|
Between 10 September and 26 October, 88th Division lost over 5,000 men.
Joseph Sini arrived in Italy in the EAME Theater Nov 14, 1944 as an Infantry
Replacement assigned to the 88th Division,
349th Infantry Anti-Tank Company, at this time the division was maintaining a defensive position at Mount Grande and Farnett.
The 88th Division was original known as the "Cloverleaf" Division, but during on of the radio broadcasts of the infamous
"Axis Sally" she coined the nickname "Blue Devils" and it stuck with the 88th ever since. The 349th were known as the "Krautkillers"
The weather in fall and winter of 1944-45, which has been as cruel and unrelenting an antagonist in Italy as the Germans
themselves through much of the campaign has been more ornery than ever this fall. Record rainstorms have swept the battle
area, and winter's approach carries with it the promise of worse to come. Even in normal weather the rainfall on the present
battlefront is from two to three times heavier than in any other part of Italy. But the fall 1944 hasn't been normal. North
Italy in an average year has more rainfall, anyhow, than that wettest of wet cities, London. Rivers have been flooding their
banks, road and bridges are being washed away constantly, walls are collapsing on the roads and entire fields have disappeared
under water.
On Nov 22 the 88th relived the 85th and continued a period of defensive patrolling in the Mount Grande-Mount Cerrere sector
and the Mount Fano area until January 13 1945, when they were relieved for rehabilitation.
From January 24 to March 2 1945, the Division relieved the 91st in defending the Loiano-Livergnano area. On March 6th
the division was again relieved while they were astride Highway 6. It was during this break that Joseph was treated for frostbite
to his feet and was sent stateside on April 11, 1945
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christmas on the Italian Front (from Stars & Stripes Dec 25, 1944)
While nearly every unit far enough behind the lines to allow themselves
the luxury of an evening's relaxation went through the motions, at least of observing Christmas Eve, at the front itself there
was scarcely anything to distinguish this night from a hundred other "quiet" nights. In one valley, several hundred yards
from the front, stood the pyramidal tents of a battalion aid station. A sheer ocky cliff rose several hundred feet behind
the tents. It was bare and barren. But the rest of the valley was an artist's Christmas setting.
The hills rising steeply
wherever the eye could see were snow-covered, and every branch and twig on the trees were encased in form-fitting icicles,
the result of fog, condensation, and freezing. The moon was hidden, but several searchlights reflected from the clouds on
the snow and ice. But the perfectness of the backdrop only emphasized the inadequacy of the players. The spirit was there,
but somehow the GIs just couldn't work up the proper holiday enthusiasm. Inside the main tent of the battalion aid station
everyone was eating supper. It wasn't exactly a Christmas Eve feast - lima beans, potatoes, stewed tomatoes, bread and jam.
But the boys had hopes that they might be relieved soon and a real Christmas dinner was in the offing then. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
