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Operation Husky - Invasion of Sicily 
July 1943
A Recounting by Anthony Campo
39th Infantry Regiment

 

 

 

Anthony Campo was a member of the 39^th Infantry Regiment when it participated in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in July of 1943. He describes in his memoir the bravery and courage it took to match the Regiment’s motto “Anything, Anytime, Anywhere bar Nothing” (AAA – O) and successfully fight the Italian and German armies on the island.

 

 

 

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Saying farewell to Africa on July 14, 1943, we were taken aboard ship at Bizerette, and for the first time in my army career I knew definitely where we were going. We were going to Sicily, which was successfully invaded just four days before; no one knew the condition of our mission.

We did not know whether or not our landing would be tactical, but fortunately the beach was secure and this time we landed at docks with Italian people cheering us rather than on a beach greeted with a hail of flying lead. A little ahead of my story: I'll go back to the time we left the dock at Bizerette.

It was here that the boat I was on ran into some trouble. While pulling out of the docks we ran into a sunken French ship, which has been sunk in the harbor during one of its many air raids. Our boats condition was to the damages of two holes and the steering being pretty well shattered. She was beached and repaired in the best possible way, but the remainder of the trip was made by steering it from the rear of the boat by means of signals from a sailor stationed near the front with a phone. This proved rather shaky later on in the voyage, as you will see. By the time repairs had been made on the boat, the rest of the convoy had left for Sicily, we had to make the trip escorted by two small cruisers. We really were sweating it out but nothing happened, only mines making their appearance on either side of the ship. I'm thankful to say, the pilot skillfully maneuvered his way through. However we enjoyed ourselves by trying to explode them with rifle and machine gun fire from the deck of the ship.

We landed in Licata the following evening, a small seacoast town situated in southern Sicily. Here, we were greeted by the natives waving white flags of all shapes and descriptions, ranging from handkerchiefs, bedspreads, table clothes and pillowcases. To red, white and blue banners sewed together to represent our flag. This was the way we were greeted in every town in Sicily. Going ahead just a little, I'll tell of a little incident that happened while passing through one of these towns. An old lady greeted us with a white flag which we could see at a distance, had some figure on it. We stopped near her and she brought it over to us and on it was a picture none other than George Washington, the father of our country. And she spoke in plain English – she kept shouting "Vive le America, vive la George Washington!" Sound strange, yes but it's true. In the days that followed, we set out along the coast, a little northwest. We spent the next day or so in an olive grove about ten miles from Licata. Here is where I met a pretty little Blonde, about eleven years old. Was I surprised, Blondes in Sicily. She told me how she went hungry and watch our planes drop bombs after bombs, killing some of her relatives. And her experience with the German soldiers. The kid was so poorly clothed and so thin I couldn't but feel sorry for her. She insisted that I go home to her house and meet her mother. Being I couldn't go, she brought her father over.

 

We moved from there along the coast, taking small towns and garrisons of Italian soldiers as we went. We took thousands of prisoners, all of them Italian. They put up little, if any resistance. In any of the small towns we captured, you could see Sicilians walking around in civilian clothes and army shoes.

They would not of fought at all had it not been for a few German Divisions threatening them from the rear and for the fascist officers who see nothing but death in an Allied victory, so they make them fight. The people hate Mussolini. Some of them we have met here speak English and have either been in the States themselves or have people there.

They did not hesitate to help us in any way they could. I mind, while going through one of these towns, a fellow said, "Hello, Joe. Where you been so long, we wait for you long time. Why the hell you no come sooner. Since then we have met several that speak very good English. They had been in the States just before the war and came to Sicily either to visit their families or take them back to America with them, but when war broke out the fascist forbid them leaving the Island and most of them were forced to join the Army.

We went from Licata westward along the coast to a town of "Sciacca," taking many prisoners with very little difficulty. Then one morning we set out toward another town, our progress just as it has been all through the Sicilian Campaign was slowed down considerably by demolition of roads and bridges, also mines and booby traps.

We spent most of the morning filtering through the open valley that lay between us and the next town. Here, they had blown up a bridge over a large gorge and it was some time before we could get our vehicles over, but living up to the standards of the U.S. Army we maneuvered our way through a few Italian snipers, and in a few hours we rode into the town of Castelvetrano. At this blown out bridge is where the Mayor of the town came down with a homemade imitation of the American flag and also a white flag. He wanted to give up and stop the shelling of the town, the flag he carried had just 13 stars in it.

After entering the town, the Captain, myself and a runner went to try and find the airport. It was then decided on that in the Regiment or Combat team, as we were known as would go into a rest period outside the town. While here we were sent out to pick up garrisons of Italian soldiers who were ready to give up. It was not surprising to see hundreds of Italian soldiers walking back to the prison camps along the roads to our rear, with one doughboy guarding them. They would of gladly went themselves if they had known were (sic) we wanted them to go. I went with the Captain and some men to bring in some Italian prisoners one night about dusk. Me and the Captain walk first while a friend of mine John Stewart was manning the machine gun mounted in the Jeep. We were under the impression that these were Fascist and would give us a little trouble, but when we entered the town the woman came out and told us not to fire as the men were ready to give up. Being I spoke Italian I acted as the interpreter. This was a little town South of Castelvetrano we brought back some two hundred prisoners. Here is were (sic) Jay saw a beautiful Italian girl. She was also a Blonde. He says that she's the prettiest Italian girl he has ever seen. Much to my ill luck I had to go with my captain. This is where Jay got himself an old 44 peacemaker with a folding trigger. Something like our cowboy guns. But it had to turn in after the campaign.

There was Nick and I by ourselves we thought. We decided to stay at there (sic) home. There I spent some of the most wonderful days I have spent anywhere. She was now ready for a new husband, forget all about her last husband. I of course, promised her the moon. Sunday morning, I see two of my friends from my company. One of them was Frank. They had also met some people and spent a few days with them. I'm telling you, it was the closest thing to home. They would bring things to our room: Boy, what a life! The Army was the least of my thoughts. Frank kept coming over an (sic) was really worried. So he got us to go and look for our outfit. Leaving behind some really wonderful memories. I promised to come an (sic) get her my first chance.

Another incident I recall was two fellows were out in search of stray Italians, and they ran into a garrison of soldiers. There were at least a company and their officers. The officer came out but said he couldn't surrender to just two men. They happen to see me and a buddy of mine name Bill Corboy of Trenton. Bill and I were just looking around for some odd souvenirs. They called an we went over. I spoke to him a few minutes and he handed me his small but very pretty pistol and went through a complete ceremony of Military surrender. And march his company back to our Battalion C.P. After this Bill and I went a little further and a young Lieutenant came over and told us not to go there for it was mined. I in turn asked him what he was doing here? He told me had three Artillery pieces near the beach. This was the outfit that stop us for three days. But now he thought he would give himself and his company up. We went to his C.P., dismantled his guns and then back to the people he lived with. We were the first Americans they seen. They didn't know wether (sic) to run and hide their woman or stay there an face us. The Lieutenant went first and took the scare out of them. When we came up to them, they found out I could speak Italian. And here where they started to kiss me. Bill didn't know what to do. After a glass of wine we brought them in. Nick Aspberger, Frank Orifici, Corboy and myself turned in to our second Battalion. While we were with F Company. Our company took several more towns, one of them being Marsala, knowed for its wines. Here is where we lost a Sgt. Shimon where he accidentally shot himself. He was a fine soldier and we all miss him very much. The company we were with got order to move and catch up to our regiment. We rode all nite and part of the next day, going through Palermo. Through towns that had signs. As follows. Down with the American gangsters. And Mussolini picture, which by this time was pretty well splattered. All through our trip, one could see the grand work that had been done by our airforce. The sight was far from pleasant one, but it had to be done to pave the way for us to drive the Germans out of Sicily. All along the road you could see German trucks and equipment that had been destroyed by our airforce. Towns to (sic) had to be blasted by bombs and Artillery. But the natives soon realized that this was the reason we were there, to put an end to all that. Here's where we caught up to our company. The Captain laugh, and ask did I have a good time? But I didn't know what he was thinking! Our mission here was to fight the Germans and relieve the pressure on the Canadian and British 8 Army, who were held to a standstill, around this sector and Catania. It was another Jerry stronghold and between the town of Cerami and Taormina. We ran into trouble. Here we were the spearhead for the first Division. And maybe this is where Sivio mite have been taken. His outfit went right through ours.

We attached a hill on the morning of July 31. Our mission was to take high ground on either side of the road establish Artillery O.Ps, so that we mite cut their main supply lines to the "Catania" front where they were fighting the British and Canadians. The Jerrys were there to greet us and we ran into trouble, in fact they were sleeping on the same hill we moved into under cover of darkness. The attack started and all hell broke loose. This was the worse Bombardment I was under as yet. They had all the high ground, and every time we move they zero in. This was going on for a total of six days, lots of boys got hurt and otherwise. But its war. We finally got our mission completed. Then another rest period. It was while in the Battle of Taormina that the boys first saw their new regimental commander in action. They were pinned down by fire and also an occasional sniper would find his way through the rocks to make a little more trouble. Col. Flint got the sniper and personally led his troops into battle. Just when these men thought that they were stopped the Col. started his headlong advance up the hill in face of the enemy, every man took to his feet and charged the hill. They took it too. The Col. said just this hit makes no difference. Again, he was there with the boys when the going got tough. At Randazzo, the boys were spurred on to a greater effort by their col. And we got there first. And for his excellent work, he has been decorated with the D.S.C. medal. Another 48 hours rest and off to take the town of Randazzo. At the foot of famous Mt. Etna. Here is where my captain got wounded by a booby trap, (Bouncing Baby), we call them. They are a small, anti-personal mine filled with steel pellets, it has three small prongs on the top that stick out of the ground when it is set. The mine is set off by touching any one of these prongs. The mine explodes and jump up about four foot, the inter casting explodes showering its victim with those small pellets. This is were (sic)I got one small one. How bad the captain was hurt I don't know. He went to the hospital. And has not come back to us. By this time they had taken Randazzo. And we move in a Bivouic area. This is where we got our new brand. AAA-0, Triple A Bar nothing which means Anything, Anytime, Anyplace Bar nothing. We stay here for seven days. We then moved to Cefalu. Here we stayed for a period of two months. We went back to all most Garrison soldiers. This is where I received a letter telling me where pop's people lived, I put in for a pass an got 48 hour pass. The army also gave me a truck to travel in. Finding the town an pop's people was easy. When I stop an inquire about any Campo's living around these part. A man told me there was several Campo's. So he sent me to Joseph Campo. On the way down I passed a store. The lady asked the small boy that was leading me where we were going. I answered and told her I was looking for my Uncles. So she asked me what my father's name was and who my mother was. I told her. And she said you are my nephew too. I asked why? She told me her husbands name was Carmello. So I knew I met my people. They grab me daughter and all kiss me the Italian way. Then Uncle Carmon came in that nite. So I spent my time at all their homes. I slept one nite at Uncle Carmon and next nite I slept at Uncle Joe house. What happen I have already told you in previous letters.

An item I miss, General Patton Jr. has come down and decorated our boys several times himself, he has been as common around our camp as one of the soldiers. And another thing. I hope you will excuse how I bring these things up. But these are only notes.

I ran across a French spy, he could speak seven different languages but very little English. Being he could speak Italian, so this is the way I got to know him. He showed our Col. where the fascist had the headquarters. And they sure had plenty.