Clearing the Niscemi Highway - Combat Mission: Fortress Italy

July 12, 1943
Gela Area

The Allies invaded Sicily on July 10, kicking off Operation Husky with airborne drops and amphibious landings in southeastern Sicily. American airborne drops between Gela, Niscemi and Vittoria were followed by the 1st, 3rd, and 45th Infantry Divisions landing at Gela, Scoglitti, and Licata.

The 82nd Airborne drop was badly scattered, and to make matters worse, we were surprised with the presence of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring Division. Since the drop our paratroopers have clashed with the Italian mobile groups and Luftwaffe troops in a hundred scattered battles, aiming to slow down their counterattacks towards the beachheads or just hanging on for survival.

A small group of our 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment paratroopers they dug themselves into a hilltop villa that overlooks an important highway leading south from Niscemi to Gela. Earlier today they ambushed and destroyed a German 120mm mortar platoon travelling along the highway. This has raised the enemy's ire, and an enemy force of German and Italian troops are moving to destroy the troublesome paratroopers once and for all.

The situation at the beach head has finally stabilized and reinforcements from the 1st Infantry Division are arriving from the south to reinforce the 504th's defenses.