Year: 1944

2/5/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s bomb Terni marshalling yard, and A-20s hit the Lanuvio and Piedimonte areas. P-40s and A-36s hit road junctions at Cisterna di Latina, Vetralla, and Velletri, bomb the towns of Vetralla, Ardea, and Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi, and attack motor transport at several points, includingareas N, NE and SE of Rome.

2/6/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-26s bomb the Orte marshalling yard while B-25s hit the Frascati road junction; A-20s bomb the Campoleone railroad station and the town of Roccasecca; P-40s bomb Cisterna di Latina, Santa Lucia (near Campoleone), Cori (and nearby road junction) and Atina; A-36s hit San Stefano al Mare, Cisterna di Latina, Frascati and Albano Laziale, and strike numerous vehicles, railroad cars and other targets of opportunity on armed reconnaissance missions N and S of Rome. A German counteroffensive against the Anzio beachhead and on the Cassino front forces an Allied withdrawal.

2/6/44 V-mail, Italy

Marfy:

Hello darling.

What a day.  My stove wouldn’t work this morning, the lights were out, and I burned up all my old newspapers trying to produce enough heat and light to dress by.

I swear daily that I shall not buy anything more to send home.  But I couldn’t resist buying a coral bracelet to match your necklace, as well as a nice-looking cameo.  You will have to get it mounted as there is no metal here for that.  Perhaps you can get a nice silver mount.  I am also sending a linen tea set.  Be sure and keep track of where this stuff comes from, as I can’t always remember.

By the time I finish this job, I shall be a fair practical psychologist (even if I can’t spell it).  Just like in any science, the more you learn, the more difficult it is to make a decision.  So far, my batting average is fair.

I’m so damn sick of trying to write pre-censored letters I could scream.  There is no sense in it as Jerry knows most of the things we aren’t allowed to mention.

I love you Snooks.  Cy.

2/7/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-26s bomb the bridge approach S of Manziana; B-25s hit the
Viterbo marshalling yard and, in support of US Fifth army troops, bomb the town of Cisterna di Latina as the enemy counterattack begins in the Anzio area; A-20s hit Piedimonte and the road junction and railway station at Campoleone; A-36s hit San Stefano al Mare and nearby railroad siding, Pontecorvo and Belmonte in Sabina, plus several targets of opportunity and targets in support of ground forces in the battle areas; P-40s attack an observation tower at Littoria, trucks at Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi, Campoleone, a railroad gun, the Sezze railroad yards, Cisterna di Latina and gun positions in battle areas. Fighters encounter heavy aircraft activity over the Anzio battle area and claim 16 shot down.

2/8/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s bomb Cisterna di Latina; B-26s hit the Siena marshalling yard and warehouses, and a railway bridge NE of Civita Castellana; A-20s bomb Piedimonte; A-36s attack gun positions near Ausonia, tracks between Rome and Orte, and the town of Veroli, and fly strafing and bombing sweeps in the Anzio battle area against motor transport, gun positions, road junction E of Cisterna di Latina, and the town of Pontecorvo; P-40s hit Roccasecca, Castello, Caprile. Piedimonte, Aquino and other targets, including a supply dump and gun positions; P-47s bomb Atina; Desert Air Force (DAF) fighters (US and RAF) destroy a large number of trucks near Sora.

2/8/44 V-Mail, Italy

Darling Girl:

You have done well on your correspondence in the last month.  Your love letters are about the only link I have with a normal life, and as such are greatly appreciated.  Even if it is only to tell me what happened during a rather dull day, it will be much more interesting than the things that happen here.

I am very tired tonight, but it is physical and not nervous fatigue.  I climbed 2500 feet up a mountain today, and am going to try to extend that a little more each day or so.  It seemed funny to be sweating and yet be able to see my breath.  A few days ago the snow line was down where I climbed today.  I carved this on tree [heart with initials “CS” and “MM” inside].  You are the only girl whose initials have been carved with mine.

I am going to have to take a rest soon.  I haven’t had one since OK city.  The artificial stimulus of flying combat missions will keep me going for a while, but I am becoming irritable and do not enjoy being with people.  The periods between missions are dull.  I have about 45 now, which isn’t much, but a hell of a lot more hot ones than most of our “friends” have.

Scratch Crains off of the list.  If they are too busy to answer any of my four letters, to hell with them.  I love you always.   Cy.

2/9/44:  92^nd Chemical Mortar Battalion is activated in England.  John Shaw, Cy’s brother in law and my father’s step-father, would be assigned to this unit for the Normandy invasion and the duration of the U.S. involvement in the war.

 2/9/44 V-mail, Italy

Darling:

Your snapshots and letters arrived this morning.  They are quite good, although the beach, grass and Marty make me a bit homesick.  Much as I dislike some things about the South, I am afraid sand, heat, and palm trees mean more to me than I realized.  I guess it’s because the happiest three years of my life were spent under those conditions.

I shall try to get away today and take Ed the clipping. [See Jan. 17 post]

It is a good story, and Ernie captured Ed’s own attitude towards it with a minimum of quotation.  “Personally, I’d rather park and neck.”  I don’t believe in having troubles in an airplane, as there is no future in it.

Damn it, that beach (and babe) look good.  My water froze in the tin cup this morning and I had to break the top layer of ice to drink the damn stuff.

Nancy & Beverly look swell.  Beverly, in passing, is a honey.

I got a letter from Betty Hitchcock.  She is in a hospital with a bad case of jaundice, and is about to be put on a limited service or sent home.

Gosh I want you.  All my love,  Cy

P.S. The Xmas box arrived ok.  It was swell arriving Xmas eve in hospital!  I love u.