Extracted from "VOL I Engineer History, Mediterranean Theater, Fifh Army"
As soon as work in Naples of the 540th Engineer Combat Regiment, commanded by Colonel George W. Marvin was accomplished, Base Section troops took over the remaining engineer projects and the regimeht moved up in support of the Fifth Army to perform as Army Engineers. Company "E" remained in Naples for a longer period of time, continuing to haul steel from the Ilva Steel Mill in Bagnoli to the Fifth Army Engineer Depot. The principal duties and assignments of the regiment were to construct bypasses, improve roads , clear minefields; erect, maintain, and dismantle Bailey bridges and construct fixed brides to replace the removed Baileys. A minefield was cleared at Mondragone Beach, where 1050 Tellermines were removed.
The inclement weather and the swollen rivers and streams made construction and maintenance of the vrious bridges in this sector a matter of vital importance. Nevertheless, all the roads and bridges were kept open to traffic at all times.
Immediately after New Year's Day the regimet was notified that it would serve as Shore Engineers for another amphibious assault, and was attached to the 3rd Division for the operation at Anzio. A portion of th regiment's S-3 section went to Caserta, and there worked closely with the Special Planning Section of the 3rd Division at Fifth Army Headquarters. Prime prupose of this arrangement was the coordination of tactical planning for the forthcoming operation.
On 3 January 1944, the regimehnt moved to Cuma, and after the addition of numbers of specialized units, and Ordnance, Engineer, Signal Corps, and Navy personnel, the landing party totalled approximately 7,200.
The regiment then made several practice amphibious landings. Considerable time was also spent in thoroughly re-equipping for the anticipated move. Comprehensive study was given to maps and photo layouts of the Anzio beach area in order that location of exit roads, traffic circulation and dump sites might be determined.