Earl Mansee
36th MP Company

This MP remembers the day of the invasion of Italy after some forty-two years. There was news that the Italians had surrendered, and we had hopes that it wouldn’t be quite as difficult for us. Oh, were we in for a BIG SURPRISE! We were given orders to disembark in the afternoon of Sept. 9, 1943. Just before leaving the ship, U.S.S. FRED FUNGSTON, I saw one of the first casualties being returned to the ship. The man’s insides were exposed as he was lying on the stretcher.

As we disembarked from the landing craft, the 88s were landing close. We didn’t waste too much time on the beach but headed inland, following a ravine for awhile. There wasn’t much sleep for this soldier! The concentrated chocolate bar tasted good at first, but it soon became too rich and I was unable to eat all of it. On Sept. 10, I was at the intersection of the road, leading to the tobacco warehouse. (The date stuck well with me, it was my birthday). Just a short distance from where I was stationed, were four German tanks that had been knocked-out the day before. The tobacco warehouse served as our CP for the 36th Division. Nearby the Grave Registration crew was working full time. I can still remember the dead Germans who lay there and didn’t get buried until our own men were buried. The smell was sickening! Nothing smells as bad as a human corpse. Near us was a barn, with hay in it, which some of the men used. I remember the mites crawling all over us! It was several weeks before we had an opportunity to bathe in a lake nearby. What a relief! While we were staying in the barn we received a rumor that the Germans were using gas and so we started wearing our gas masks, until the rumor was proven false.

The 101st Parachute troops were going over during the dark of the night. The planes were so low that we had no trouble seeing them, even in the dark. While on duty at the warehouse junction, I saw load after load of 6x6 ARMY DUCKS bringing matting wire for the Airport being built across the road from Division Headquarters. They were loads of fifty-five gallon drums of aviation gas. The airport was being built on the second day of the invasion. Our sister division, the FORTY-FIFTH, was beginning to move in by now. It made us feel much better to know we were not in this thing alone! It wasn’t long until the P40s were beginning to land and reload for another mission. The planes were raising their landing gears and sliding their canopy tops closed as they flew over our heads. One of Jerry’s planes got into the circle as our planes were trying to land, when our men saw what was happening, they let him have it!

It wasn’t too long after this that I was moved down the road to Altavilla, where I was standing near a Crucifix. The Italians kept doing a Cross-their-heart as they walked into town. Not being a Catholic, I began to wonder why they did this as they passed by me. I finally questioned one of my buddies and he told me that I was standing in front of a Cross and this was done when they passed the Cross!

It was at Altavilla where the town was so destroyed. The roof of many buildings were blown off. I questioned the Italians in a very crude way, not being able to speak their language, was it airplanes that had done this? They replied, no, it was the Navy Shells that had reached that far inland. There were shallow graves all along the road where bodies had fallen.

The stinch was terrible and the people were wearing rags over their noses. It was also here that I was trying to heat something to eat and I had some gas in a C RATION CAN, with it burning. I thought I could smother the fire after I had finished by stepping on it with the heel of my shoe. The can’s edge was very sharp and cut into my rubber heel and it stuck to my shoe. I became nervous and tried to shake it off and the gas splashed upon my leggons, catching on fire, one of the other MPs had to roll me on the ground to smother the fire out. I never tried that trick again!

Speaking of food, I have never forgotten the beautiful crops of tomatoes and bell peppers that we saw. Lots of the crops had been gathered and were in baskets, spilled out on the ground, as if the pickers were rushed out of the fields.

Winter was getting close by now. Italy, I am sure, had been a beautiful place but war brings out the worst. I was living in a Pup Tent with R. L. MAYHEW and during a storm the lightening was really playing havoc. The lightening struck a tree in the area and one soldier was killed. This made us realize we had better move out from under the tree. It was about this time of the year again, when I was sleeping, and in a dream the words came to me, THOUGH YOU WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF DEATH, I WILL BE NEAR YOU. I know now that God was telling me I would make it! I had a compact Bible which I had carried in my left shirt pocket all this time. I have always been very thankful for the assurance I received from that dream!

At one time when we were on top of a hill, the name of the town I do not remember as this has been so long ago, the British Troops were stationed near us. The hill was called the MILLION DOLLAR HILL. This was the hill we were taking. The British were pounding away with their "16" Pounders. The hill had a very long muddy incline. An American Jeep was coming up the hill and had messed up his Rear Differential, was having to pull strictly by the front end. A British soldier saw the jeep slipping and sliding by the front wheels but still making it, remarked, "You Americans." The British were not too good with vehicles. The Italians had decided to help with the war effort at this time also, and they were using a four wheel drive vehicle, single tires, no duals. They also steered by the front and back axles. Having only black-out lights and moving in the dark, it did give me the creeps.

On another occasion we were staying in a house, overlooking the LIRI VALLEY. We were using an empty five gallon bucket, that we had put charcoal in, using this to toast bread. The floor of the house was concrete. The charcoal can get things pretty hot. Suddenly we heard what we thought was a shell exploding, the charcoal flew up into the air and was landing on our blankets where we slept. One coal landed on GEORGE BLANTON’S neck. Boy, did he do a flip over to get this hot coal out of his shirt. It was fun to everyone BUT George. It was from this hill we could see the flying Fortresses drop bombs on the ABBEY. Even after the bombing, I later saw tracker bullets coming from out of the ruins. The building was indeed a Fortress!

Our Division was pulled out of action shortly after this. It was here that I left the Division. The heavy concussion was so severe in my ears that I was deaf in one ear. I had been offered a transfer while in AFRICA but turned it down as I WANTED TO REMAIN WITH MY OUTFIT, THE 36TH DIVISION.

The invasion of SOUTHERN FRANCE was being readied as I sailed through the STRAITS OF GIBRALTER. I saw a great ARMADA OF SHIPS getting ready! IT WAS GREAT TO BE SAILING FOR THE GOOD OLE U.S.A.!!

Just before the bombing of the Abbey at Cassino, a couple MPs and myself were sent to a cross road, in view of the Abbey, to direct traffic. There was a small cement block building, by the crossroad, just big enough for the men. I was sitting inside the building when a round of some kind exploded outside the block building wall slapped my back! Boy did we get out of there. We were able to watch as the bombers came over the Abbey and drop their loads. An unforgettable sight! After the big bombers did their job, we could see the bombs the dive bombers let loose. After the bombing was over, it was quiet and when darkness came, we could hear the "Screaming Meemies" start up. What a peculiar sound. Frightening also. A couple of days later, we moved on and after we got home I saw pictures of the Abbey. Nothing but hunks of concrete. Can’t remember who was with me. Maybe some of our buddies can help.