June 20, 22, and 24, 1944

Johnnie wrote a long letter to Lucile on June 20, 1944 in which he put his thoughts and feelings out in the open. They had apparently had some hard times before he went to war, but he had learned a lot since then. 

My Dearest Darling,

Received three letters from you yesterday. That’s the way they came. A couple of weeks may go by and I won’t hear from you. But when I do hear from you, I get three or four at a time. I also received a letter from Sis Dot. Sure am sorry to hear that little Carol is having so much sickness. I surely hope by the time you receive this, she is well. What about you Darling? I really hope and pray that you are well. That’s all I think about, wondering if you are having any sickness and praying that you are making out well and OK back there at home. I haven’t received the watch yet. Surely hope it gets to me. Say you can send me some airmail stamps if you expect my letters to get to you quickly, Ha Ha. I am out and they are not suitable now to get. Also, I am sending you some money this month if I get paid and I am at a place where I can send it. Say honey, look in the paper and get me that Serial on Dear Buddy. I think that’s the name of it. Its just a small article in the paper, but what I have read in them, what the other fellows had was pretty good. Send it every day if possible. Say you are doing alright saving your money. I think you’re swell for doing it. I know a lot of guys here that are writing to their wives and giving them the devil about not saving any money. I’m not worried about how you are running things back home, because I know now, you will handle things to the best of your knowledge. I remember you always made things meet, when I always had given up hope. And you did wonderful in making me realize a lot of things that had to be done after we were married. A lot of things that happened right after we got married, that was mostly my fault. I should have gotten a good licking. Or if you would tell me what you thought, I believe I would have seen the light of things much quicker; you get what I mean? But I guess as the old saying goes, you got to live and learn. And I almost lost you in going through all of that. I just hope I can get back home soon so I can repay you for what you have done for me. I want to say again Lou, you have been wonderful, and you have done great things for me and made me see the light of things. Well honey, I will have to close for this time. So, tell all the folks hello for me and to write and you keep your chin up and keep smiling. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

P.S. Have you a small picture of me taken before I came into the Army? If so, send it to me. I want to see how much I have changed in looks, Ha Ha. Will send it back in return letter to you.

Johnnie and Lucile

Below is one of the “Dear Buddy” columns Johnnie mentioned in Johnnie’s June 20 letter.

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 26, 1944.

Lucile’s paternal first cousin, Virgil “Irvin” Stacks Jr., was also serving his country during World War II. Like Johnnie, he was highlighted in the “With the Army-Navy, and Marines” piece that appeared in The Atlanta Constitution on June 21, 1944.

   

With the Army-Navy, and Marines, The Atlanta Constitution, June 21, 1944.

Below is Irvin’s World War II draft registration card and a photo of him in his uniform. 

 

Photo of Virgil Stacks from Jacquelyn Preston, Preston Family Tree, ancestry.com.

Johnnie hinted at regret in not having children yet, but he quickly set that aside in his June 22, 1944 letter to Lucile.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I received the watch yesterday and I think it is swell. I am really proud of it. Thanks a lot. Also received two letters from you that was mailed in May, around the tenth and fifteenth. I have already received three from you that you wrote this month. Sorry to hear that you are not working much here lately because I know how it gets you just sitting around the house. I know when you are working you can have something on your mind and you won’t worry too much about me. You get what I mean? Oh yeah, in one of the letters I received from you yesterday you were telling me about Mary and Johnnie Puckett having a baby. I guess the other one is a good size now, isn’t it? They are doing alright, aren’t they? I guess or at least I know that’s where we made our big mistakes, don’t you think so? Well, I will drop that for the present. How is Doc and Mom getting along? Fine, I hope. Say I wish you would get Ma a picture of Mickey and his girl and Gearl and his girl taken all in one picture and send it to me. Do you think you could do it? Say, how is Grandma? Really hope she is lots better. What about little Carol? Is she still sick? Hope not. Well honey, I guess I will have to close for this time. So, keep your chin up and tell all the folks hello for me. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Elvie and Earl, aka Mickey

Johnnie could not understand why it took so long to deliver the mail and he was worried that Lucile may have changed since he last saw her. He mused about both in his June 24, 1944 letter to Lucile. And then he shared a corny joke with her!

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am OK and hope that this finds you the same. I received a letter from you yesterday and also one from Dot. You asked me about me getting your mail. If you write me every night it seems like I shall receive one just about every day from you. But as it is, I receive one about every three days. The mail is messed up somewhere. I can’t understand it. Maybe it will be better later on. I hope so. Yes, it has been a good while since we seen each other. I don’t think it will be much longer though. I just pray you are the same way as when I left you. I have a lot of things I want to get straight with you when I do get back. I have lost Irvin’s address. Can you get it for me again? Say did he ever get married? O yes, here a little joke I heard. There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn’t know what to do. There was another woman who lived in a shoe. She didn’t have any children, she knew what to do, Ha Ha. You get it? I didn’t. Well honey, I will have to close for this time. So, tell all the folks hello for me. I miss you a lot Baby. And I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

June 12, 14, and 18, 1944

The next photo, taken in June 1944, shows a pile of the many mines dug up by American engineers at the harbor in Civitavecchia, Port of Rome, during the cleaning up process by the Fifth Army in the Civitavecchia area of Italy. 

Photographer: Katz. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives.
Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain.

Lt. Gen. Mark Clark informed his troops “that they had broken the German armies opposing them in Italy.” In speaking to American, British, and French troops to welcome them to the “new rest center on the outskirts of Rome,” Clark told them “You men who captured Rome, I want to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.” He urged them “to visit and study places of historic interest in Rome … watch your step. Don’t raise too much hell.”

The Regiment spent the next four days “in light training, relaxation, and inspections.” Johnnie used some of that time on June 12, 1944 to write his next letter to Lucile. 

My Dearest Darling,

Well, here it is about the middle of June, and I can bet you all the kids back there are really enjoying it, being out of school on summer vacation. I know I really used to take it all in when I was going to school. That was all I was ever looking forward to, was summer vacation, Ha, Ha. Honey, how is your health lately. I surely hope you have gained it all back. I wrote your Mother and Dot yesterday and of course also you. I wrote you one V-mail yesterday morning and a four page. Me, if I am guessing right, things aren’t going to be so good after all this war is over with, and money is going to be hard to get. Please don’t get me wrong Luke, I want you to have everything, because I know you didn’t have it when I was there. But if you look at it the way I do. If you do buy a car now. I mean a good one, it’s going to cost you and I bet you after this war I can get the same car for half the price you pay. Of course, if you need one, I say go ahead and buy it because what money you have is yours and I want you to get the best out of it. So much said for that. Luke, you should see me now. I doubt if you would know me. I have a tan on me that’s really dark brown. This Italy sun really burns you. I have long sideburns and a small mustache. As for my hair, it’s turning red. I guess it’s the sun. Well Darling, I will have to close for this time. Tell all the folks hello for me and to keep smiling. I miss you a lot Baby! And I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

The Stacks kids—Mary, Betty, and Melvin

Johnnie did in fact visit Rome as mentioned in his June 14, 1944 letter to Lucile. He was also not very happy with his sister Louise!

My Dearest Darling,

Received letter from you yesterday and was glad to hear that you are well and OK. Dot wrote me that you are going to buy you a car. Is that right? I guess if you get you a good one, it will come to a pretty good price. You must be in the money now, Ha Ha. I am sending you some more at the end of this month. But if you don’t mind, if I have anything to say about it, I would like for you to keep what I send you as later on we might need it. I hope you understand. I had to stop. I am going to try and finish it now. I received a letter from you yesterday telling me about Louise being in Atlanta and not taking no time to come and see you after you work so hard fixing up the house for her. It really burnt me up and as soon as I finish writing this to you, I am going to write her and tell her just what I think and believe me I will. She put me in a bad spot also. I just wonder what Mom Stacks and Doc thought about that. Don’t worry about it honey. If she wants to be that way that’s OK with us, isn’t it? I had a chance to visit Rome, Italy the other day and I had some pictures made. It cost me a little money, but I knew you wanted a picture of me so I had some made. At the end of this letter, I will put the names I am sending them too. I was going to send Louise one but that’s out now. I sent you twenty-five more dollars yesterday. Let me know if you got it. I received a letter from Kate yesterday. Also, she didn’t have much to say. Wanted to know if I was OK and telling me that she was doing well now and that the kids was OK. Well honey, I will have to close for this time, so keep writing and smiling. I miss you a lot. And I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

P.S. I am sending a picture to Dot and Drex, Nell and Robert, Mom and Doc Stacks, Grandma and Dad. Three to you. Love, Johnnie

Once again Johnnie felt he needed to remind Lucile in a June 14, 1944 V-mail that he would not be able to write as often as he wanted to because of the war.

My Dearest Darling,

Received two letters yesterday. One from you and one from sister Nell. Sure was glad to hear from you after not hearing from you in a week. I know my mail to you is not coming like it was for awhile, but lately I haven’t had much time to write. Don’t get the idea I don’t want to write because every chance I have so far I have wrote you. Remember in my other letters to you I wrote and told you there would be days ahead that I won’t be able to write. There was quite a few I wasn’t able to write. I really hope you understand how things are now and try to bear it the best you can. Well, I will close for this time. Keep your chin up. Keep smiling! I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

On June 15, the Regiment moved to a “rest area on the grounds of the Castel Fusano, near the resort town of Lido D’Roma on the sea.” They began intense technical and tactical training, physical conditioning, disciplinary drills, and preparation for future combat. They used the time to train replacements, review lessons learned, and practice marksmanship and weapons firing. A fortified area was set up and “each battalion ran this course twice firing live ammunition,” including using a company of tanks in their practice operations. The troops were granted time to see the city of Rome and many visited the Fifth Army Rest Center. A beach was cleared for their use and a former night club by the sea was opened for the enlisted men. The USO provided shows and movies. Showers were available and clothing exchange units set up. Music was provided by the Regimental bugle and drum corps for several battalion retreat parades, one of which was attended by Major General John B. Coulter who decorated the Regimental colors and company guidons with combat streamers and presented nine Silver Star medals.

Johnnie held his father-in-law, Sam “Doc” Stacks, in high regard and he shared that with Lucile in a June 18, 1944 letter.

My Dearest Wife,

Just a line or two to let you know I am well and hope that this finds you in the best of health and making out OK back there at home. I received two letters from you yesterday and I thought they were swell. Honey, you said in one of your letters that you should not be telling me your troubles. Well, I want you to because I may can help you out in them. You understand what I mean? Honey, you said when I do come back home, you weren’t going to let me out of your sight. You won’t have to worry about that. You have a changed Johnnie now and I mean changed. I am just realizing what a dope I was when I was home. I just pray now for everything to go along OK so I can show you after all this is over with, the good things about life. You say Virgil’s son is over here in Italy now. I may run into him someday. I hope so. I would like to see the kid. I sure hope I receive the watch you sent me. It should have arrived by now if you sent it when you said you did. Tell Mom I don’t care how long it takes her to write me a letter. Just to know she is writing makes me feel swell. And honey another thing, about your father, if I could only be a guy like him and build myself up among the people he has dealt with, and have friendships with them all, that’s all I would ask for. If he can do things with what little he got, then many guys can do that. Has … [the end of the letter is missing].

Johnnie’s father-in-law, Sam Stacks 

June 5 and 10, 1944

Click here to read the Operations Report by the 337th Infantry Regiment for June and July 1944.

June 1, 1944 began with the 1st Battalion 1500 yards north of the town of Lariano in place for a scheduled attack that involved the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions advancing and clearing several Hills (mountains). Over the course of the day, they encountered “heavy small arms and machine gun fire and harassing mortar and sniper fire” slowing their advance. One whole platoon was “surprised by the enemy and taken prisoner.” It took every available man “to scout out and kill the enemy.” The 1st Battalion was in the thick of the “attack with tank and tank destroyer support” but they were hampered by “thick wooded draws.” “All battalions were ordered to advance with all possible speed with the mission of cutting Highway 6” in the advance to Rome. The fight went on all day and into the night. The 1st and 3rd Battalions stopped at 10 PM for the night and spent time getting organized for a strong defense early the next morning. The 2nd Battalion advanced to a position 1200 yards south of Highway 6, two miles “out in front of the rest of the line with no other units on either flank. Prisoners they captured were from the 1059 Panzer Grenedier Regiment” who were reinforcing the Hermann Göring Division. Their mission changed just before dawn but they were able to meet all objectives by 9 AM and then marched in formation into the valley leading to Rome. The Germans took a stand between Monte Compatri and Monte Porzio Catone. This slowed their advance but the 2nd Battalion was able to wipe out their resistence and took 123 prisoners. All three battalions moved to advance forward at 6 AM on June 4, 1944 with support from “one motorized rifle company supported by tanks, engineers, and artillery.” Their purpose was to continue “through Rome after the 3rd Battalion took their objective, and seizing two bridges over the Tiber River west of Rome.” “The Fifth Army Commander sent word to all elements that public and private property in Rome were to be protected and not fired upon unless the Germans chose to defend the city.” Their mission changed again to change position and halt the Germans who were attempting to slow the US Army’s unexpected arrival while they evacuated their troops and equipment from Rome. American troops took possession of Rome on June 4, 1944. They had been under German occupation since September 1943.

American tanks entering Rome, June 4, 1944. Photographer unknown.
Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain.

The people of Rome crowded the streets on June 5, 1944 welcoming the Allied liberators as the Regiment marched through the city. Headquarters was set up at Forte Trionfale, a military complex built in the 1880s.

Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark at St. Peter’s Square, June 5, 1944, Rome, Italy,
US Army, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Atlanta Constitution headline, June 5, 1944.

Johnnie wrote Lucile a V-mail on June 5, 1944. As usual, he did not mention anything about his involvement in the liberation of Rome.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and OK and hope that this finds you the same. I received a letter from you a couple of days ago. It sure made me feel good to hear from you. I don’t hear from you as often as I need to. I guess they are holding most of the mail up here lately. I am glad to hear you have a little money saved up. You are doing alright Baby. That’s one of the things I like about you. I hope all the folks are well and Grandma is lots better. I wrote her a letter. Well Darling, I will have to close for this time. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

The Germans retreated towards Florence, Italy, littering the roads with equipment along the way. They destroyed some of it themselves and some was destroyed by allied airforce. With the Germans fleeing Rome to the Gothlic Line via Highway 2, several regiments of the Fifth Army, including the 337th, spent June 6, 1944 advancing in the same direction. The 2nd Battalion met some resistance from the Germans 3000 yards south of Monterosi. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions worked together to take control of Monterosi but faced many mines in the process. Some prisoners were captured, guns were destroyed, and they confiscated significant amounts of new weapons and ammunition. By nightfall, the command post was “moved to a villa on Lake Monterosi and the Regiment was given trucks and ordered to be prepared to reinforce the Howze Task Force.” The 2nd and 3rd Battalions stopped on Highway 2 for the night, organized a defense, and patrolled the town. On June 8, 1944, the Howze Task Force was ordered north on Highway 2. The 1st Battalion joined the task force, running “into the German infantry in the hills two miles north of Ronciglione,” in the Cimini mountains. They met some resistance and received light casualties but were able to advance. The 1st Battalion advanced to Viterbo the afternoon of June 9, 1944 but received news the Regimental alert had been cancelled. All Regiments, with very little shelter, made camp for the night there.

Little did Johnnie know he would be one of the soldiers highlighted in the “With the Army, Navy, and Marines” section of the Atlanta Constitution on June 9, 1944. The newspaper reported that he was serving in Italy and his wife was Mrs. Lucile Stacks Marston of College Park.

“With the Army, Navy, and Marines,” The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1944

It was five days before Johnnie had time to write his next letter to Lucile. In his June 10, 1944 letter, he wrote two cryptic sentences making sure she understood he had been a little busy lately and had not had time to write.

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and OK and hope that this finds you the same. I received the writing paper and the pen and pencil set from you today. Boy was I glad to get them. I also received a letter from you, Dot, and sister Evelyn. Not bad at all do you think? Evelyn wrote and said she was expecting again in September. In this letter and the one I received from you was telling me about her also. Gee, I sure am sorry to hear about Dot being sick; also, the baby too. I hope they are much better by now. You say Drextel got rejected? The lucky stiff. In a way though, I didn’t think he would go in. Well I guess Cecil is doing his training now. Has Jennie heard from him yet? How is she taking it? Darn I almost forgot to tell you I received a letter from your Mother the other day. I am going to try and write to her as soon as I finish this to you. As you can read by the paper’s lately, I haven’t had time to do much of anything. I hope you see things that way and understand just why I haven’t been writing to you much here lately. Say this pen don’t write bad at all. It just needs broke in a little bit, you know. Just like a lot of other things need to be, Ha Ha. Honey I am not going to tell you what to do about going down and staying with Evelyln. Just you and her staying together I don’t like that. If Louise was going to be with you down there, I wouldn’t care but the way they have things planned, that’s no good. You better just wait and let them come up to see you, OK? Well Baby, I will have to close for this time so keep your chin up and keep smiling. Also tell all the folks hello for me. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

P.S. Are you sure you sent me a watch? I am still looking for it.

Johnnie’s sister Louise and her husband Carl Rowland

Relief came to the Regiment on June 10, 1944 when the 3rd Algerian Division took over “leading elements,” “the Howze Task Force was disbanded, the 1st Battalion moved back to Monterosi,” and the rest of the Regiment got some rest. Thanks to the help of the Italians, some of the Regiment’s men who had been captured were able to escape and make their way back to their units with “tales of German cruelty to prisoners, of the scarcity of the foe’s equipment, and of the confusion in the retreating German columns.” The photo below, taken June 10, 1944, shows the wreckage of buildings in the streets of Civitavecchia, Port of Rome, Italy. The streets were completely blocked by the rubble from the bombed buildings. This might have been one of the sights seen by Johnnie while in Rome.

Photographer: Katz. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain. 

May 30 and 31, 1944

On May 26, the Regiment found themselves in an area two miles south of Priverno where the 1st Battalion set up a defense line to protect the Division right flank. Everyone remained in position during the day then moved to a rest area in the Pontine Marshes near Sabaudia, a swampland in the Lazio Region of Italy. They spent a day swimming at the beach, exchanging clothing, and preparing for the combat that was coming. On May 29, several decorations were presented, and congratulations given for what had been achieved. The Regiment was also warned of what was to come—a stronger and more determined enemy. Before days end, the Regiment moved to an area near Cori. On May 30, the Regiment was told to relieve the two left battalions of the 30th Infantry, 3rd American Division and the command post was moved to the vicinity of Valmenti. The 1st Battalion (on the right) relieved the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry. Some time on May 30, 1944, Johnnie must have been thinking about the war and the things he had seen in Italy that he never expected to see in his lifetime. He was very reflective with his thoughts in a long letter he wrote to Lucile.

My Dearest Darling

Well, here it is about the month of May gone and good old summertime right around the corner. Honey you know this is the time of the year I really like. Everything of nature blooming up and all the birds building up their nests. Sometimes I don’t see why nations are fighting against each other in this world, with things so grand for us all, in all parts of this world. I just pray to God that all this will be over soon, be the only one that can end it and I am sure as soon as he thinks the people that are not living right come to their senses once more, he will end it. Lou, you get to thinking a lot of things over here after you have seen how this part of the world is tore up and the people being treated like they have been. It’s really got me down. I just hope and pray that when I am back home that God will lead us both to the good parts of life. Well honey, I hope you understand just how I feel. You can tell everybody that your husband is a changed man and you won’t be lying at all. Honey, how did little Mary ever come out? I hope she is a lot better. And poor old Grandma, is she any better? I hope so. Is Ma Stacks taking it easy? Gee, I wish she would take care of herself. I wish I was there. I grant you she would settle down then. I just wish I could tell you how much I think of your family, they’ve all been so swell since me and you first started going together and as for Doc for what he done, to help us all out. There can’t be another man that can beat him. That guy has been swell. Honey, have you heard from Louise or Evelyn lately whether they are coming up to see you or not? Tell them to write me, will you. I still like to hear from them both. Well Darling, I will have to close for this time so write me all you can and keep your chin up. May God Bless you and honey, I miss you an awful lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

 

Burnt German scout car off the road near Cori, May 31, 1944. Photo by McCrosy, 163rd Signal Photo Company.
Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain.

Johnnie also wrote Lucile’s parents a V-mail on May 30, 1944. He and Sam have an ongoing conversation going on about baseball in Atlanta.

Dear Folks,

I received the typed letter from you and was really glad to hear that you both are well and the rest of the family also. Doc, I am glad to hear that you are going to the ball games because I want you to let me know how Atlanta came out this year. Yes, I remember Deal and Marchall. They are darn good ball players. I am glad to hear they are still with them. Ma, don’t let nobody kid you. You can type real good. Gee, I am sorry to hear about Grandma. I hope she is a lot better by now. 

Lots lots love, Johnnie

On May 31, 1944, the Regiment, along with the 2nd Chemical Battalion and a medium tank company took part in a coordinated attack along the Division front in which they faced strong resistance as they pushed into Larinola. A Regimental command post was set up just south of Larinola in an abandoned German dugout. Thirty prisoners from the Hermann Göring Division, a German Luftwaffe armoured division, were captured that day. Before the day ended, Johnnie wrote a V-mail to Lucile. His humor comes out a lot in his letters and he often laughs at himself with a “Ha, Ha.” In this V-mail, Johnnie showed concern with regards to carrying on the Marston name. But just when you think he is going all serious on Lucile, BAM, there comes that humor! He must have really been pleased with himself this time because he gave that one three “Ha’s.”

My Dearest Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope this finds you the same. Say honey, you said that Nell was getting ready to have a kid. Gee, I surely hope she makes out OK, she being so small, but what I hear about that is a smaller woman can bear a baby better than a large woman. Am I right? In a way, now I wish that we had one. I surely have to get something to carry on the family name, even if it is a dog or something, Ha Ha Ha. Honey, I haven’t heard from you in a week now. I surely hope there isn’t anything wrong with you. I will have to close. So, keep writing and smiling. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Robert Astin, Nell Stacks Astin, and their daughter Judy (taken several years after this letter was written)

During the month of May, “the Regiment advanced 72 miles, took every assigned objective, captured 485 prisoners of war, and caused the enemy to withdraw in our sector and to abandon much equipment.” They did this by quickly replacing casualties and continuing to train replacements which totaled 51 officers and 1137 enlisted men in May. The medical team contributed a large part to their success. In the first three days of the May 11 offensive alone, the team evacuated over 500 men from the field and the “battalion surgeons and technicians worked tirelessly for days without sleep in aid stations that were always crowded beyond capacity.” They also had help from the Italian litter (stretcher) teams who were “under constant enemy fire.”

 

A German prisoner is given a drink of water at a U.S. medical center in at Altavilla, Italy, where he was treated
for wounds, September 20, 1943, Salerno area, Italy, 36th Infantry Division. Photographer: Oliver. Public domain.

The graves registrations personnel worked day and night to collect American and enemy bodies from the battlefield as quickly as possible. The supply team “functioned well under difficult conditions and rough terrain. Troops were seldom without food, water, ammunition, or necessary equipment. The Italian mule group helped facilitate resupply in the mountainous country. During the month of May, 13 Bronze Stars, 34 Purple Hearts, and 1175 Combat Infantryman Badges were awarded. Eleven officers and 169 enlisted men were killed in action; 44 officers and 756 enlisted men were wounded in action; and 1 officer and 44 enlisted men were missing in action.