Hey SW buds! I have something special to share with you all.

Friday I was going through some old family albums and came across my dad's Fort Benning Airborne Classbook. I hadn't seen this since I was a child so naturally I was excited to take a look. As I got comfortable and ready to enjoy this book, two papers fell out. Both were age-stained a dark yellow, and very frail, so my curiosity grew.


The papers I examined belonged to my grandfather, whom I had never met. He had passed away when my father was only 8 years old, and my dad used to tell us stories about him, so I knew that my grandfather was a war veteran, but not much about it.

This first document is his Honorable Discharge Certificate from 1945 that honors his "Honest and Faithful service to this country."

The second document is his Citation for "outstanding performance of duty in action" for his involvement in the Battle of Anzio!

I am proud to say that my Grandfather not only fought in this famous battle , but his battalion , the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment played a big part there and throughout World War II, and they received high recognition by the Lieutenant General and the United States Army.

As you can tell from the photo scan the 63-64 years have left their mark and it is not very legible. I decided to retype it so you can read it better. It reads as follows:


CONFIDENTIAL

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY
APO 469 U S ARMY.


AG 200, 6-AD

SUBJECT: Citation of Unit

TO : Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
APO 469, U. S. Army

Under the provisions of Section IV, Circular Number 333, War Department
1943, your organization is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action.

CITATION:

"THE 3RD BATTALION, 504TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action, on the Anzio beachhead, Italy, during the period 8 to 13 February 1944. This battalion had just been relieved from frontline duty in a critical sector of the beachhead, when a vicious German attack was launched against a nearby British unit. The battalion was recommitted to act at once, and one company was dispatched to reinforce the British unit and to hold a sector in danger of being over-ran by the Germans. Although this company was soon surrounded and isolated by the enemy, it held vital ground courageously and stubbornly for the succeeding 24 hours against continuous and determined hostile assaults. Meanwhile the remainder of the Battalion, which had launched a counterattack, succeeded in re-establishing contact with the surrounding company, on the morning of 10 February. During the counterattack which affected this relief the 3rd Battalion displayed the highest type of individual and coordinated combat skill to drive the enemy from strongly entrenched positions on dominating terrain. An immediate strong German counterattack drove the battalion from its newly won position before it had time to organize the ground for defense, but with fighting determination the attack was resumed and all objectives were regained. The position secured, the 3rd Battalion joined with elements of a British Division to block a highway an to protect a vital sector of the beachhead against flanking attack. During the following five days the difficult and hazardous task was accomplished in a highly successful manner. Officers and men of the 3rd Battalion consistently distinguished themselves by aggressively patrolling, exceptional initiative, and great individual courage. As a result of the 3rd Battalion's tenacious and intrepid action, a sever enemy threat to the security of the beachhead was eliminated."

/s/ MARK W. CLARK
MARK W. CLARK
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
Commanding
Certified True Copy.
VINCENT E. VOSS
1st Lt. 504th Prcht Inf
###'t. Adj.

CONFIDENTIAL



I am so very proud of my grandfather this Memorial Day, and thankful for all of the men and women who serve in the armed forces so that we may have the lives and freedom we have today.

Thank you.