Hi all, nice post, on this day in 1944 my dad was in Rome, he was an infantryman in the 88th Inf Div. The unit that was first into Rome (also with the 1st SFF).
Anyway a lot of Italian campaign vets had some hard feelings about the landings in France. After all they were fighting long before the landings. The Italian campaign was kind of a side show for the allies. Fighting was bad on both fronts with different terrain and both fought hard.
Churchill called Italy, the "Soft underbelly of Europe" Mark Clark was more in tune when he called it "A tough old gut"
Anyway, my thanks and hats off to ALL the WWII vets, no matter where they fought and whatever they did.
GOD BLESS THEM!
Greg
Gotta love a fat boy Limey using that term- but I think he was talking about Greece and the Balkans- Anyway- Machts Nicht-- American GI's paid a heavy price at Omaha, while the Limeys and Canadians had a tad easier "show" at Gold, Sword and Juno-- but they were our Allies (in spite of Patton's distrust of both Churchill and Montgomery) and they also bled and died there to defeat Hitler and the Nazis- and thank God for that-- Patton's distrust of Montgomery's expertise at battle planning was proven, unfortunately, with Monty's flawed and then failer "Market Garden-- Market being the Airbone phase, and Garden being the ground troops- into Holland and to secure the vital bridges that would eventually take the Allies into Hitler's "Festung Europa"-- I love what the brave troops of the Airborne Units said back then: "When Hitler built his Fortress Europe, he forgot to add a roof"!!
I flew the flag today- and next time will be 14/June for Flag Day--and my VFW "Buddy" Poppy is hanging from the rear view mirror of my Jeep-- we owe them so much, and the brave men who came home from Europe and then Japan-- so few left each year now--Anytime you see a Vet- thank him for his service and sacrifice to our Country!!
