The Third Division's greatest problems with malaria occurred either on the Anzio Beachhead or of being infected on the Anzio Beachhead and coming to life later. Parts of the Beachhead were known as the "Pontine Marshes" and were ideal breeding grounds for malaria carrying mosquitoes. Mussolini had tried to convert it to good farmland by building canals to drain it, but it was only partially effective.
Attempted solutions by the American army included having the men wear gloves and mosquito netting to cover the face and area below the helmet. It didn't work. The men wouldn't wear them! The army also distributed liquid insect repellant to the troops which became known as "bug juice". The mosquito netting was hard to get the men to accept, because the weather was hot and the netting around the head made the heat unbearable.
The solution which was finally partially effective was the atabrine pill. Every man was required to swallow one a day His officer was held responsible to see that he took it. On the rare occasions when there was a "chow line", there was an officer at the head of the line who would let no one get fed until he swallowed his Atabrine pill. I particularly remember this being used while we were training in the Pontine Marshes for the invasion of Southern France.
I remember spending a week or so in a tent evac hospital shortly after the war ended. They seemed to be feeding me Atabrine all day and the symptoms went away. It recurred once more shortly after I got home. My family doctor treated it with Atabrine and I haven't had it since. C'est la guerre!
3_7_I_Recon - Russ Cloer