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Remembering WWII Operation Husky
by U.S. Navy Megan Mills, NAS Sigonella
August 5, 2021
77 years ago, a group of American men fought valiantly and died
tragically at Ponte Dirillo during Operation Husky in World War II.
This year, several ceremonies in nearby Gela and at the historic
battle site honored their sacrifice.
Commander, U.S. Naval
Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily Cmdr. Brian Evans,
Mayor Lucio Greco of Gela, President Franco Citta of the Rotary
Club, members of the Kiwanis Club, several American Sailors, and
several Italian citizens commemorated the anniversary of this
valiant effort on July 10, 2021.
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July 10, 2021 - U.S. Sailors parade the colors, during a ceremony, jointly hosted by Navy Communications Telecommunications Station Sicily and the City of Gela, for those who lost their lives during Operation Husky in 1943 at Ponte Dirillo. The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major large-scale World War II amphibious and airborne operation in which the Allies liberated the island of Sicily from the Axis Powers. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Coté)
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Operation Husky was a massive amphibious
campaign to liberate the island of Sicily from the Axis powers. The
82nd Airborne Division sent paratroopers from Tunisia on July 10,
but severe weather blew members of the 1st Battalion of the 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment off course. They landed among heavily
fortified German forces, including three pillboxes and several Tiger
tanks.
Nevertheless, the American Soldiers, led by Lt. Col.
Arthur Gorham, fought the Italian and German forces through the
night and into the morning of July 11. By the end of the battle, 39
men, including Gorham, lost their lives, but not before wreaking
havoc on their enemies. In recognition of his heroism, Gorham was
posthumously awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, the second
highest award for bravery bestowed by the United States Army.
Operation Husky ultimately succeeded in bringing Sicily under
Allied control.
Evans described the importance of the
operation. “At this moment, seventy-eight years ago, Operation Husky
was underway,” he said. “Elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, with
beachheads established near here, continued to land forces
throughout the day. These landings here on Sicily in 1943 marked the
beginning of the liberation of Europe. As the fighting transpired
that day, July 10, 1943, and the next, July 11th, 39 brave Americans
rendered the ultimate sacrifice near this very spot."
In the
first ceremony of the day, held at the pier on the Gela waterfront,
Greco and Citta unveiled a memorial stone in honor of those who
fought and those who sacrificed.
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July 10, 2021
- Lucio Greco (left), mayor of Gela, along with Franco Citta, president of the Gela Rotary Club, unveil a new monument during a ceremony, jointly hosted by Navy Communications Telecommunications Station Sicily and the City of Gela, for those who lost their lives during Operation Husky in 1943 at Ponte Dirillo. The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major large-scale World War II amphibious and airborne operation in which the Allies liberated the island of Sicily from the Axis Powers. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Coté)
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“It was here that the Anglo-American troops
fought valiantly and with honor, and were also violently
counterattacked,” said Greco. “Many were the victims on both sides,
but what changed the outcome of the battle was the American Air
Force, which, with its absolute dominion of the skies, intervened
massively over the landing zones.”
Greco continued, “When the
immense Allied Anglo-American fleet appeared in front of the coast
of Southeast Sicily, it was the beginning of the end. Without
Operation Husky, the 20-year Fascist period would probably not have
ended on the morning of July 25th and the history of our country and
of us all would have changed.”
Later, the president of the
local Kiwanis Club laid a wreath at the memorial plaque behind the
Gela town hall.
After these two ceremonies, NCTS Sicily
conducted a ceremony at Ponte Dirillo outside of the town of Gela.
NCTS Commander described the importance of the operation and the
bravery of the soldiers.
“As authoritarian regimes again cast
a shadow of “Operation Husky” tyranny over mankind, NCTS Sicily
draws resolve and focus from the memory of these men,” he said. “As
we each swore during our oath in service to our Navy and nation, we
remain steadfastly committed to the principle of individual
liberty.”
The memory of those who participated in Operation
Husky, and especially those who gave their lives at Ponte Dirillo,
is important to both Americans and Italians. “We are here today
because we are called not to forget what has been, and to pass it on
to the new generations, year after year, anniversary after
anniversary, ceremony after ceremony,” said Greco.
Evans also
expressed appreciation for the commemoration of the day and
collaboration between countries. “It is our shared belief and
devotion to liberty for all mankind that will prevail against
authoritarian competition now and in the future,” he said. “It is
why the Navy and NCTS continues to operate here in this beautiful
country. We could not accomplish our mission otherwise, and
certainly not without our Italian allies by our side.”
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