Louis J. Petrillo
Company L, 143rd Infantry
Submitted by Sgt. Petrillo's Widow,
Margaret Petrillo

I’m not much for writing but I’ll try my best. I joined and trained with the 36th Division in North Africa. When we started from North Africa I was on the USS Funkston, if I remember correctly I was part of the Special Forces. I remember we had a special Mess ticket, they fed us steak and the works—roughly around 2 or 2:30 a.m. September 9, 1943-approx. One hour later 3:30 a.m. we hit the beach. I carried a section of bangular torpedo for the section of the beach we went in. Our Navy put down a heavy barrage which was fine, but when the Germans started firing back, I thought all hell let loose. We took the beach. Of course, we had heavy casualties as you probably know. I don’t remember all of the towns and villages we went through but I do remember a town—I think by the name of Altavilla—we were street fighting; we were out of any support. This is the town were Commando Kelly killed forty (40) Germans in twenty (20) minutes single-handed. He threw mortar shells like hand grenades. This caused the German armoured to retreat. I remember the Marines and Army Inf. in the Pacific didn’t believe it could be done, but they were wrong. Kelly, for this action, received the highest award—Congressional Medal of Honor. Kelly was our B.A.R. Man. Gato was his assistant. Kelly, Gato and myself worked pretty well together. Later in action—Gato was killed and I was wounded, we were under heavy artillery barrage. I was hit in the left thigh, which also broke my leg in two places. I wouldn’t let anyone help me because things at that time were too hot. I crawled about fifty to seventy yards to a sort of cave, still under heavy fire. In this cave were Italian people, men, women and children. The men covered me with their coats and also forced me to drink wine—lots of wine—which they did because I had lost so much blood and was very weak. They kept me well until our own Medics arrived. They took me to a field Hospital then later flew me to a Hospital in North Africa. About three months later I returned to my outfit (Co. L Inf. 3rd Battalion) just in time to make another invasion—Anzio, (nowhere half as bad as Salerno). I was made Sgt. there.

A little way out of Anzio we started the big drive for Rome. We fought day and night. If I remember right we went 240 miles in 30 days. We captured Rome June 4, 1944 at 4:00 that morning. In some farm before the village of Veletri we were on combat patrol. Lt Wilcox then about 30 yards away—behind a hedge row throwing grenades. I immediately took cover behind this horse trough and started picking off Germans. Killed 4 and wounded 2. Lt. Wilcox told me I would be decorated for the action. Later in action, Lt. Wilcox was killed so I never received any award, of course. At that time I didn’t care. I was wounded again—beyond Rome—twice in a day. I was shot through my right arm about 11:00 a.m. while street fighting. I refused to leave until later. That same day, I was shot in my left wrist. This put me out of action for good. Thank God I’m alive.