WWII Photo

[Bigcypresshunter]

Going through my Dads stuff, I found this photo most likely his friend in the US Army 3rd Division. Most of my Dads pics were of his Italian girlfriend (kinda cute) but they mean nothing to me and will end up in the trash, but who knows, this photo may mean something to a family member.

The name on the back says- James David.
N. Car.- may be were the 3rd Div. trained.
Caserta - is a city in Italy where the pic was probably taken not far from Salerno.
1944- the date.

If anyone knows how to research to find out if he survived or find a surviving family member, I will mail it off. Thanks. My Dad was in the 3rd Division, Anzio Invasion and the push to Rome..

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Lots of tiny photos about an inch square like this. Lots of ruins pics. Dont know if they are worth anything? No names on the back.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Pics not too good. May be the Cassino my Dad spoke about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monte_Cassino

 

[ole_grisley]

I would post them in (the barraks ) it is here in the forums. you have to scrool down a ways, maybe someone there might know or like them.

 

[Monty]

The picture of the "Casino" I think is Monte Casino, a catholic monestary in Italy. It was held for several weeks by the Germans in spite of our attempts to take it and the hill it was on. The picture shows what was left of it after the allies bombed it to the ground. There were several hundred if not thousands of casualties in trying to take Monte Casino and the only value it possessed was it was on the high ground. At least I think that's what's in the picture. Monty

 

[Blue_oxen]

I would love to have the photos you are planning on throwing out. I am more then willing to pay for shipping.

 

[Bluegrassriver]

Gee whiz, post pictures of the cute Italian girlfriend!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Gee whiz, post pictures of the cute Italian girlfriend!

I hear my Dad really liked her but I guess he couldnt get back to Italy after the war.

What the heck is that in the back of that car? It looks as if the trunk has been removed. Ill take a wild guess and say its to keep pigeons.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I would love to have the photos you are planning on throwing out. I am more then willing to pay for shipping.

I was planning on keeping the crumbling building pics. They are mostly of poor quality. I was referring to the others, like people pics (the girl), but Ill have to ask my brother. Thanks for the interest
Anybody know what kinda film or camera this is? The pics are tiny.

 

[Kenosha Kid]

By this, I'm guessing your Dad was in the 3rd Infantry Division and not the 3rd Armored:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

Combat operations

The 3rd Division is one of the few American divisions that fought the Axis on all European fronts and was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground combat operations during World War II.

The Division first saw action as a part of the Western Task Force in the North African invasion, landing at Fedala on 8 November 1942, and captured half of French Morocco. Eight months later, on 10 July 1943, the Division made an assault landing on Sicily, fought its way into Palermo before the armor could get there, and raced on to capture Messina, thus ending the Sicilian campaign. Nine days after the Italian invasion, on 18 September 1943, the 3rd landed at Salerno and in intensive action drove to and across the Volturno River and to Cassino. After a brief rest, the Division was ordered to hit the beaches at Anzio, 22 January 1944, where for four months it maintained its toe-hold against furious German counterattacks. On 29 February 1944, the 3rd fought off an attack by three German Divisions.

In May the Division broke out of the beachhead and drove on to Rome, and then went into training for the invasion of Southern France. On 15 August 1944, another D-Day, the Division landed at St. Tropez, advanced up the Rhone Valley, through the Vosges Mountains, and reached the Rhine at Strasbourg, 26 27 November 1944. After maintaining defensive positions it took part in clearing the Colmar Pocket, 23 January, 18 February 1945, and on 15 March struck against Siegfried Line positions south of Zweibrücken. The Division smashed through the defenses and crossed the Rhine, 26 March 1945 ; then drove on to take Nuremberg in a fierce battle, capturing the city in block-by-block fighting, 17 20 April. The 3rd pushed on to take Augsburg and Munich, 27 30 April, and was in the vicinity of Salzburg when the war in Europe wound down.

Elements of the 7th Infantry Regiment serving under the 3rd Infantry Division had the honor of capturing Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden.[2]

The 3rd Division suffered more combat deaths in World War II than any other U.S. division, and the third highest among modern U.S. Divisions, behind only the 2nd Infantry Division in the Korean War and the 1st Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War.

You may want to check the "Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, U. S. Army" site:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...ision,+Caserta,+1944&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

This link will give some info but not where a soldier served:

World War II Army Enlistment Records, created, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/display...=V,2,1900&op_24983=0&txt_24983=&mtch=106&pg=2

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yes sorry 3rd Infantry Div. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,350646.0.html
My Dad was a Bronze star recipient for his actions in combat.

I just thought James David or family may want his pictures. Ill check the links thanks.

 

[TheDane]

Hi bigcypresshunter

I was thinking, if nobody is interested in the photos with houses, landscapes etc., you might consider giving them to some WWII museum. Think they might be interested !

Just an idea !

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hi bigcypresshunter

I was thinking, if nobody is interested in the photos with houses, landscapes etc., you might consider giving them to some WWII museum. Think they might be interested !

Just an idea !

Thats the best idea. Ill talk to my brother. He has a tendancy to save everything.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Heres that car again with the strange box in the back.

 

[Bramblefind]

Great pictures Have you seen this site yet? You might want to send in some copies:

http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos2ww2.htm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Great pictures Have you seen this site yet? You might want to send in some copies:

http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos2ww2.htm

Thats a good site.

 

[Bramblefind]

Great pictures Have you seen this site yet? You might want to send in some copies:

http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsocietyphotos2ww2.htm

Thats a good site.

It is. I think looking back at the posts here it is the same one Kenosha Kid sent to you. I knew about it from before but I had lost the link so I was trying to get it sent to me again to send over to you. I have a relative who was in the 3rd Infantry Division too.

 

[trikikiwi]

Great post BigCy
Now please don't throw any photos away. They will all have value to someone. I'll take them off your hands if no one else will.

As to the box on the back of the car - I suggest it covers a gasifier. Very popular in WWII when petrol was strictly rationed. The gasifier converted wood or other 'biomass'' into combustible gases.


Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas

Cheers, Mike

 

[MilitaryCollector]

at first I thought it might be a fuel converter also but it looks like it's just a wood storage box.
It's definatly being used by the same unit as trucks (notice the white bumpers on truck and car,
and white bumperettes on bigger truck) units would mark their vehicles with special symbols/paint
jobs so they are easily found by units soldiers during battle.

My guess it's just a storage box or maybe a box for a dog (which explains window)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

As to the box on the back of the car - I suggest it covers a gasifier. Very popular in WWII when petrol was strictly rationed. The gasifier converted wood or other 'biomass'' into combustible gases.

Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas

Cheers, Mike

Wow thats cool. Kinda like "Back to the Future" lol. I think its a possibility because gas was probably scarce and I would imagine its her car. Ill read up on it.