January 2, 20, and 23, 1945

Click here to read the Operations Report by the 337th Infantry Regiment for January 1945.

At the start of the new year, the regiment established a temporary camp north of Lucca. Positioned to support the 92nd Division, commanders devised strategies to fend off enemy attacks in the Serchio Valley or hold successive defensive lines. Officers and non-commissioned officers conducted ground reconnaissance, ready to execute plans at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, the troops maintained light training, aligned with the half-hour alert status.

Lucca is in the vicinity circled in red.
Source: https://mapcruzin.com/free-italy-maps.htm.

Johnnie’s January 2, 1945 letter included a couple of specific food requests: canned chicken legs and chocolate cake.

My Dear Darling,

I hope this finds you in the best of health and everything going well back there at home at the start of this new year and I hope and pray this year brings us back together again. I guess by now you have started back to work being that Mom Stacks is a lot better. I received a letter the other day from Louise. She was telling me about how she was gaining weight. She said she weighs a hundred and ten now and that her health was better than it has been in a long time. O yeah, you know Uncle Ernest? Well Louise wrote me and said that he had got married again and little Tommy and Betty Jane was staying with him and his wife. Buddy is in the Navy. Has she ever written you and said anything to you about any of this? O say, the watch you sent me. Something has gone wrong with it. If I can, I am going to send it back to you to have it fixed and I want you to have me a new band put on it also, OK? By the way, have you ever got the money I sent you yet? Hope so. Say, be sure and tell Mom Stacks the next time they kill a couple of chickens to send me the legs if there is some way for her to can it. The last letter she wrote me she said something about it. I really miss your chocolate cakes. When I get back, you’re going to make them and make them till wherever I look I will see them, Ha Ha. Say, has the baby arrived yet? I mean Nell’s baby, or babies, Ha Ha. She didn’t have two, did she? Ha Ha. Be sure and tell her just to show her my pictures and she won’t have no trouble at all with the baby, Ha Ha. Well honey, I will close for now. Keep writing. Tell all hello for me. God bless you. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie’s sister, Louise

On January 6, 1945, an order was received to return to the Gagliano area and prepare to relieve the 36th British Brigade. The next day, the 1st Battalion, along with Company E, moved by truck to a forward assembly area at Casalino. On January 9, Cannon Company positioned their howitzers near Casetto, and Companies B and C relieved the 8th Battalion of the Argyles and Sutherland Highlanders on Montecalderaro.

Packs are loaded onto trucks by men of Company C, 1st Battalion,
337th Regiment, 85th Infantry Division in preparation for the movement
of their command post to another area, Ponte Moriano area, Italy,
January 6, 1945. Photographer: Thomas, 3131st Signal Service Company.
Public domain.

Two members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 337th Regiment,
85th Infantry Division roll their bed rolls in preparation to leave their
command post for a new area. Behind them several other men are carrying
equipment down from their living quarters. Two small Italian boys
look on as the men work. Ponte Moriano area, Italy, January 6, 1945.
Photographer: Thomas, 3131st Signal Service Company.
Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive.
Public domain.

On January 10, the regiment advanced: the 2nd Battalion to Sassimo, the 3rd Battalion to Casalino, and Service and Antitank Companies to the Calabria region in southern Italy. That night, the reinforced 1st Battalion relieved the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents on Montecalderaro. On January 11, Companies F and I, both in reserve, assumed positions south of the Cuccoli Ridge, previously held by the 5th Buffs Battalion. After dark, Company G of the 2nd Battalion relieved the 1st Recoe Regiment on Marzolina, and the 3rd Battalion (minus one company) took over from the 2nd North Staffordshire Battalion on Farneto. At noon, command shifted from the 36th British Brigade to the 337th Infantry, and concurrently, the regiment became attached to the 1st British Division for operations.

The regimental zone spanned 6000 yards with a main line of resistance. It covered the Cuccoli-Farneto Ridge, the northwest slope of M Grande, and the Calderaro feature (Calanca, C Rovine, Vezzola, la Costa). Platoon strongpoints on Hills 425 and 386 guarded the draws on the left side of the sector. Ambush patrols blocked all approaches to the front line. Positions were fully manned at night and served as an outpost during the day. On days of poor visibility due to fog, snow, and rain, the night positions operated at 50 percent capacity. The regiment faced formidable enemy troops from the 1st Parachute Division, a top German unit in Italy. Despite appearing defensive, they recaptured M. Castellaro, a hill taken by our regiment in October. They also maintained control over Bursano, M. Mezzano, Poggio, and Bertochi.

On January 12, the 1st Battalion, 339th Infantry, joined the regiment as the reserve battalion. They prepared counterattack plans to restore the main line of resistance in case of enemy breakthrough. At 7:10 PM, enemy infiltrated near Calanca but were repelled. One enemy was captured, and one of our men was taken.

Between January 13 and 16, the regiment focused on enhancing defensive positions. They strategically positioned automatic weapons, registered defensive fires, and installed concertina wire entanglements and trip flares. On January 17, the regiment transitioned from the 1st British Division to the 85th Division. A rotation system limited front-line foxhole duty to 10 days. On the nights of January 19 and 20, the 1st Battalion, 339th Infantry, and Company F assumed positions on Montecalderaro, while Company E replaced Company F in the 2nd Battalion reserve.

Despite his inability to write to Lucile since January 2, Johnnie finally managed to send her a V-mail on January 20, 1945. His concerns about Lucile’s financial situation back home were coupled with excitement over Nell’s baby.

My Dear Darling,

Received a letter from you today and was glad to hear that you are well. In this letter you said something about you going back to your job again. I am sure after staying off so long helping your Mother and Nell you are short on money again. I will send you some as soon as I get the chance. As you know, every chance I get I send you some. I hope this finds all the rest of the family well and OK. Tell Nell I said to start teaching the baby to say Uncle Johnnie, Ha Ha. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Johnnie

Nell and Lucile holding their daughters (post-WWII)

On January 21, two platoons from Company A of the 100th Chemical Weapons Battalion positioned themselves in the Clemente Valley near Casalino, prepared to provide supporting fire. Simultaneously, the 3rd Battalion initiated a round-robin turnover, completing the process by daylight. Meanwhile, Company G, previously relieved by Company E on January 15, returned to its role in the 2nd Battalion reserve.

Johnnie, perplexed by the irregular delivery of Lucile’s letters, attempted to explain the situation in a letter he wrote on January 23, 1945.

My Dear Darling,

Well, here it is about gone, the first month of the year and my latest letter from you is the fourth of this month. Also, when I received your last letter, I got two that was mailed the second and fourth of Dec. Most all my mail from you is coming to me sort of crazy. More or less backwards. Some of the things you’re telling me in your letters I don’t even know what you are talking about. But I usually find out in some late mail. Get what I mean? I wrote Mary and little Betty a couple of letters last night. But I didn’t do so hot on the writing. My hands were so cold I could hardly hold the pen to write. I hope they can read it, Ha Ha. How is Mom Stacks and Doc? Tell them both I think of them often. How is Nell and the baby? Has she ever received the things I sent for the baby? What about you and Mom Stacks? How is Edna? Much better, I hope. Give her my regards. Tell Gearl I am sorry but I can’t send him my cigarette butts, Ha Ha. Has he started to smoke around his Dad yet? I am sure he has by now. Has Earl’s wife ever started to work where you are? I guess Nell’s time will be taken up by her baby now, right? Have you heard from Kate lately? I surely would like to drop her a line, but I don’t know her address. Do you? Well honey, I will have to close for now. Tell all the folks I said hello and God bless you. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie 

Earl’s wife, Elvie (Orr) Stacks

Christmas Day, December 27, 30, and 31, 1944

Over the next few days, the team conducted reconnaissance and formulated strategic plans.

The desire to be home for Christmas is universal—a longing to be surrounded by loved ones, baking sweet treats, and sharing cherished family traditions. But what if you find yourself over 5,000 miles away in Italy, where the familiar comforts of home seem impossibly distant?

On December 25, 1944, amidst the chaos of war, the Army stepped in to create a semblance of home for the 337th Regiment. They orchestrated a full-fledged Christmas dinner, a respite from the harsh realities of battle. The menu was a feast fit for the occasion: roast turkey, mashed potatoes, asparagus tips, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, green peas, dressing, apple pie, and coffee. To sweeten the experience, there were mixed nuts and candy. Cigarettes were available for those who wanted to enjoy a smoke.

Each soldier received a program, a tangible connection to the festivities. On the back, the menu was listed. But it was the inside that held the true treasures—the names of comrades, etched in ink. Johnnie, along with his fellow soldiers, signed the front cover, leaving their mark: Wesley B. Wright, James B. McKinley, Pvt. Chas W. McBee, Pfc. John H. Marston (affectionately known as “Georgia Boy”), Harvie L. Ellison, D. L. Cates, Sgt. Leo Pomana, Chas E. Lockard, Sgt. David Wood, Pvt. Roy J. McMurphy, P.F.C. E. Edd Alexander, James M. Lamb, P.F.C. Felton B. Smith, Dalton Ga. Ploy Boy, and Clyde W. McClain. So, on that distant Italian soil, amidst camaraderie and memories, the soldiers found solace—a taste of home, a touch of love, and a shared longing for brighter days.

Johnnie sent his program home to Lucile, and in his familiar script, he wrote the words that bridged the vast distance: ‘I miss you a lot, and I love you a million.’ As if to extend the warmth of that Christmas dinner across oceans, he also sent a copy of the menu to Lucile’s parents, a silent promise that love and tradition could withstand even the harshest separation.

Christmas dinner menu signed by several members of 
Company B, 337th Infantry (front and back pages)

Christmas dinner menu signed by several members of 
Company B, 337th Infantry (inside pages)

On the list of soldiers, someone has crossed out ‘Pfc.’ next to James Lamb’s name, indicating his recent promotion to corporal. Years later, Johnnie fondly remembered James with his family, portraying him as a rugged country boy from Kentucky. According to Johnnie, James possessed both ruthlessness and remarkable instincts.

The regiment, initially under 85th Division control, swiftly shifted to a one-hour alert status on December 26, 1944. Simultaneously, the enemy launched a robust attack against the right flank of the 92nd Division in the Serchio Valley. The 370th Infantry retreated gradually, resulting in the capture of Barga, Gallicano, and Cattarozzo by the following noon. The regiment’ alert status was then reduced to 30 minutes, with 100 trucks positioned for immediate deployment. 

Johnnie and Lucile marked their fourth wedding anniversary, separated by vast distances across the globe. On December 27, 1944, Johnnie wrote to Lucile, expressing his deepest thoughts and unwavering affection for her.

My Dear Darling,

Well today is our wedding anniversary and makes four years we have been married. You shall count this a holiday and take the day off, Ha Ha. Don’t you think? I received a letter from you yesterday. You said that Mom Stacks was out of the hospital. Sure am glad. You never said anything about Nell whether she had the baby or not. I hope so by now. Let me know what Mickey gets in. I guess he wants the Navy. That reminds me, has Bob said anything about whether he will get to come home anytime soon or not? I am sorry to hear you didn’t have a good Thanksgiving. But as you said in this letter you have a lot to be thankful for. You can say that twice, once for me for having a swell wife like you is a lot to me to be thankful for. But you know how I feel about you. Because I told you in so many ways. Well I guess you understand me. At least I hope so. I hope the kids had a good Christmas. I am sure that Doc saw to that. Say, tell Mary, Betty, and Melvin I received their Christmas cards and they all were swell. I guess you like to read my old love letters I wrote you before we were married. I guess you thought I was pretty nutty. Well I am still nutty. More so about you. Anyway, they are something to point your time away when you haven’t anything else to do. Well Darling, I will have to close for this time. So, tell all the folks I said hello and God bless you all. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Johnnie

Earl (Mickey) did in fact join the U.S. Navy.

Johnnie’s brother-in-law, Earl Stacks

 

Mary, Betty, and Melvin

By December 29, the offensive that began on the 26th stalled, prompting an extension of the alert time to two hours. The subsequent days were dedicated to devising counterattack strategies and surveying successive delaying positions.

As he has done in the past, Johnnie expressed remorse for his past indiscretions in his December 30, 1944 letter from Italy to Lucile.

Hello Darling,

I received two letters from you yesterday. Sure was glad even if they were almost a month old. I hope this finds you in the best of health and making out OK there at home. As for myself, I am OK. Just miss you more and praying it won’t be long. What’s the idea of telling Gearl you think it best not for him to never marry, Ha Ha? Married life is swell, more so if he can get a wife like you. How you ever stood a dope like me for the trouble I have caused you is something no other woman would do for a husband, I know. I just pray to get back to you so I can make you more happy for what I have caused. I have a Christmas card I received from Mom Stacks also. It sure is a nice one. I hope I get enough time to write her and thank her for it. Well two more days and a new year will be here. And I pray it will be a good one for this war-torn world and you and me. Will close for now. God bless you. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Please see if you can’t get me a box of chocolate candy bars, also a box of chocolate coated cherries candy. I could really go to town on both, Ha Ha.

Love, Johnnie

Geral did eventually marry. Below is a photo of his wife Evelyn.

Elvie (Earl’s wife) and Evelyn (Gearl’s wife)

Evidently, not everyone possesses the ability to safeguard a secret. This fact was subtly alluded to by Johnnie in his V-mail to Lucile on December 31, 1944.

My Dear Darling,

I received two letters from you today. Sure was glad to hear that you are feeling much better after giving a pint of blood for Mom Stacks. I sure hope she is able to be up and around by the time you receive this. O yeah, tell Dot I said I think the world of her. But no one will take your place with me which you shall know by now and the reason I wrote her and told her my love for you is I wanted the whole world to know about it. And I know if I told her the world would know about it, Ha Ha. Right honey? Dad and his wife sent me a large picture of them. I can’t keep it so I am sending it to you. If I try to keep it, it would get tore up. Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Johnnie

During the month of December, 10 men received battlefield commissions. Twenty-three Silver Stars (7 posthumously, 1 missing in action), 13 Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star Medals, 149 Bronze Stars (5 posthumously), 72 Purple Hearts, 1 Second Oak Leaf to Bronze Star, 7 Soldier Medals, 17 Oak Leaf Cluster to Purple Hearts, and 235 Combat Infantryman Badges were awarded. The Regiment now consisted of 137 officers, 5 warrant officers, and 3074 enlisted men. 

December 20, 21, and 23, 1944

Lucile’s mother fell ill and, in his December 20, 1944 letter, Johnnie conveyed both concern and deep affection for her.

My Dear Darling,

I received two letters from you yesterday and one of them was telling me about Mom Stacks being in the hospital. I have never received a letter telling me what she went to the hospital for or what she was in the hospital for. The way you said things in this letter she was pretty bad off. I pray she is much better by now. Tell her for me to hurry up and get well where she can write her boyfriend. I am really missing her letters. I guess Earl has gone by now. Who is his wife going to stay with? I hope you get the money I sent you before Christmas so you can have a pretty good Christmas even though I am not around for this one. I received a letter from Dot also. She is a great kidder. I think a lot of her. Well as far as that goes, I think a lot of all the family, you know that by now. And they shall. I surely hope you have heard from me by now. I try and I always will write you every chance I get. You can count on that. O say, tell Doc I am going to try and get him a souvenir over here and send to him. I hope you get the things I sent you and I hope you like them for what there are. Well Darling, I will close for now. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

On the same day that Johnnie wrote the letter, The Atlanta Constitution reported grim news: a Georgian had lost their life in action, another was missing, and a staggering 65 had been wounded. Among the wounded was Johnnie, although his injury had occurred earlier, specifically on October 2, 1944.

The Atlanta Constitution, December 20, 1944

On December 20, 1944, the Paducah Sun-Democrat in Paducah, Kentucky reported that Johnnie’s best friend, Pfc. James Lamb, had “been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for participation in combat against the enemy with the Fifth Army in Italy.”

Pfc. James Lamb

On December 21, 1944, Lucile received a letter from Ellis Arnell, the Governor of Georgia. In it, he expressed both sympathy and appreciation for Johnnie’s dedicated service to the country. The letter read:

Mrs. Lucille S. Marston
Route # 1
College Park, Ga. 

Dear Mrs. Marston:

According to press dispatches your loved one has been wounded in the service of his country. I hasten to express to you my interest and sympathy. It is my wish that his wounds are not serious. The sacrifice made by your loved one will ever be enshrined in the greatness of our nation.

Sincerely yours,
Ellis Arnall, Governor  

 

Letter from Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall to Lucile
informing her that Johnnie had been wounded

Around the same time, Lucile received another letter, dated December 21, 1944, from the Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross. This letter conveyed their sympathy upon learning of Johnnie’s injuries. Remarkably, by the time all this correspondence was unfolding, Johnnie had already left the hospital and rejoined Company B. The letter read:

Mrs. John J. Marston Jr.
College Park, Georgia

Dear Mrs. Marston:

The Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross learns with regret through the casualty lists of the newspapers that your husband, Pfc. John J. Marston, Jr., has been reported wounded in action in the Mediterranean Area.

We join your many friends in extending sympathy to you and your family and hope that the War Department will soon be able to send you encouraging news regarding his condition.

During these months of anxiety, we feel sure that you are comforted by a feeling of pride in knowing that your husband has rendered a wonderful service to his country.

Sincerely,
OBY T. BREWER
Chairman, Atlanta Chapter, American Red Cross

Letter from the American Red Cross to Lucile
extending sympathy for his injuries

On December 23, 1944, the regiment, including the 328th Field Artillery Battalion, Company A of the 310th Medical Battalion, and a platoon from Company C of the 310th Engineer Battalion, moved to an assembly area north of Lucca. There, the Combat Team, now under the operational control of the 92nd Infantry Division, was designated as division reserve. Their specific tasks included preparing plans to repel enemy attacks in the coastal sector and the Serchio Valley. 

The impending Christmas and wedding anniversary weighed heavily on Johnnie as he grappled with the separation from Lucile. On December 23, 1944, he prayed for their reunion as he wrote Lucile.

My Dear Darling, 

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and alright and pray that this finds you the same. I have not heard from you in a good while now. I hope by now you are getting some of my letters. You shall be getting a few at least. Well, it is just two more days and Christmas will be around again and four more to our wedding anniversary. I can’t forget that one day that will always be remembered by me and I know you feel the same way. It was so wonderful it makes me feel so bad to even think the way things are so changed now. I just pray to God that he returns me to you because there is so much I want to make up to you, so many things. I hope Mom Stacks is much better. Give her my regards and I hope she is able to be up and around by now. How is Nell and the baby? It should have arrived by now. I bet it is a girl. I am sorry to hear about Irvin. I didn’t know that he had one of his ear drums busted. I haven’t heard from him in a good while now. I wrote him last. They had a church service tonight and I just got back from it. We will be going to a lot of them when I return home. You can count on that. I can see that life is more wonderful if anyone will only look on the right side. Well honey, I guess I have run short this time. So, tell all the folks I said hello and God bless all of you. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Lucile, Johnnie, and daughter Diane (after the war)