Saturday, Feb. 5, 1944At noon we were supposed to have gone out to front before daylight, but didn’t. Don’t know why not. It was very cold outside. Had air raid around 10:30am and after that went on to work to put bob-wire entanglements along canal behind the infantry close to mines laid by 10th Engineers.
Quoting from the diary of Pvt Paul Brown, 179th Regiment
Feb. 5, 1944 Sat. 6:30 PM
Only two air raids today, fragments from antiaircraft dropped all around us. One fellow just got out of his pup tent about 20 yds form this tent and a shell from 50 cal hit where he was laying (Freaks of this War). Went into Nettuno to see Nathan. He is OK. Ate to many donuts. Hell is starting up front 6 miles from here.
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1944Went out to lay Consentrina wire along beach. Noon, ate K rations. Same thing done today as yesterday but 2 Jerry planes came very low and it was firing at our mustang plane patrolling.
How uncanny. Check out what the history books say happened on that day.
On Feb 7, an enemy bomber under attack by Allied fighters jettisoned its load of 5 bombs that fell on the U.S. 95th Evacuation Hospital, located on Anzio beach. There were many wounded. Those killed were 3 Army nurses, a Red Cross worker, and Pvt Mulreney, who was visiting his wounded brother.
I can't wait to hear what he says about the next week. The fighting really escalates.
Steve
Steve