward Mount Pratone.
September 17: The troop secured Mount Pratone.
September 18: Our men pushed forward Mount Fellone.
September
13 - 17, 1944
Another Map Version
(See the above official map)
September
19 - 30, 1944
September 19: The 337th Infantry moved toward Mount Acuto.
September 20: The troop captured Mount Montale.
September 21: The Regiment assembled near Badia di Moscheta.
September 22: Our men rested and then moved to an assemble area east of Firenzuola.
September 23: They took over the position of Hill 781.
September 24: The 337th advanced through Visignano.
September 25: They took control of Mount La Fine.
September 26: The men hold Mount La Fine.
September 27: The troop slowed toward il Poggio.
September 28: 337th occupied il Poggio.
September 29: They patrolled three villages: Roco, Piancaldoli and Giugnola.
September 30: Our men moved to Giugnola.
September 24 to
October 1, 1944
This was the official map.
(See the above other version for
better readable purpose)
Front Line
Soldier's Life
From the 337th Regiment's monthly operations report (September 1944):
"The front line soldier's life was made more miserable by the driving rain, the biting wind and the constant cold and fog. But the factor that reduced the advance to a painstaking creeping forward inch by inch was the rugged terrain that provided the enemy with excellent delaying positions. Steep peaks of bare rock that towered over 3,000 feet in the air, bottomless valleys and gullies, and treacherous mountain trails made speed impossible."
October 1 - 15, 1944
(As March 22, we have to review the operation reports again for the accurate route)
October 14 - 19, 1944
The 337th men spent this period in rest, rehabilitation, training and preparation in the area of Borgo di Bisano (shown on the picture).
Click the photo to see how close to Bologna - 21 miles away.
October 20, 1944 to March 11, 1945
[Oct.20 to Dec. 22 - TBA)
December 23: The 337th Infantry was motored to Lucca to assist the 92nd Infantry Division for ground
reconnaissance.
January 7, 1945: The troop returned to the Gaglliano area.
For this time period, a system for the rotation of front line companies was put in effect in the location between Pianoro and Montecalderaro.
Our men assigned to patrol while wearing white camouflage suits (and mules were covered byimprovised white capes.
February 19 to
March 11, 1945
Another Map Version
March 12 - 31, 1945
During the winter lull in the fighting, the 337th men were able to visit the 5th Army Rest Center in the beautiful casino resort town of Montecatini, with numerous sulfur baths, on March 12th - 21st. To the men of the 85th Division, Montecatini became an oasis in the midst of a deary land of mud and ice.
During this time period, battalions and companies were rotated for spending R&R in this rest center and training at the Galliano area.
And the 10th Mountain Division, last U.S. Army division that committed to the European Theater (January 1945), arrived. The 10th Mountain Division was the U.S. Army’s only mountaineering. More than half of its soldiers were college students or graduates, even spoiled boys of wealthy or politically important families…and this included future Senator Robert Dole.
While our men were resting there, it was common for tough survivors of Hill 66 and Mount Pratone to say to these newcomers “Let’s see how blue your blood really is.”
On March 31st, all organizations of this regiment were ordered to be in Lucca.
Click at a photo to see the picture of Senator Bob reuniting with our veterans at the 50th Reunion.
April 1-16, 1945
During this time period, the Regiment engaged in an intensive training program in the area of Galliano (shown in the picture) in preparation for the Spring Offensive.
April x: They witnessed the award of a Presidential Citation to Company F for heroic action on Mount Monzano (September 1944).
Click the photo to look the satellite view of Galliano.
April 17 - 21, 1945
April 17: The 337th troop motored to Sassomolare.
April 18: TBA
April 19: TBA
April 20: The Regiment took Casalecchio. That date thus marked the turning point in the Allied spring offensive across the entire front.
April 21: TBA
April 22: TBA
April 23: TBA(As March 22, we have to review the operation reports again for the accurate route)
April 22 - 24, 1944
April 22: The 10th Mountain Division reached the south bank of the Po River at San Benedetto west of Ostiglia that night, crossing the river in assault boats the next afternoon.
April 24: The 85th Division was also across the river. The 88th and 91st Divisions were also crossing.
The 1st Armored Division was only awaiting the placement of bridges by the engineers.[Note: This special map for our 337th tourists is credited to the Museo della Seconda Guerra Mondiale del fiume Po (Po River WWII Museum)]
April 25 to
May 2, 1944
April 25: The Regiment got an order for reorganization and rehabilitation near Nosedole.
April 26: The 337th marched to Castelbelforte and then to Vigasio. The 2nd Battalion was ordered to patrol the streets of Verona all night.
April 27-29: The 337th was assigned to division reserve for three days.
April 30: The Regiment moved to Vicenza.
There is no Regiment's monthly operation report for May 1945. But
Paul Gorrell's scapbook mentioned that 337th was mopping up fleeing Germans through Feltre and then Sospirolo on May 1st.
May 2: Before reaching Sospirole, 337th received the news of the German surrender in Santa Giustina.
April 29 to
May 2, 1945
German Surrender
The first organized surrender came on April 29 when the German Army
surrendered to the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
At 2 pm on May 2nd, all German forces in Italy were surrendered to General Mark Clark of the 15th Army Group.
Majority of the 337th troops received the news in Santa Giustina.
The Italian campaign was over!
May 3 to
August 16, 1945
May 3: The victorious men begun disarming German prisoners and prepared the area for occupation in Belluno.
During this time period, they captured and processed over 50,000 surrendered German soldiers during this period.
Meanwhile, our men reviewed their Advanced Service Rating Scores that was used to determine who were sent home first.
They took liberties and traveled as far to Venice and Lake Como.
Late July, majority of 337th men left Belluno for the "Dairy Farm" near Naples. It was the Volturno Redeployment Training Area,where they spent their last days there before shipping out of Naples port to their homes on August 16, 1945.
Tour Attractions
Click picture for a description
Historiale of Cassino
Saturday evening of September 24, 2016
Italian War Cemetery
Sunday morning of September 25 2016
San Pietro Infine
Sunday morning of September 25, 2016
British Commonwealth
War Cemetery
Sunday afternoon of September 25, 2016
Polish War Cemetery
Sunday afternoon of September 25, 2016
Benedictine Abbey
of Monte Cassino
Sunday afternoon of September 25, 2016
German Cemetery (Kriegsgräberstätte) Cassino
Sunday afternoon of September 25, 2016
Archeologic Museum
of Minturno
Monday afternoon of September 26, 2016
339th Infantry
Regiment Monument
in Tremensuoli
Monday afternoon of September 26, 2016
National Archaeological Museum of Sperlonga
Tuesday afternoon of September 27, 2016
Temple of Jupiter Anxur
Tuesday afternoon of September 27, 2016
Piana delle Orme
Wednesday morning of September 28, 2016
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
Wednesday morning of September 28, 2016
Val d’Orica
Wednesday afternoon of September 28, 2016
Winery for wine-tasting
in Montalcino
Wednesday afternoon of September 28, 2016
City of Siena
OPTION: Thursday afternoon of September 29, 2016
Antinori Nel Chianti Classico
Wine Tour
(Pending)
OPTION: Thursday afternoon of September 29, 2016
Mount Altuzzo Memorial
338th Infantry Regiment
Friday morning of September 30, 2016
Documentation and Historical Research
Center of
Gotica Toscana
Friday morning of September 30, 2016
Winter Line Museum
Sunday morning of October 2, 2016
Belluno Attractions
Tuesday of October 4, 2016
More Details
"For those of you not familiar with all of the different battles of Italy, you may not know much of what happened there. It did not receive the press attention, before, during and after the war, and is considered by many to have been a vast waste of time, material and lives. But to the men who fought and died there, it was their war, and the fighting was just as tough, just as horrific as any of the other, better known battles. In fact, I would say that the mountains of Italy, with the cold, the mud, the snow, and the Germans was one of the toughest “Theaters of Operation”.
337th Historian Don D. Jones at the Memorial Service for Paul Edward Gorrell, Captain of Company D, on September 14, 2012.
Howard's Introduction
Inspired by Don Jones' website about the 337th Infantry Regiment, I had a sole backpack trip in 2001 to track the combat route from Minturno to Belluno by rail without my father’s knowledge. On each stop, I mailed a postcard to him in order to make him surprised. After my Italian trip, my father “bragged” to his surviving war buddies about my trip.
In 2004, I finally met Don during the 337th infantry Regiment's 50th and final reunion in Arlington, Virginia. Eight years later he accepted my request to speak at my father's memorial service. After the service, one mourner told me that he felt that he was in a history classroom.
Unfortunately, Don's and my father passed away in 2004 and 2012 respectively and we were never able to share with them all of history we've gathered. Don has felt that "it was their lives and they, like most veterans who did the real fighting, were not particularly interested in re-living that history"
However, Don and I had to dig up more information about the accuracy of the 337th combat route. With the help of a few Italian WWII historians, we finally turned our 14-year dream into a reality.
We want to help you wishing to make a similar journey of remembrance through Italy. And there is the joy we have experienced in our encounters with the children, grandchildren and great-greatchildren of the men who lived through the drama of the Fourth Battle of Cassino, Rome-Arno Campaign, North Apennines Campaign, and Po Valley Campaign.
Also we are in process of arranging the same tour for the year of 2016.
Before closing, we will be appreciated it if you would click at a right photo to watch a video titled "A Tribute to Paul Gorrell"
Howard L. Gorrell
Tour Leader
Introduction about Don
Don Jones is the son of Staff Sergeant Roy E. Jones from Company C, 337th Infantry. Don began his research into the 337th’s war 20 years ago while his dad was still alive. However, as with most veterans, S. Sgt. Jones was never willing to share much of his experiences. So Don turned to the Internet and the National Archives. After several trips to the Archives in College Park, MD and St. Louis MO, he has compiled a collection of photographic and textual records of the 337th and the 85th Division. The Internet, via his website www.337thinfantry.net has enabled Don to locate several members of the 337th, including those who fought with his dad and others.
His previous two trips to Italy were coupled with business trips to Europe, but were very worthwhile In his first trip in 1999, Don met up with Alessandro Campagna, a local historian who graciously led him around the Minturno to Terracina route of the 337th. It was a wonderful experience to be able to actually see and walk the same hills as his father. In his second trip in 2002, Don was able to visit the hills in and around Piancaldoli. In Piancaldoli, Don met a man who lived there during the war (he was 5 yrs old). That man remembered the American soldiers and was overjoyed to meet one of their sons. In both cases, Don found the Italian people gracious and always anxious to say thank you for liberating their country. Don expects the same reception during this coming Italian trip.
All of these men are now deceased, but our memory of their sacrifices lives on.
Photos
The soldier picture is Don's dad, a portrait photo taken during the war. Notice he is wearing the Distinguished Unit bar so that tells Don it was taken during the war, probably while on leave and sent home to his mom.
Then click at this photo and there is a photo of Don's father and Pfc. Gordon True, who was in Dad’s platoon. The picture was taken in November, 2000 when Gordon and his wife visited Don's parents for a reunion.
Air Information
The cost of international airfare is NOT included in our tour price, due to the diversity of our group and the consolidation of the airlines. You are free to find online through the airline
or other booking engines or to work with your local travel consultant. Click at a right picture to find how to find cheaper airfare.
[As of June 16th, the lowest air fare cost is $600 RT via the Meridiana. The departure airport is John F. Kennedy International Airport and the destination is Naples, Italy)
Passport and Visa
Passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.
Tourist Visa is not required for stays under 90 days.
Note: There are no formalities required to enter the Vatican City, but entry will always be via Rome, and you must comply with Italian regulations
Why does this tour start on
Monday and end on Thursday?
Travel on the combat route with us and you’ll get unforgettable and special memories. Since our 337th men did not combat in any well-known tourist destination, we will escort you to several Italian towns not found in any travel guidebooks.
This tour starting on Monday and ending on Thursday will allow you to visit the well-known tour attractions, such as Naples, Rome, Florence and Venice on the both long weekends.
Pre-tour Options
The starting point of Cassino, Italy is only 60 miles from the Naples International Airport and 95 miles from the Rome Fiumicino Airport. You can reach Cassino by train from either city. Click at the right picture for the Trenitalia rail schedule.
To arrange a fantastic pre-tour weekend plan, you may use
the Rome website or Naples website.
Our bus company will provide us a free transfer from Rome to Cassino on Monday, October 5th at 3 pm.
October 10th Options
You may customize your "own" one-day tour. Below are the suggested links.
- Visiting Siena in A Day
- Cycle around Siena on a 2-hour bike ride
- Siena Wine Tasting & Winery Tours
- Siena Walking Tours
- Museums in Siena
Special Option Tour to San Gimignano !!!!
- Free Bus Transportation
- Pay the entrance fee
- Time for departure and how long to stay will be determined by tourists.
Weekend Post-tour Options
On Thursday, October 15th, our bus driver will take us to Venice, where you began your own separate journey.
If you plan to visit Venice and/or Florence, you can use the Venice website and Florence website.
If you plan to stay in Rome for the weekend of October 17th, you may consider Dr.Danila Bracaglia's Rome Heritage Tours: (Note: she is also a licensed archaeologist). Please contact her to see which tours would be available for that weekend.
Extended Post-Tour Options
To be announced
Useful Links
- An AFS Driver Remembers, Charles P. Edward. 2000.
- Backwater War: The Allied Campaign in Italy, 1943-45, Edwin Palmer Hoyt
CAMP SHELBY: History of Training Camp during WW2 & Today. Steve Cole.
- Cassino 1944: Breaking the Gustav Line, Ken Ford. 2004
- Cassino To the Alps, Ernest F. Fisher, Jr., U.S. Army Center of Military History. 1977
- Fifth Army: 1 April - 4 June, 1944, Col. John D.
Forsythe. - Fifth Army: 5 June - 15 August, 1944
- From Salerno to the Alps: History of the Fifth Army, 1943-45 . Chester G. Starr. 1948
- Minturno to the Appennines: 85th Infantry Division. 1945
My American Odyssey, Donald Burris Byers. 2001
- North Apennines 1944-1945, Dwight D. Oland, U.S. Army Center of Military History
- Once Upon a Time in Liberated Rome: When flowers showered on freedom's army, John Seabrook
- Operations of the 1st Battlalion, 337th Infantry in the Attack on Terracina on May 21-24, 1944, Robert C. Aycock, 1950.
- Operations of F Company, 337th Infantry, 85th Division, in the attack on Terracina, South of Anzio, Italy, 23-24 May 1944, Edwin H. Livingston, 1950
- Po Valley 1945, Thomas A. Popa, U.S. Army Center of Military History
- Rome-Arno 1944, Clayton D. Laurie, U.S. Army Center of Military History
- The 337th Infantry Regiment in Italy during WW II, Don J. Jones
- The 85th Infantry Division in World War II, Paul L. Schultz. 1949.
- The Advance on Rome,
- The Operations of the Fifteenth Army Group in the Po Valley Campaign, Alfred W. Kirchner, 1948
- United States Army in World War II, Office of Military History, U.S. Army Medical Department. 1965.
- United States Army in World War II: Three Battles:
ARNAVILLE, ALTUZZO, AND SCHMIDT, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of Army, 1952.
337th IR Historian Don Jones'
Photo Collection
Color photos were taken by Don Jones during his two trips
to Italy: 1999 and 2002; while black & white photos were
collected from the National Archives in Washington DC.
Click picture for a description
Survivors in the News
Click the photo to read the news article or similar.
Walter Lewis Jones
TBA
Mary Martinelli
Widow of Anthony Martinelli
Quoted: "In 2004, Mrs. Martinelli and several family members attended the 337th Infantry’s last reunion in Washington, D.C., and stopped by the World War II memorial to find his name"
Seymour Sarokin
He lives in Mt Kisco, NY.
Memories of the 337th I.R. Men
Click the photo to read his obituary or similar.
(Family members: Please provide the name, WWII photo,
obituary and others to 337thIR@gmail.com)
Harry Rudolph (Rudy) Albright
Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: Company A
State: Ohio
DOB: November 27, 1915
DOD: May 12, 1944
Age: 28
Buried in the Sicily-Rome Cemetery.
Joseph C. Alvestad
Rank:
Unit: Company E
State: South Dakota
DOB: July 23, 1915
DOD: July 29, 2012
Age: 97
Stanley K Buckmore
Rank:
Unit: HQ
State: Maine
DOB: April 10, 1922
DOD: October 17, 2013
Age: 91
Edward J. Bukowski
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company H
State:
DOB: December 14, 1920
DOD: December 4, 2011
Age: 90
Newton F. ('N.F.') Cole Jr.
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: 328th Field Artillery Battalion
State: Mississippi
DOB:
DOD: 1992
Age:
Paul Edward Gorrell
Rank: Captain
Unit: Company D
State: West Virginia
DOB: April 28, 1917
DOD: August 9, 2012
Age: 95
R. Bayne Hawkins
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB: July 4, 1921
DOD: September 28, 2011
Age: 90
* Editor of EASY NEWS, 337th Infantry Regiment.
Henry M. Holmberg
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB: February 5, 1918
DOD: June 28, 2001
Age: 83
Roy E. Jones
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: Company C
State:
DOB:
DOD:
Age:
Charles Edward Lockard, Sr.
Rank:
Unit: Company B
State: Maryland
DOB: May 17, 1921
DOD: May 6, 2010
Age: 88
Anthony Martinelli
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD: 1997
Age:
John A. Melchiorre Sr.
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD: June 2, 2014
Age:
John Joseph Paproski
Rank:
Unit: HQ Co. 2nd Battalion
State:
DOB:
DOD: December 27, 2013
Age:
Peter C. Piedmont, Jr
Rank: First Sergeant
Unit:
State:
DOB: June 14, 1919
DOD: April 11, 2012
Age: 93
Ralph Pasquariello
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Unit:
State:
DOB: September 2, 1918
DOD: August 4, 2013
Age: 95
Donald E Schroth
Rank:
Unit:
State: Ohio
DOB: November 10, 1925
DOD: August 3, 2009
Age: 83
Carl J. Cornell
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: November 4, 1919
DOD: February 28, 2013
Age: 93
Lee F. Lasley
Rank:
Unit:
State: Kansas
DOB: November 12, 1913
DOD: March 20, 2012
Age: 98
Newton Charles Taylor
Rank:
Unit: Company B
State: South Carolina
DOB: August 29, 1920
DOD: April 21, 1999
Age: 78
Donald Bruce Lowe
Rank:
Unit: Regimental HQ
State: Ohio
DOB: December 15, 1920
DOD: November 6, 2002
Age: 81
Ralph C. Michaels
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit:
State: Indiana
DOB: September 19, 1921
DOD: October 28, 2007
Age: 86
William M. DeCosmo
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB:
DOD: July 29, 2012
Age: 87
Vern O. Clifford
Rank:
Unit: Company L
State:
DOB:
DOD: 1991
Age:
R. C. Gray
Rank:
Unit: Company H
State: Mississippi
DOB:
DOD: July 18, 2012
Age: 87
Arnett Allen
Rank:
Unit:
State: Missouri
DOB: December 17, 1924
DOD: April 6, 2012
Age: 87
Arturo V. Liendo
Rank:
Unit: Company A
State: Texas
DOB:
DOD: January 6, 2004
Age: 81
William Standish
Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: Company ?
State:
DOB: January 13, 1919
DOD: October 16, 2012
Age: 93
Nicholas J. Renzetti
Rank:
Unit: Company D
State: Massachusetts
DOB: March 20, 1919
DOD: November 6, 2008
Age:
Sulo O. Ruuska
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company D
State: Massachusetts
DOB:
DOD: August 5 2004.
Age: 85
James Argo Sr.
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD: December 6, 2006
Age: 87
Wallace Ditzel
Rank:
Unit:
State: New Jersey
DOB:
DOD: December 6, 2004
Age: 92
George L. Mize
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Ohio
DOB:
DOD: May 12, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Sicily-Rome Cemetery.
Dan Uzelac
Rank:
Unit: Company M
State: Indiana
DOB:
DOD: July 3, 1997.
Age: 79
Joe Roy Ross
Rank:
Unit:
State: Oklahoma
DOB: November 8, 1920
DOD: June 1, 2002
Age: 81
Fred Thomas Williams
Rank: Private First Class.
Unit:
State: North Carolina
DOB: 1918
DOD: May 14, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Sicily-Rome Cemetery
Joseph Nathaniel Jones
Rank: Corporal
Unit:
State: North Carolina
DOB: 1924
DOD: October 10, 1944
Age: 20
William Donald “Cigar” Davis
Rank:
Unit: 310th Medical Battalion
State: West Virginia
DOB: November 23, 1924
DOD: October 6, 2009
Age: 84
Dan Gray
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB: January 8, 1921
DOD: September 4, 2004
Age: 83
Philip A Fry
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company B
State: Maryland
DOB: 1922
DOD: October 20, 1944
Age: 22
Frank William Cantillion
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company C
State: Connecticut
DOB: July 25, 1922
DOD: May 2, 1944
Age: 21
Interred in the Sicily-Rome Cemetery
Bart J. Lippolis
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: March 10, 1919
DOD: June 1, 1944
Age: 25
Henry N. Armani
Rank: Private First Class
Unit:
State: New York
DOB:
DOD: October 9, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Florence American Cemetery
John J. Roy
Rank: Private
Unit: Company F
State: Maine
DOB:
DOD: 2001
Age:
Neil Preston Hudnall
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company G
State:
DOB: July 12, 1923
DOD:
Age:
Arthur Richard Porterfield
Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit:
State: Virginia
DOB: April 30, 1915
DOD: August 29, 1992
Age: 77
James Severin Brush
Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit:
State:
DOB: February 6, 1921
DOD: September 26, 2012
Age: 91
Radford Marion Sorrell
Rank: Sargent
Unit:
State: Arkansas
DOB: October 23, 1916
DOD: April 23, 2007
Age: 90
George W. Spencer
Rank: Captain
Unit:
State: Kansas
DOB: June 22, 1922
DOD: April 22, 2011
Age: 88
Frank A. Robinson
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: June 22, 1919
DOD: June 2, 1999
Age: 79
Roland Edward Dudley
Rank:
Unit: Communications Chief
State: North Carolina
DOB: December 4, 1922
DOD: February 22, 2005
Age: 82
Joe Roy Ross
Rank:
Unit:
State: Oklahoma
DOB: November 8, 1920
DOD: June 1, 2002
Age: 81
Bernard William Jaeger
Rank:
Unit:
State: Nebraska
DOB: November 13, 1914
DOD: January 31, 2009
Age: 94
Charles Saye Warmoth
Rank: Sergeant
Unit:
State: South Carolina
DOB: November 14, 1922
DOD: May 14, 1944
Age: 21
John Kupka
Rank:
Unit: Company A
State: New York
DOB: December 7, 1924
DOD: January 7, 2013
Age: 88
Oliver M. Hitch
Rank: Captain
Unit: Battalion Surgeon
State: Indiana
DOB: Aug. 8, 1916
DOD: April 3, 2002
Age: 85
Describing the conflict, "During the battle to break the Hitler line, from May 11 to 15, 1944, my battalion aid station, located just west of Cassino, treated and evacuated over 560 casualties. During those five days, I never took my boots off."
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD: October 23, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial
Sam Klein
Rank: Private
Unit: Company B
State:
DOB:
DOD: August 21, 1944
Age:
Walter J. Irwin, Jr.
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB: 1922
DOD: April 25, 1945
Age:
Stephen 'Shorty' Chapasko
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: July 21, 1918
DOD: May 13, 1999
Age: 80
Donald E. Schroth
Rank:
Unit:
State: Ohio
DOB: November 10, 1925
DOD: August 3, 2009
Age: 83
Chester Harding King, Jr.
Rank: Captain
Unit:
State: New York
DOB: March 30, 1913
DOD: June 29, 2001
Age: 88
Rank: Captain
Unit: Regiment Artist, Special Service Company
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: December 9, 1914
DOD:
Age:
Merle K Teare
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: July 22, 1913
DOD: October 4, 1944
Age: 31
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company L
State: New Hampshire
DOB: April 6, 1914
DOD: September 16, 1970
Age: 56
* Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
John H. Bender
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD: May 07, 2007
Age: 84
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: January 28, 1911
DOD: May 31, 1944
Age: 33
Victor R Savacool
Rank: Captain
Unit:
State: Missouri
DOB:
DOD: October 10, 1944
Age:
William M. DeCosmo
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB:
DOD: July 29, 2012
Age: 87
John Baumstarck
Rank: Sergeant
Unit:
State: North Dakota
DOB:
DOD: August 24, 1944
Age: 18
Edward Colantti
Rank: Major
Unit:
State: New York
DOB: January 18, 1920
DOD: March 24, 2005
Age: 85
Joseph Henry Green
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD: Nov. 10, 2005
Age: 86
Paul R. Waggoner
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Unit:
State: Iowa
DOB:
DOD: June 8, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Ralph E. Nesbitt
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: West Virginia
DOB:
DOD: May 31, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Simpson Pleasant Adcock
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company C
State: North Carolina
DOB: March 27, 1919
DOD: August 1, 1944
Age: 25
Orien Kenneth Phipps
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: Company L
State: Virginia
DOB: July 12, 1922
DOD: February 13, 2004
Age: 82
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company B
State: West Virginia
DOB: June 6, 1925
DOD: August 21, 1944
Age: 19
Richard E. Townsend
Rank: Captain
Unit: Company F
State: New York.
DOB: February 26, 1921
DOD: March 18, 2006
Age: 85
H. D. Taylor
Rank: First Private Class
Unit:
State: Tennessee
DOB:
DOD: May 17, 1944
Age:
Interred in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Cletus Scherer
Rank: Corporal
Unit: Company C
State: Minnesota
DOB: March 15, 1919
DOD: October 8, 2010
Age: 91
Delmar E. DeSmidt
Rank: Corporal
Unit: Headquarters Company
State: Iowa
DOB: October 31, 1913
DOD: October 2, 2002
Age: 89
Harry J. Rudy
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Wisconsin
DOB: August 7, 1920
DOD: September 19, 1944
Age: 24
Interred in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial
Ernest T. Fronczak
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company B
State: Ohio
DOB: June 9, 1925
DOD: August 24, 2009
Age: 84
Charles Raymond Lessman
Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Company B
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: September 19, 1923
DOD: May 16, 2014
Age: 90
Charles Linville, Jr.
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD:
Age:
Jake W. Simpson
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB:
DOD:
Age:Dow K. Payton
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit: Company DState: California
DOB: April 26, 1921
DOD: February 25, 1945
Age: 24
Eugene “Gene” Hoffman
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit:
State: California
DOB: February 27, 1922
DOD: March 13, 2014Age: 93
Fred Elmer Deakin
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Illinois
DOB:
DOD: September 26, 1944
Age:
Joseph J. Sorokacs
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company I
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: March 25, 1921
DOD: April 3, 2011
Age: 90Paul T. Batta
Rank:
Unit: 310th Medical Battalion
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: June 28, 1921
DOD: January 21, 2011
Age: 89
Clair Daniel Brubaker
Rank:
Unit:
State: Ohio
DOB: January 15, 1914
DOD: December 7, 2010
Age:. 96James Severin Brush
Rank:
Unit:
State:
DOB: February 6, 1921
DOD: September 26, 2012
Age: 91
Edward Colantti
Rank:
Unit:
State: New York
DOB: January 18, 1920
DOD: March 24, 2005
Age: 85
Carl J. Cornell
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: November 4, 1919
DOD: February 28, 2013
Age: 93
Frank Freidl Jr
Rank:
Unit:
State: Pennsylvania
DOB: January 23, 1921
DOD: January 31, 2008
Age: 87Marvis G. Jones Sr
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit:
State: Virginia
DOB:
DOD: September 16, 2013
Age: 93
Vincent Edward Maggio, Sr.
Rank:
Unit:
State: Maryland
DOB: February 18, 1922
DOD: July 22, 2015
Age: 93
Thomas S. Romano
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: Connecticut
State:
DOB: March 1, 1921
DOD: November 13, 2011
Age: 90Alfred P. Bruns
Rank: Private
Unit:
State: Minnesota
DOB:
DOD: October 24, 1944
Age:Interred in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial
RAYMOND L. VOSS
Rank: First Class Private
Unit: Company D
State: Iowa
DOB: November 2, 1912
DOD: October 8. 1944
Age: 31Robert R Mangum
Rank: FirstPrivate
Unit: Company D
State: Iowa
DOB: November 2, 1912
DOD: October 8. 1944
Age: 31
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