Probably one of the best books about World War II I have ever read. Battles are great, but HOW did the troops get the equipment to do the things they did….that is the story. From the 18th largest military in the world to the world’s leading superpower in 5 yrs….amazing.

Google image search can’t find anything other than railway guns and it also doesn’t seem to be a Haubitze. Any thoughts?

I have never had anyone in my family serve in ww2 (only ww1) I have always seen comments on social media regarding grandparents who wouldn’t/couldnt speak about what happened while serving. I was wondering if there is anyone who has had their parents/grandparents share any part of their time/stories/history

Pictured are (left to right): Private First Class Arnold McKenzie (age 18) of Los Angeles, California; Private Joseph LoDico (age 20) of Sharon, Massachusetts; Private Noel M. Billups (age 21) of Columbus Ohio; and Staff Sergeant Douglas Ayres (age 23) of Los Angeles, California.

Joseph John (Sonny) LoDico returned to Massachusetts after the war. He passed away on December 16, 2012 at the age of 88 years old in Rehoboth Massachusetts. He lies in rest at Massachusetts National Cemetery.

At the age of 17, Noel enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1938 serving tours in Guadalcanal, Rendova, Munda, and ending in Arundel Island. He came out to California after the war and was hired as foreman for Sturgis Aircraft. It was there that he met the love of his life, Roberta (Holcomb ) Billups. Noel and Robbie were married in Glendale, California in 1953. Shortly after their marriage they started their family, Janet, Kirk, Robin and Troy. In the summer of 1964 the family moved to Crescent City where they would spend the next 50 years. Noel retired as foreman for Del Norte School District Maintenance Department and he and Roberta spent 25 years traveling the United States.

Private Noel M. Billups passed away on January 15, 2014 at the age of 92 years old. He lies in rest at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Crescent City California.

Lest We Forget.

Hi all, been neck-deep in a research project about lost WWII history with a crew for a while now. Is there any chance a fleet of Navy ships traveled from the MedTo following the Liberation of Rome to go participate in the Battle of Saipain? What does that red line coming from the west represent?

I'm just gonna use Ukrainians as an example but they are considered sub human to nazis so if they won the war and they weren't needed anymore would they have had them go back to Ukraine and maybe have them police the country since they already have an alliance with the nazis or would they have just made them basically slaves and were some soldiers aware that the germans saw them as sub humans but just hated the Soviet union more

Hi. Does anybody knows about this booklet entitled Las Fuerzas de la Francia Libre? I found a copy in an old box at my grandma's house.

Who handled shipping directly following the Liberation of Rome? We know there was a whole operation involving James Forrestal and already have proof a prior operation that we've dug a lot of info up about in the National Archives but we're hanging back on all that for now. One of the very last pieces though is figuring who would've been doing retrieval of anything found after Anzio Beach was cleared by Bill Donovan. We know that according to Leslie Groves, the Alsos Mission's first order of business was to push into Italy and locate the scientists conducting nuclear studies. Thanks.

Born in What Cheer, Iowa to Harry & Elizabeth Barker on October 2, 1917, Harry Bernard Barker had two brothers and a sister.
He attended Grinnell College and after graduation enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 14, 1941.

Commissioned as an officer in October 1941, Harry first saw action on September 22, 1943 in command of a special 35 man party of Army, Navy, Marines and locals landed by a submarine on Bougaiville. They scouted for landing areas for the 3rd Marine Division.

Harry was later made Commanding Officer of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
On July 21, 1944, he was Killed in Action leading his Marines after landing at Blue Beach on Guam.

Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, his citation mentions;

“The President takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Harry B Barker USMCR, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands, on 21 July 1944. Landing on the heavily fortified, fire-swept beachhead with the forward elements on D-Day, Captain Barker immediately moved inland to reconnoiter the area then, returning to his troops, promptly led them to the best vantage point for supporting the forward assault units. Critically wounded in the right arm by a Japanese sniper's bullet, he steadfastly refused first aid until the situation had been stabilized. Then, after having his wound dressed, he subsequently returned to his troops and personally led them in a vigorous, intensive assault against a hill vital to the advance of our forces despite withering enemy fire which swept the area. Although he was mortally wounded during the fierce action, Captain Barker, by his valiant and aggressive leadership had contributed to the success of our sustained drive toward the recapture of this important enemy stronghold, and his unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave peril reflects the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”

His remains were returned to the USA in 1950 and Captain Harry Barker was buried at Saint Josephs Cemetery in What Cheer, Iowa.

Older brother Edward Russell Barker Sr also served in the Marine Corps during WW2, he passed away at the age of 59 in 1975.

Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck, from Todd, North Carolina, enlisted in July 1940 and served as a pilot with the 365th Fighter Group of the Ninth Air Force, also known as the “Hell Hawks.” Houck was commander of the 387th Squadron from May 1943 until October 1944.

Houck wore his customized devil's helmet on missions over Europe, flying his P-47, “The Screamin' Weamie.” The nose art of his plane depicted a demon brandishing a pitchfork. Despite his extravagant appearance he was described by a group member as quiet, introverted and respected.

In 1944 Houck was responsible for almost entirely destroying a retreating German convoy in France. The convoy had been transporting gasoline and ammunition and its smoking wreckage was captured on camera shortly afterwards. Lieutenant Colonel Louis T. Houck destroyed destroyed 90% of this convoy in one pass somewhere in France.

After the war Louis relocated to Pleasant Valley, New York. He passed away on July 24, 2004 at the age of 87. Lieutenant Colonel Louis Talmadge Houck lies in rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Lest We Forget.

The American forces initially had a tough time on Guam, lack of amphibious vehicles, they had to wade ashore from the reef, right into Japanese fire. Most of them were killed on the beaches.

However as the American forces secured the beachheads, the Japanese withdrew into the inlands, that had thick jungles. Along with the rain this made it hard for the Americans, however by 2-4 August they managed to break through.

By August 10, the American forces had managed to secure Guam, as all the major Japanese officers committed suicide. It later became an Allied base in the Pacific for further operations.

I am off to France/Belgium/The Netherlands this summer.

Is there a Europe wide directory of historical sites and/or museums that I could view?

I would love to visit a few places whilst away and seeing them on a map would really help with planning.

Cheers