Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’d like to thank everyone for all the support in 2019.  It was a great year.  I know the posts have been a little slow the last few months but I’ve been working on a few other projects, a book to be completed next summer and planning a “Roots Trip” with some outstanding partners posted below.  I’ll document the entire trip in the spring.  Please sign up for emails to be kept up to date. Click here to Join Italian Genealogy on Facebook I’m working with two great partners in Italy for our trip in the spring.  We are in the final stages of planning, but don’t wait for me to contact them.  If you are considering a trip next year, wether it’s to search for roots, or just a well planned visit check them out below.  Be sure to mention you found them through Italian Genealogy. ItalyRooting Consulting  is an Italian consultancy service which designs unique experiences of authentic Italian heritage in our marquee Rooting Style.   Our trademarked Rooting® philosophy is an experience of full immersion into the heart and spirit of Italy. The philosophy of Rooting demonstrates Italy as the land of excellence and the true expression of beauty in the world. Rooting imparts the sources of beauty, elegance and style that characterize Italian lifestyle and history. The sons and daughters of Leonardo and Michelangelo, descendants of a mother land of artists, inventors and artisans, have changed the world. Rooting is an invitation to reminisce in the mystery and beauty of Italy’s DNA.  We design all our product and service offerings in our proprietary Rooting Style. Rooting Style embodies Italian anthropology and the character and quality of Italian culture, providing a bridge to the true roots of Italy. Thanks to its countless applications, Rooting Style caters to those of any ethnicity that have an affinity for and appreciation of Italian lifestyle. Specifically for Italian descendents, Rooting Style creates a true connection for those that are looking to reconnect to their roots and to the people and places of their native land. Through Rooting Style Travel we design unique and unparalleled travel experiences. We create, select and propose travel experiences that bridge travelers to the roots of Italian quality and culture. We also create custom reconnection journeys especially for Italian descendants that enable them to return to and experience their own familial roots of origin. We don’t sell tours, we create experiences with unique content in a narrative format. Travelling in Rooting Style accesses the best of Italy at its root and in its purest form, rendering the traveler not only a tourist, but a “Rootist”,  an Italian among Italians.  Our travel experiences are memorable events that go beneath the surface, enrich the senses, and touch the soul in the most intimate way. After travelling in Rooting Style, travelers leave forever changed and above all with the desire to share their experience with others and to return again and again.  Borghi Italia Tour Network is the exclusive tour operator of the association of  “I Borghi più belli d’Italia”  association and is responsible for promoting the heritage of the hidden parts of the country through the development of new and fascinating trip itineraries.The company’s unwavering dedication to its customers, coupled with its professionalism, creativity, and passion, allows Borghi Italia Tour Network to provide its customers with a unique travel experience. It has achieved great results in proposing individual and group packages towards our destinations. Our touristic offer is created to provide the customer with a unique and unforgettable experience within the Borghi. These old and fortified villages were built around a noble palace or a castle during the Medieval and Renaissance time. The different themes that define each of our tour packages help to integrate the Borghi with important cities of art. These packages are outlined in our catalogue that comprises of over one hundred Borghi located all over the Country from the Alps (north of Italy) to the south, including Sicily and Sardinia. The different options that one can choose from, focus in culture, art, nature, gastronomy, traditional costume, sport, spas and much more. The feature that we are most proud of is our unique accommodations. They comprise castles, historical properties such as Venetians and Medici’s villas, charming country houses, and boutique hotels. These top quality accommodations have been strictly selected. Magical Villages Energize for life: Discovering the precious Italy, its heart & soul! Don’t Forget out Good Friend Alessandro for Research! Family – famiglia: maybe no other term can make it up any better to express my sense of belonging to the place I come from. Famiglia has always been the place where I leave from on every trip – and that is the place where I am glad to get back to when feeling you need to go home. Famiglia has been covering a place of its own in my heart ever since I was born – but what is that makes family so special? What can you call as being famiglia at the largest extent as you know it? Back in 2006, there came a day when I started getting so much curious about those lines in the famiglia which I had never questioned myself about. It was then when my father told me that a great-uncle of mine went to America through Ellis Island that I realized I really wanted to discover who I am and where I come from. I would never imagine where that research path would have brought me to. At that time, as an Italy-born taking his very dirst steps in family history research, I couldn’t expect the thrills of meeting second cousins in the States who had been waiting for decades to be greeted by their Italian family – and whose names had been so long unknown to me.

Friuli–Venezia Giulia, regione(region) of northeastern Italy, bordering Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the south, and the Veneto region to the west. It has an area of 3,030 square miles (7,847 square km), comprising the province(provinces) of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, and Trieste. Collina in the Carnic AlpsVillage of Collina in the Carnic Alps, Friuli-Venezia Giulia regione, Italy.Pierinut In the north the solid wall of the Carnic Alps, broken only by the Monte Croce (Plöcken) Pass and the low Tarvisio saddle, form a spectacular backdrop to the Tagliamento River valley, the heart of Friuli. The southern part of the region is a low coastal plain, some of it occupied by the shallow lagoons of Grado and Caorle. To the southeast, that part of the former Free Territory of Trieste that is now an integral part of Italy extends as a narrow corridor, between the Carso (Kras) limestone plateau and the Adriatic Sea, as far as the city of Trieste. The region is one of Italy’s most seismically active, as seen in a May 1976 earthquake centred north of Udine that killed more than 1,000 people. Known in Roman times as the Julian region, the area was divided after the barbarian invasions into a coastal part (dominated by the Byzantines through the city and port of Grado) and an inland zone ruled by the dukes of Friuli and the counts of Gorizia. The rise of the Roman Catholic patriarchate of Aquileia to prominence in the 11th century brought Friuli and the Istrian peninsula, as well as the seacoast, under the control of this ecclesiastical sovereignty. The period of Aquileian hegemony ended when Venice became the great power in northeastern Italy (1420) and shared its dominion over the region with Austria (at Gorizia and Trieste). After 1815 all of Venezia Giulia and Friuli fell under Habsburg rule; Udine province (including Pordenone) became part of Italy in 1866, and the rest of the region (including much of what is now Slovenia and Croatia) was added in 1918. After World War II the Istrian peninsula, the hinterland of Trieste, and the Carso plateau became part of Yugoslavia, while Trieste and the area surrounding it became a free territory divided into northern and southern (A and B) zones under U.S.-British and Yugoslavian administration, respectively. Udine province was detached from the Veneto and united with Gorizia province to form Friuli–Venezia Giulia. The London agreement of 1954 restored the city of Trieste and part of zone A to Italy, and the city became the region’s capital. A statute of autonomy for the region was passed on January 31, 1963. The province of Pordenone was formed in 1968. The region ranges in terrain from rocky uplands and foothills in the north to arid or marshy lowlands in the south. However, rainfall in the north—the highest in Italy—favours the development of natural meadows for livestock, and the ham and dairy products of Friuli are famous. Corn (maize) and some other cereals are grown in the valley of the Tagliamento, and there is market gardening around Udine. The larger cities—Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, Monfalcone, and Trieste—have all experienced considerable industrial development, and Trieste is one of Italy’s great ports, although its trade is smaller than it was before 1914, when it served most of central Europe. The region is connected by rail and road with Austria, Slovenia, and Venice and thence the rest of Italy. A Friulian separatist movement exists and periodically presses its demands for Friulian autonomy; Friulians represent about three-fifths of the region’s population. Pop. (2011) 1,218,985. This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager. Citation InformationArticle Title:Friuli–Venezia GiuliaWebsite Name:Encyclopaedia BritannicaPublisher:Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Date Published:28 January 2013URL:https://www.britannica.com/place/Friuli-Venezia-GiuliaAccess Date:June 24, 2019 Click here to Join Italian Genealogy on Facebook In Roman times, modern Friuli-Venezia Giulia was located within Regio X Venetia et Histria of Roman Italy. The traces of its Roman origin are visible over all the territory. The city of Aquileia, founded in 181 BC, served as capital of the region and rose to prominence in the Augustan period. Friuli became Venetian territory in 1420, while Trieste and Gorizia remained under the Austrian Empire. With the peace treaty of Campoformido in 1797, Venetian domination came to an end and Friuli was ceded to Austria. After the period of domination by Napoleon, which also affected Trieste and Gorizia, it again became part of the Austrian Empire and was included in the Lombard-Veneto Kingdom. The policies of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries helped to create extraordinary wealth in Trieste. It became the empire’s port. Following the war of independence, Friuli was brought into the Kingdom of Italy. During the First World War, the region was a main theater of operations and suffered serious damage and loss of lives. The Second World War led to the Anglo-American Administration in Trieste until the border with Slovenia was fixed. When Trieste was finally taken back by Italy, the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia was finally established. The economy of Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the most developed in the country. Agriculture and farming maintain an essential role in the economy of the region. Its high quality products are exported worldwide. Local craftsmen produce highly coveted fabrics, carved furniture, wooden sculptures, artistic ceramics, mosaic, wrought iron, string instruments and typical traditional costumes. These diverse features has led to a burgeoning tourist industry. There is much to see and enjoy, excellent food and fantastic shopping. Places to see in Trieste: Castello di Miramare is the neo-Gothic home of the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. He originally came to Trieste in the 1850s, as the commander-in-chief of Austria’s Imperial navy. The castle’s decor reflects Maximilian’s various obsessions of the Imperial age: a bedroom modelled to look like a frigate’s cabin, ornate Orientalist salons and a red silk-lined throne room. Upstairs, a suite of rooms used by the military hero Duke Amadeo of Aosta in the 1930s, is also intact, furnished in the Italian Rationalist style. Maximilian was a keen botanist and the castle has 54 acres of gardens, which contain many rare and exotic trees. From the Italian Tribune.Com

My mom’s family if from Toritto and Acquaviva Delle Fonti, Bari.  Although, I do have come ancient de Hautville ancestors from the region on my dad’s side.  My uncle Giovanni stayed behind when my grandparents came to America, and raised his family there until the late 1940’s.  My cousins have an interview that they did with him in Barese and I hope to someday have that translation.  My great grandfather, Francesco, owned a cow and would go door to door, with the cow and Uncle Giovanni and deliver milk. Francesco Nicoletti, Maria Carnevale and Giovanni Nicoletti More Stories in my book Puglia, also called Apulia, regione,southeastern Italy. It extends from the Fortore River in the northwest to Cape Santa Maria di Leuca at the tip of the Salentine Peninsula (the “heel” of Italy) and comprises the provincieof Bari, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, and Taranto. The northern third of the region is centred on the Puglia Tableland, which is flanked on the north by the limestone massif of Gargano Promontory (the “spur” of the peninsula) and on the west by the Neapolitan Apennines. The central third is occupied by the low Murge plateau, which slopes gradually to the narrow coastal plains of the Adriatic Sea in the east. The Salentine Peninsula consists of the lowlands of Lecce, Taranto, and Brindisi and low plateaus east of Taranto and south of Lecce. The main rock material of Puglia is limestone, except on the coastline, which is mostly low and sandy. The only major rivers are the Fortore and the Ofanto, both in the north, but there are many springs. The absence of surface water over large areas led to construction of the Apulian Aqueduct (1906–39), largest of its kind in Italy, which supplies the region with water from the Sele River on the western slope of the Apennine watershed. Puglia: Murge plateauMurge plateau in the Puglia regione, Italy.Idéfix Consisting of the areas of ancient Apulia and part of ancient Calabria, Puglia was ruled in the early Middle Ages by Goths, Lombards, and Byzantines and knew its greatest glory under the Hohenstaufen emperors. It was a favourite of the 13th-century Holy Roman emperor Frederick II, and Romanesque cathedrals and palaces bear witness to the flowering of Puglia at that time. Thereafter a long period of decline set in, accentuated by the neglect of its distant rulers (French, Spanish, Austrian, Neapolitan, Bourbon) and by Arab slave raids along the coast. In 1860 Puglia became part of the Italian kingdom. The region is predominantly agricultural. Wheat, barley, and oats are grown on the plain and in the more fertile parts of the plateaus, while olives, grapes, almonds, figs, and vegetables predominate farther south; tobacco is a specialty of the Lecce Plain. The wines of Puglia are the strongest in Italy and are used to fortify other, lighter varieties. Fishing is carried on in many ports, particularly those of the Gargano Promontory and in Barletta, Monopoli, and Taranto. Nomadic sheepherding is still extensive, although it has decreased in importance. Salt is produced from seawater at Margherita di Savoia near Foggia, and bauxite is mined on the Gargano. While small food-processing industries are widespread, industry is largely concentrated at Bari (chemicals and petrochemicals), the regional capital; Taranto (iron and steel); and Brindisi and Barletta. Foggia is the main rail centre, with connections to all parts of the peninsula. Area 7,470 square miles (19,348 square km). Pop. (2006 est.) 4,071,518. This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager. Citation InformationArticle Title:PugliaWebsite Name:Encyclopaedia BritannicaPublisher:Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Date Published:23 September 2013URL:https://www.britannica.com/place/PugliaAccess Date:May 20, 2019 Click to Join Italian Genealogy on Facebook  THE HISTORY OF PUGLIA – The Thinking Traveller The Thinking Traveller villas in Puglia >> Back to the guide to Puglia >> Puglia’s history, like that of so many parts of southern Italy, is a tangled web indeed! Its strategic position and its fertile soil made it an attractive proposition for colonization and all the usual suspects, Mediterranean and non, invaded at one time or another. While exploitation was usually the name of the game, each conqueror bequeathed a cultural, architectonic and gastronomic patrimonywhose fascinating eclecticism remains for all to see. Here below is a brief summary of Puglia’s multifaceted history: 1st millennium BC– Illyric and Italic peoples settle. 8th century BC– Greeks from Sparta begin to arrive, reaching the south-eastern tip and the Gulf of Taranto, where they found Tarentum, amongst others. 272BC – the Romans oust the Greeks and rapidly colonise the region. Wheat, olive oil and wine are produced en masse to help feed the mouths of the expanding empire. 216 BC– Hannibal crushes Roman forces at Cannae in Puglia (one of their worst ever defeats) during the Second Punic War, but the Romans eventually retain control of the region, which continues to thrive as an agricultural centre and trading post for the east. 190BC –the Romans complete the Via Appia, linking Rome with Puglia. The amphitheatre in Leccedates from around 100 years later. 476 AD– fall of the Roman Empire. 488 AD– Italy and Puglia fall under the control of the Ostrogoths. 6th century– the Lombards arrive, establishing a short-lasting Kingdom of Italy. Puglia is in Byzantine hands until the 11th century, notwithstanding occasional Saracen incursions. The island town of Gallipoliis fortified. 1059– Robert Guiscard, a Norman, forms the Duchy of Apulia. Later in the century the Normans conquer Sicily where they establish their power base. Puglia becomes a provincial outpost under Norman rule. 1087– Sailors bring the relics of San Nicola to Bariand the Basilica di San Nicola is built in this period. 1200 circa– Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, aka “Stupor Mundi” inherits Puglia, where he spends much of his time when away from Sicily. His enlightened reign sees a flourishing of the arts and a period of relative peace and prosperity. Many of his castles, such as Castello Svevo in Trani and Castel del Monte in Andria, survive, along with some wonderful Romanesque constructions such as the Cattedrale di San Sabino in Bari. 13th century– the French Angevins arrive and Puglia becomes part of the Kingdom of Naples. 1480– a Turkish force under the command of Gedik Ahmed Pasha lays siege to Otranto. On capturing the town, all male inhabitants over the age of 15 (numbers in the 1000s) are killed. The aging Archbishop, refusing to renounce his faith, is cut into pieces in public and his decapitated head paraded through the town on a pike. 1500– King Ferdinand V of Aragon takes the reins and Otranto, Bariand Taranto are fortified against Turkish invasions. 1713– the Treaty of Utrecht grants Puglia to Austria 1734  – the Spanish defeat Austria at the Battle of Bitonto and reclaim Puglia as their own. The Turks and the Venetians attack repeatedly hoping to gain a foothold in the region. 1806-1815– the French take control, abolishing feudalism and reforming the justice system. 1861– Puglia joins the united Italy during the Risorgimento. 1922– Mussolini intensifies the production of grain, olives and wine as Italy attempts to become self-sufficient. 1943– the Allied invasion ousts German forces, and the ports of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto undergo heavy bombing from both sides. Uncle Giovanni and Family c 1940 in Toritto

So it’s been 1 year since I started the Italian Genealogy Blog and Facebook page.   I’d like to thank the over 85,000 visitors to this blog and I hope that I have been able to give people some good insight into how to research their Italian Family.  I am planning an ancestral trip to ancestral regions in Italy and with the help of Italy Rooting I’ll be seeking out distant cousins, going to ancestral homes and hopefully find a few surprise.  I’ll document the planning as I go along, so stay engaged by joining the email list or the Facebook Group. For now here are some of the most popular posts from the past year — Bob Click here to join Italian Genealogy on Facebook Here are some great books to consider if you are just beginning.

Watch the 2 Videos, they are the best part of the post. Today I am putting out a teaser post, on what I hope will expand as a fantastic tribute to the Italian American men and women that served in WWII.  As you must know, Italian’s that migrated to the US had to register as enemy aliens.  By the end of the war, my grandparent enemy aliens, had five sons in the service.  Thankfully, all came home.  They also had one son in the Italian Army before the war, long story there.  I am looking for help in this endeavor.  If you have any family that you would like to include, please comment below, or email me at bob@italiangenealogy.blog. I would love to add any information about Canadian, English or Australian Italians!   Click here to join Italian Genealogy on Facebook Thomas M Nicoletti recounts his experience on the USS Duel In the first video Tom talks about being at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay and the attack on Iwo Jima.  In the second video he talks about picking up pilots, being lost at sea and coming home. History of the USS Deuel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA6sr6M-L0Y USS Deuel Haskell Class Attack Transport: Laid down, 17 June 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 126) at Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, OR. Launched, 9 September 1944 Acquired from the Maritime Commission and Commissioned USS Deuel (APA-160), 13 October 1944, CAPT. Douthey G. McMillan USN in command During World War II USS Deuel was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater:TransRon Sixteen, COMO J. R. McGovern USN;After World War II USS Deuel was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East during the following periods: Iwo Jima operations Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 27 February 1945 Okinawa Gunto operations Assault an occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 9 to 14 April 1945 USS Deuel received two battle stars for World War II service Alien Registration of Maria Nicoletti Alien Registration of Luigi Nicoletti Nick Sorrentino Mike Nicoletti Vic Nicoletti Tom Nicoletti Dom Nicoletti Frank Scarangella, Dom, Frank, Tom, Mike and Vito Nicoletti. All served in WWII Ansonio Sorrentino Peter Tarantola Peter Tarantola The mission of the 853rd Engineer Battalion (Avn) was to develop usable runways in support of XX Air Force B-25 and B-29 aircraft for operations from the Assam region of India into China and the Pacific theater of operations.BATTALION HISTORY(Abridged from Lt Col Frolich’s Unit History, 1943-1944; Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) documents; personal accounts from Sgt Louis R. Markiewitz; Ex-CBI Roundup, June 1966; Personal Diary of Capt Arnold R. Wilde, Adjutant to the 853rd; New York Times, 4 Jan 1946)DYERSBURGThe 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion was activated January 1, 1943 under the command of Maj Alexander J. Frohich (US Military Academy Class of 1938), at Army Air Base, Dyersburg, Tennessee, commanded by Col Emil G. Kennedy. On the date of activation, the entire personnel of the organization consisted of one Major, one Captain, seventeen 2nd Lieutenants and no enlisted men.January 9th marked the date of the activation of the companies and the date duty assignments were made. The assignments were as follows: Battalion Commander, Maj Frolich; Executive Officer, Captain Ferguson; Engineer Officer, Lt Wagner; Battalion Supply, Lt Seavey; Adjutant, Lt Birch; Personnel Adjutant, Lt Wilde; Commanding Officer Headquarters & Service Company, Lt Byers; Commanding Officer Co. “A”, Lt Coakley; Commanding Officer Co “B”, Lt Hooks; Commanding Officer Co. “C”, Lt Beard. During the course of the month the officer strength reached 48. The enlisted cadre arrived on the 19th of January from the 840th Engineer Aviation Battalion stationed at Bradley Field, Massachusetts. The enlisted men were assigned to their respective companies and at once undertook the duties they were sent down for.During the course of the month of January, the Battalion took over the CCC Barrack area of the Air Base and the reorganization of the area for use by an Engineer Battalion was effected. All personnel messed in the Company “C” Mess Hall and mess personnel were afforded by the consolidation of all available personnel to effect the operation of a consolidated mess.A temporary operations schedule was set up upon arrival of the Cadre. Construction was started on an Obstacle Course, Gas-proof Shelter and a Camouflage Area. Both officers and enlisted men participated in athletics daily from 1530 to 1700. First half hour was spent doing calisthenics and unarmed defense. This was followed by a period of rigorous football or softball with daily hardening being noticed by all personnel. The period from 1330 to 1530 daily was set aside for Officers Schools supervised by the Battalion Commander. In these schools all subjects were covered with all officers being assigned lectures and the preparation of charts and outlines with the thought in mind that they were to be used in the coming training period. The organization was without the benefit of any training aids and all reference data was obtained from the Battalion Commander’s personal library and what other manuals that were contributed by other officers. Despite lack of tools & equipment, the Battalion area was changed from an area of mud to a presentable area by construction of duckboards and drains.The first contingent of enlisted men that were to be the body of the Battalion arrived on Feruary 21, 1943. Approximately 390 men arrived on the afternoon of the 21st from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. The majority of the men were basics and had just completed four (4) weeks of basic training with no Engineer training included. The men were assigned to respective companies immediately and were indoctrinated into an Engineer Battalion by being put to work at once. Morale of new men was a bit low because of muddy condition of the area and bare appearance of the CCC Baracks after spending four weeks at an organized post in standard barracks. However, new men were not given much opportunity to dwell on conditions because they were being organized into operating sections within companies so that the organization could start on the road to preparing for its mission. The lack of non-commissioned officers among the new men was the first obstacle to confront the Battalion. All companies were confronted with the problem of organizing the mass that they were to train, with no leaders other than the officers who, as yet, were to be tried. The task of organization was enlarged by the receipt of 190 more enlisted men from Jefferson Barracks on the 23rd of February. The type of men and their training was duplicated on this shipment.After a brief period of orientation, the companies embarked upon a six weeks basic training schedule. The schedule embodied all the standard Infantry training subjects, such as close order drill, rifle marksmanship, scouting and patrolling, bayonet drill, extended order drill, etc. Those subjects important to Engineer training were emphasized more than would be ordinarily at a replacement center. Subjects such as camouflage, map reading, field fortifications and other Engineer duties were stressed.The Engineer equipment received in January and February was augmented by larger amounts in March and the Battalion was practically at T/BA strength by the end of the month: The equipment had been put into operation shortly after it was received and the motor pool and heavy equipment area that had been laid out previously. Total strength of the Battalion at the end of March was approximately 47 officers and 820 enlisted men. In April, the Battalion received its first Medical Officer and shortly thereafter a dispensary was set up in one wing of the Battalion headquarters.May was considered to be a Red Letter month for the battalion as it was given its first acid test and came through with flying colors. On May 24th the battalion was ordered by the War Department to move to the vicinity of Lenox, Tennessee, for flood control duty on the Mississippi River. During the entire period the Battalion worked in two shifts, 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Conditions in general were more rigorous than the ordinary bivouac. A total of 120,000 sandbags were filled and placed. On May 29th the levee broke north of where the 853rd were placed. A total of 43 families and livestock were evacuated and Company “C” filled 2,000 sandbags in 45 minutes to plug a bridge on the Dyersburg-Caruthersville highway to keep the flood from spreading.On June 3rd, Lt Van Sickle was appointed the new Headquarters & Service Company Commander and quickly took control of the flood area. By June 15th, the battalion was complete with its flood control duties and returned to Dyersburg where it received a commendation from Brig. Gen. Tyler, President of the Mississippi River Commission, for its work on the flood fight. On June 24th, the Battalion was alerted for a change of station.By motor convoy and train, the battalion left Dyersburg, Tennessee, for Brookley Field, Mobile, Alabama.MOBILEUpon arrival at Brookley Field, the Battalion received a letter from the Commanding Officer, Dyersburg Army Air Base, commending it on the work it had done, for the discipline and behavior of the men while at Dyersburg and the condition in which it left theBattalion area. Due to a shortage of available space for the Battalion, Companies “A” and “C” moved to Bates Field, Alabama, and were preparing the bivouac area for the future when the entire Battalion would be there. On July 18th, the Battalion lost its first enlisted man due to death. Pvt Auzy Sappington of Company “C” died at the Brookley Field Hospital due to illness. By July 25th, the entire Battalion was at Bates Field.While in Mobile, the Battalion built paths, laid wiring, built kitchens and gun emplacements and dug fox holes for camouflaging. They poured concrete, built garages and warehouses, constructed hangars and engineered a drainage system.On August 1st, the first group of men left for Shell Beach, Louisiana, for practice firing a .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun on the Naval range. After a week, the men returned to Brookley Field and prepared for Overseas movement. “A,” “B,” and “C,” companies went to Fort Morgan, Alabama, for training in combat firing and day/night problems in repelling beach landings.On September 13th, the Battalion departed Brookley Field, Alabama, in two serials (trains) for Camp Patrick Henry Port of Embarkation, Virginia.CAMP PATRICK HENRYThe battalion didn’t rest during its stay at Camp Patrick Henry as it was assigned the task of loading ships at the Hampton Roads Docks. Each day, two shifts of 100 men each were transported to the dock area for ten-hour shifts. Work consisted of loading andunloading ships. For the work they performed, the Battalion was awarded a commendation by Brig. Gen. Kilpatrick, the Commanding General, Hampton Roads POE.On October 1st, Major Frolich was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and two days later the Battalion boarded the Liberty Ships that were to transport the unit to North Africa. Companies “A” and H&S boarded the SS Lambert Cadwalader while Companies “B” and “C” boarded the SS James W. Nesmith. On October 5th the convoy was formed and moved out of Hampton Roads eastward. According to one member, “None will forget, many will relive, the day we left the United States. Would we ever see her welcome shores again, enjoy her hot dogs and chocolate milkshakes, kiss her ever-charming girls, and of more importance would we ever see our loved ones again? We knew we were going far, but how far no one knew and the rumors of our destination soard on.” Sgt Louis Markiewitz of Company “C” noted, “the convoy had a cruiser and a destroyer on one side as well as a small carrier. There were a total of 86 ships…and the carrier was in betwee, watching, looking out for submarines close to the coast. After we had been underway for…the rest of teh day…the carrier left us. But the cruiser and the destroyer stayed with us. It took us 19 days to get to the Straight of Gibraltar. We didn’t know, and we weren’t supposed to know, where we were going.” The journey was completed without any undue hardships and seasickness was at a minimum. Battalion Adjutant Capt Arnold Wilde wrote on October 7th, “Some depth charges were dropped on the edge of the convoy but nothing happened. Not all of the crews tried out their guns today but not ours. Sea is fairly calm today and it is fairly warm…rained this evening quite hard for a while. They really are strict about black-out and can understand why. Found out yesterday for sure where we are going and sounds interesting. Hope it is a bit cooler for sleeping tonight.”NORTH AFRICAOn October 21st, Captain Wilde wrote, “Well, we sighted land once again at 1030hrs. This morning we could see the Spanish Morroco coast very easily. Real high bluffs at the shore. Around 1200 we saw the Spanish coast and came to the Rock of Gibraltar around 1500hrs. It is impressive but much different than the pictures of it. We picked up a lot of English escort ships. A big battleship passed us near Gibraltar and am told it is a French ship…the Mediterranean is smooth as glass.”On October 22nd, the ships carrying the unit anchored outside the breakwater at Oran, Algeria, and all personnel were anxious to set foot on land once again and to have their first glimpse of foreign soil. The next morning, the Battalion debarked and moved to Battalion Area #21, Staging Area #2, south of Oran. On October 25th, Lt Col Frolich made arrangemetns with HQ Mediterranean Base Section to attach the Battalion to the 338th Engineer General Service Regiment to assist them in engineer construction. It took two days to complete the move. The work was widespread and even included dispatching an Italian-speaking detail to organize an Italian POW work battalion while there.By November 22nd the Battalion had endured some harsh conditions. Sgt Markiewitz recalled, “…the mud was nearly impassible…the food was terrible, unless you consider onion sandwiches and dates to be fine cuisine.” The men lived in eight-man tents in an olive orchard. He also said, “…the nights were freezing cold. Many of the troops wore their jackets to bed and then wrapped themselves in blankets to keep from catching their death.” After one final inspection, the battalion was ready to move on to their final destination.The Battalion boarded HMT Rohna on November 23rd and were quartered on troop decks 6, 7, and 8 in the aft part of the ship. Total strength of the Battalion at the time of boarding the ship was 793 including officers. The entire day was spent loading troops and supplies. At approximately 1200 hrs on November 24th the HMT Rohna moved from anchorage to join five other ships in the Convoy KMF-26 Annex. The weather was mild but the ship had rolled considerably while anchored and many men were seasick. The troop decks were very crowded and the air was quite bad below decks.November 25th was Thanksgiving Day. The convoy steamed to join convoy KMF-26 and regular drills were performed. The enlisted men had canned chicken as a substitution for the usual turkey dinner and bread rolls that many men described as filled with weevils. The following day saw more of the same in the Mediterranean. An “abandon ship” drill was held around 1030 hrs and a practice “boat station” drill was held around 1600 hrs. Shortly thereafter, all personnel, exclusive of gun crews and fire-control details, were ordered below as the “ALERT” alarm was sounded. Enemy planes, believed to be German twin-engine bombers of the He-217 class, were sighted over the convoy. Escort ships immediately opened fire. The bombers first appeared out of the southwest. At approximately 1645 hrs the SS Clan Campbell had a near miss across its bow from one of the bombs. All gun stations of HMT Rohna were in action. At approximately 1700 hrs HMT Rohna was struck amidships on the port side at about the water line by what appeared to be a radio-controlled missile. The Hs-293 radio-guided bomb impacted the Rohna and tore a hole that was described by Sgt Markiewitz as, “…big enough to drive a couple of trucks through.” Power went out across the ship and panic quickly ensued. The 853rd, which was quartered entirely, with the excewption of about 50 men, in troop decks 6, 7, and 8, bore the brunt of the explosion. Men were blown from the places they were sitting or standign like leaves in a wind. Hatch covers were blown skyward and many men tumbled down the open holes amid fire and exploding ammunition. Many men, badly wounded but in total disregard for their own safety, stayed in the hold and helped direct the escape of the trapped men. Troops in the forwasrd part of the ship were little, if any, effected by the explosion.The men, as a general rule, all obeyed their previous instructions and went to their boat stations. Some life boats were lowered but because of the strong wind and rough seas were of little use. Small and large rafts were being lowered over the side and all cargo nets had been cut loose from their lashings and were used by the men in scrambling down the ship’s sides. The weather had gotten bad since midday and a strong wind was blowing, creating 15-foot swells. The ship carried 16 lifeboats of which only 5 made it into the water. At approximately 1730 hrs the ship had a decidedly sharp list to starboard and it was becoming difficult to retain footing. Lt Col Frolich commanded the “Abandon Ship.”Sgt Markiewitz said, “…on deck, there was quite a bit of confusion. Officers were…well, they were panicked like the rest of ’em I guess. It just seemed like most of the guys panicked right away.” A ship the size of the Rohna would still travel over a mile by momentum before sinking. The sea was extremely cold, in addition to being rough, and many lives were lost because men were unable hold onto rafts and were so weakened by the exposure that they were unable to keep their heads above water even with the help of life belts. The whitecaps whipped the soldiers in the face and filled their mouths with oil-mixed water.Rescue operations continued throughout the night. On the morning of the 27th, the USS Pioneer, SS Clan Campbell and HMS Atherstone pulled into Philippeville, Algeria, and started to unload their survivors and dead. The USS Pioneer picked up 606 survivors. Two other ships, HMS Hunt and the SS Midful brought their survivors to Bougie (Bejaia), Algeria. In all, 1,015 had died of the more than 2,000 total personnel. Over 100 crew also lost their lives.At Philippeville, the dead and wounded were taken to the 67th and 100th British Hospitals while those at Bougie went to the 69th British Hospital. The uninjured went to a British Transit camp nearby. At the first roll call for the 853rd, of the 793 who boarded the Rohna, only 129 answered roll call. The 853rd appeared to be as close to annihilation as possible and of reports to be received in the following days, only a small number were to be added to the survivor list.On December 1st the Battalion and the other survivors boarded the train for Bizerte, Tunisia. On the morning of December 3rd, the train pulled into Bizerte and the men loaded into trucks to go to Battalion Staging Area #1, west of Bizerte. From time to time other survivors arrived from various places, mostly from hospitals. Lt Berger was appointed Company Commander of Company “B” to replace Lt Hooks who was listed as “Missing in Action.” On December 31st, a check of the survivor rosters showed the following information regarding the men of the 853rd which had consisted of 30 officers and 763 enlisted men on the Rohna: 10 officers missing in action, 20 survived with 9 injured, 485 enlisted men either dead or missing in action, and of the 278 survivors, 138 had been injured. The 853rd spent Christmas in Bizerte and services were given in a tent.By the end of 1943, the 853rd was born, and almost died when it lost 62% of its personnel in the greatest sea tragedy of the war. On January 1st, Lt Col Frolich petitioned the War Department for replacements. As the Battalion was on smallpox quarantine they would not be leaving North Africa for another day or more.On January 8th, the battalion boarded HMT Takliwa, a British transport, and steamed through the Suez Canal, anchored in Aden and then made way for Bombay, India with a total Battalion complement of 18 officers and 278 enlisted men. Share on facebook Facebook Share on google Google+ Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn