Table Of ContentIntroduction·The infantry battalion heavy weapons company:.30 Caliber Machine Gun Company; 81mm Mortar Platoon; weapons and weapons systems; Weapons in a heavy weapons company·The effects of Pearl Harbor: The Mediterranean Theater of Operations; The organized reserve and Army of the United States; our composite soldier; The 133d Infantry Regiment·Chronology·John's enlistment, reception and initial training: Camp Wheeler·Replacement·North Africa: Reception and integration; First combat·Italy 1943-44, Salerno to Cassino: Night Attack across the Volturno; Winter 1943; Cassino; The nature of combat; Anzio; machine gunner· Wounded, recovery and return·War's end·Going Home·Museums, re-enactment and collecting·Bibliography·Color plate commentary·Index
SynopsisBetween November 1942 and May 1945, US Army infantry units fought in eight named campaigns in the Mediterranean Theater. This title follows one soldier from enlistment in 1942, through training in a Replacement Training Center, assignment to the 1st Battalion 133d Regiment, 34th Infantry Division (Red Bull), and into combat. Among the battles covered are Fondouk Pass, Hill 609, Salerno, Monte Cassino, Anzio and the fighting in the Po Valley. A key focus is on the Heavy Weapons Company, which consisted of two machine gun platoons and one mortar platoon. The training and combat roles of the machine gunner's Military Occupational Specialty are discussed in detail.