The Coast Guard at War
Sicily--Italy Landings
X

 
Prepared in the
Historical Section
Public Information Division
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
June 1, 1946

 


It has been found, from past experience, that valuable material is received after a monograph has been carefully prepared in every detail and distributed, too late for the new material to be incorporated into the story. This monograph is, therefore, submitted in first draft, for distribution to members of the Service in order that material still not at hand may be obtained from them or suggestions made by them as to what is still needed. Some parts are still in the form of notes, credit being indicated in the list of sources as well as in the main part of the story in some cases. Readers are requested to send in their material and suggestions at this time so that they may be incorporated into the final draft.

--i--

". . . To destroy Nazi tyranny and establish a peace which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling In safety within their own boundaries, and which will afford insurance that all the men in all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want."

Purpose of World War II, as
expressed in the Atlantic Charter.

". . . Nine months after the first landings in North Africa, the Allied Force had not merely cleared its shore of enemy force, hut had wrested from him the Sicilian bridge to use as our own in an advance on to the Italian mainland."

/s/ General Eisenhower

--ii--

Table of Contents

PART I--SICILY LANDINGS 1-113
  The Strategic Concept 1-7
  Plan of Operation 7-13
  Landings at Gela--Captain Harwood's Account 13-37
  Landings at Gela-Other Accounts 37-43
  Eye-Witness Account 43-49
  The Samuel Chase 49-53
  Account of Lieut. Comdr. Blair Walliser, USCGR 53-63
  Landing Craft 63-65
  Landings at Licata 67
  Official Report of Operations: JOSS Task Force--Reserve Group 67-69
  The 85--Coast Guard LCI(L) Flotilla Four 69-75
  Lieutenant Roland J. Johnson's Account 75-77
  The LST 331 79
  Lieutenant W. D. Strauch's Account 79-87
  LEONARD WOOD--Landings at Scoglitti 87-89
  Official Facts and Figures 89-91
  Account of Lt. Blair Walliser, USCGR 91-93
  Eye-Witness Account by Fred Stout, Seaman 1/c 93-95
  Medical Facilities 95-97
  Results Achieved 97-103
  Attitude of the Italian People 103-105
  Coast Guard Officers Re-Establish Sicily Fisheries 107-109
  Merchant Marine Inspection Plays Part 109
  Pathway to Europe Ahead 109-113
 
PART II--SALERNO LANDINGS 114-165
  Landings at Salerno 115-117
  The Joseph T. Dickman at Salerno 117-125
  Commander Heimer's Report 125-129
  Flotilla at Salerno 129-139
  The Communications Aspect 141-143
  Account of Charles P. Giammona, Cox., USCGR 143-145
  First Hand Account of Salerno Invasion 145-153
  Experiences on a Patrol Craft 153-157
  Results Achieved 157-159
  Many Officers and Men were Decorated 159-165
 
PART III--ANZIO LANDINGS 166-181
  The Slugging Battle for Rome 167
  Anzio Landings 169-171
  Italians and the Allies 171-173
  Yanks Edge up Rocky Hills Above Cassino 173-175
  Roosevelt Calls Destruction of Abbey a "Military Necessity" 175
  U.S. Printing Invasion Money, President Hints 177
  Like Rats in a Trap 177-181
 
APPENDICES 182-254
  Appendix A--LCI(L) Histories 182-184
  Appendix B--Operations in Which Coast Guard Fully or Partially Manned Vessels Participated 185-187
  Coast Guard Manned Ships Entitled to Operation and Engagement Stars -- Sicily-Italy Area 188-189
  Appendix C--Coastguardsmen Decorated 190-203
  Appendix D--Mediterranean in 1944 204-205
  Appendix E--Joseph T. Dickman, Report of Operations, Sicily, July 10-12, 1943 206-208
  Appendix F--Official Facts about the Chase 209-213
  Appendix G--Letter from C. B. M. William G. Lawrence 214-219
  Appendix H--Letter from Commander M. H. Imlay 220-223
  Appendix I--Difficulties of Small Boats 224-232
  Appendix J--Interview with Lt. (jg) Frank Cankar, USCGR 233-243
  Appendix K--Official Action Report of Salerno by Captain R. J. Mauerman, USCG, Commanding Officer of the USS Joseph T. Dickman 244-246
  Appendix L--Landing Craft Technique 247-250
  Appendix M--Report of Convoy FSS1 251-254
SOURCES 255
SYMBOLS OF U. S. NAVY SHIPS 256-258
DESIGNATION OF U.S. NAVAL AIRCRAFT 259-261

--ii/iv--

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TALKING WITH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL AS THEY SAT ON THE LAWN OF THE PRESIDENT'S VILLA AT CASABLANCA. WEEK OF JANUARY, 17, 1943
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TALKING WITH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL AS THEY SAT ON THE LAWN OF THE PRESIDENT'S VILLA AT CASABLANCA. WEEK OF JANUARY, 17, 1943

--v--


Transcribed and formatted for HTML by Larry Jewell & Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation