March 19 – 31, 1945

Jeeps and bunny rabbits—Johnnie took advantage of the Army’s Easter template in his March 19, 1945 V-mail to Lucile. 

Easter Greetings from 85th Division
To My Dear Darling Wife
I Miss You alot. I Love You a Million.

Johnnie

Johnnie sent an identical V-mail to Lucile’s mother, accompanied by a single line: ‘To You, Mom, who holds a special place in my heart.’ With love, Johnnie.

On March 21st, the Commanding General of the 85th Infantry Division issued orders for Combat Team-7 to relocate from their current position to a special training area near C. Nuovo. The purpose of this move was to conduct four days of river crossing training. Upon completion, all units except the 328th Field Artillery Battalion were to return to the Gagliano area by March 27. To maintain security during the move:

• Operational radio silence was enforced, except in emergencies.
• In the C. Nuovo area, infantry units operated only radios 300 and 536 during exercises; all others remained silent.
• Identifying markings were removed from vehicles, and personnel removed the Division insignia from clothing and headgear.
• Personnel were warned not to disclose the unit’s identity to unauthorized individuals.

At that time, the 1st Battalion, Antitank Company, ½ Service Company, and ½ Headquarters Company were stationed at the Montecatini Rest Center in Tuscany, while all other organizations were undergoing training in the Gagliano area. The rest center offered soldiers a respite from the challenging conditions they encountered during combat. On March 22, the Regimental Command Post was set up near C. Nuovo, and all units smoothly transitioned to this new area. Notably, the 404th Engineer Combat Battalion and the 52nd Quartermaster Dukw Company now supported Combat Team-7 during training. The DUKW (pronounced “duck”) was an amphibious truck used during World War II. 

On March 23, 1945, the Paducah Sun-Democrat from Paducah, Kentucky reported that Johnnie’s friend James Lamb was “promoted to sergeant on the Fifth Army front in Italy. He is the squad leader with the 85th “Custer” Division.”

The Paducah Sun-Democrat, March 23, 1945

Between March 23 and 26, Combat Team-7 focused on river crossing training. The regiment conducted drills, followed by a specific exercise for Combat Team-7. Afterward, the 328th Field Artillery Battalion and Company A, 310th Engineer Battalion were detached from their previous roles.

On March 27, the 1st Battalion, ½ Headquarters Company, and ½ Service Company returned to the Montecatini Rest Center. Meanwhile, the rest of the regiment set up a temporary camp south of Lucca, with the Regimental Command Post established at C. Paladini. Stringent security measures ensured that the identity and destination of the 85th Infantry Division remained undisclosed. Additionally, new installations were camouflaged, and all identifying markings were removed from vehicles and personnel. The regiment spent the next day improving the temporary camp.

The photo below, dated March 28, 1945, was likely taken while in the rest area. The back of the photo reads:

    Left to right: S/Sgt Pomana, Sgt Gondal, PFC Stalrioutee

    Back row left to right: PFC Lindbird, PFC Wright, PFC Pikes
    4th Platoon, March 28, 1945
    Love, Johnnie

On March 29, the regiment initiated regular training. The 1st Battalion and elements of Service and Headquarters Companies moved to a temporary camp south of Lucca on March 30, Easter Sunday. 

Fifth Army soldiers sing hymns during Easter sunrise
services high in the Apennine Mountains in Italy.
Organist is S/Sgt. William D. Wilkins. Photographer
unknown. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives.
Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain.

All units (except the 1st Battalion) completed their inspections, with the 1st Battalion finishing theirs in the Gagliano area on March 31. The month concluded with ongoing regular training for the regiment.

During the month of March, 1 Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Legion of Merit (1 posthumously), 8 Silver Stars (2 posthumously), 1 Oak Leaf Cluster to Silver Star Medals (posthumously), 4 Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star Medals, 93 Bronze Stars (8 posthumously), 2 Second Oak Leaf Clusters to Bronze Star Medals, 42 Purple Hearts, 11 Oak Leaf Cluster to Purple Heart, 2 Second Oak Leaf Clusters to Purple Heart, 1 Third Oak Leaf Cluster to Purple Heart, and 158 Combat Infantryman Badges were awarded. Four prisoners were captured. Six enlisted men were seriously wounded in action, 4 enlisted men were lightly wounded in action, and 3 enlisted men were lightly injured in action. The Regiment now consisted of 174 officers, 4 warrant officers, and 3459 enlisted men.

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