A Miller Family's Ancestry: Lancaster County, PA: George Miller and World War II

   First, let me say, that I had one of those unexpected but pleasant moments today. I had an elderly gentleman as a patient this morning. He had on a green plaid flannel shirt. Immediately I thought of my grandfather. If you had asked me what he wore I couldn't have told you. But at that moment, it was if I had only seen Pappy yesterday, not 30 years ago. But now on to my story of George W. Miller.

   The end of Jan. 1942, George William Miller, age 27, received a letter from the Selective Service requiring him to report for enlistment into the U.S. Army Feb. 9, 1942. I wonder about the statement, "This Local Board has agreed to grant a release to enable him to enlist in the U. S. Navy providing such enlistment is made and certified to us by the Naval Recruiting Office on or before February 7, 1942."  Did he attempt to enlist in the Navy and why? What prevented it from happening before his required appearance to the Army? What were his feelings about the war? Was he apprehensive or supportive?

U.S. Army Draft Letter, 1942

George W. Miller, U.S. Army, 1942

George served as a Private in the 3rd Infantry, U.S. Army, in the European Theater.
It appears from his "Enlisted Record and Report of Separation" that he was part of the reinforcement troops sent to Italy in early 1944 as part of "Operation Shingle." Previously, "Operation Avalanche" in September of 1943 had planned to take the port of Naples, Italy on the west coast and the airfields at Foggia, Italy on the east coast, but had been stalled by the winter weather and the Germans. On 22 Jan 1944, "D-Day" of "Operation Shingle" was a landing at Anzio, Italy, on the western coast, 30 miles south of Rome and 130 miles north of Naples. By 29 Jan cargo ships had landed huge supply shipments at Anzio and it was in full operational mode by 1 Feb.

The coast of Anzio-Nettuno, Italy

where the U.S. 3rd Infantry landed

Anzio: men and equipment move ashore

So where was George when all of this was going on? On my grandfather's discharge papers, it states that he arrrived in Europe 1 Feb 1944 with the 3rd Infantry, which, at the date would've been at Nettuno, just south of Anzio. We also know that he was a "light truck driver," which would have been significant with all of the supplies arriving at Nettuno and Anzio.
The Germans were unprepared for the Anzio, Italy invasion and reacted by sending troops south from Rome, 30 miles north, as well as Yugoslavia, France, and Germany by train. There was intense fighting for weeks, sometimes hand to hand combat, as the Allies and Germans fought over every foot of land. Thousands of men died. Towns were destroyed. One of the towns was Cisterna, where George's unit would have been involved in battle.

Patrol through Cisterna, Italy

   Through the spring of 1944, both sides held their lines with little combat as they waited reinforcements and supplies. By mid-May the heavy fighting began again, culminating in the liberation of Rome on 4 June 1944. George had 2 postcards he had brought home of Rome, where he had written on the back that he was there.

   On George's discharge papers it states he was in the Naples-Foggia campaign, but that campaign was finished before he even arrived in Italy. On the dates he was with the 3rd Infantry, he obviously was involved in the Anzio campaign. Was it because he was part of the follow-up to the Naples-Foggia campaign? Was the misinformation incorrect simply because of human error? We will probably never know.

   This was only the beginning of my grandfather's time in Europe. Next blog will be about the continuation of his role in World War II.

   For more detailed reading of the Anzio Campaign, visit the Army's history website where they have published the U.S. Army Center of Military History by Clayton D. Laurie. http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm

   The photos here are from the National Archives in Washington D.C. and are found at the aforementioned website.

   Below are several maps of Europe during World War II and "Operation SHINGLE." Take note of the 3rd Infantry of which George was part of.