"We Bailed Out on The Enemy
Italian Aided U . S. Paratroop
Raid on Vital Nazi Bridge
Lieutenant McCarthy Describes Accumulation
Of Forces and March After Moonlight Jump
This is the third in a series of first person stories, revealing the
thrilling experiences of Lt. Justin T. McCarthy, a paratrooper from
East Orange, N. .J., in the American paratroop attack near Avellino,
Italy, during the drive of our forces on Naples. The first two
installments of Lt. McCarthy's story told of the jump into hostile
territory, the march to the little town of Cassano, and setting up
of a strategic position on a hill overlooking the down. Those moves
occupied the first night,
By LT. JUSTIN T. McCARTHY (As told to Richard Tregaskls)
(Written exclusively for International News Services)
ON THE ITALIAN FRONT,
Nov. (INS) --- We didn't fire on the Germans in the town from our hill position; even though we could see their tanks and men moving up and
down the streets. Major Dudley (Maj. William R, Dudley of Vancouver,
Wash.) decided we should sit tight, because men of our outfit who
had got lost In the Jump the night before were joining us by twos and
threes, and it seemed likely that by nightfall we would have a fairly
large force. Then we would be able to move and do some damage.
About ten of our men, part of those who had remained behind In the town when
we climbed the hill the night before, never did rejoin us. We heard
later that some of them were captured and some killed in fighting
with the Germans down there.
About noontime the Italians brought us
some food, loaves of bread, and a delicious cheese. At about 5 o'clock
one of our outposts reported he'd spotted some Germans, apparently setting
up heavy machine gun, 30 or 40 feet from his foxhole.
Major Dudley decided
we should pull out and move to another place and wait little longer
for more of our outfit to join up with us.
Covered Withdrawal
My little
bunch of men covered the withdrawal, but there was no contact with the
enemy. After about two hours of walking, we were passing a house when
an Italian came out and started parleying with Alongi (Pfc. Jack Alongl
of Detroit, Mich.), who speaks the lingo, and the Italian said he
could guide us to a place where we'd be safe and could operate.
He led us about 10 or 11 kilometers to a heavily wooded
mountainside where a little stream trickled cool water, and where
the cover was so thick there was little likelihood the enemy could
spot us with aerial observation.
We sank down there and rested one whole day. The men were tired and
hungry. We had only about three days' food K and C rations,
because we had left behind
the parabundle full of food It was too heavy to carry. The major
found an Italian who offered to guide us to a bridge where there was
a lot of enemy traffic where we might do a lot of damage and hold up
their communications by a little demolition.
We had about 25 pounds of TNT. and the major decided we should go
after the bridge. So we waited for the moon to come up, until about
10:30. Even then it was so dark In the heavy cover .of the
mountains, that some of .the men held hands to avoid getting lost.
Misfired on Time
The Italian had said he could lead us to the bridge in an hour, but
that was a slight underestimate. The trip took us four hours
instead of one. The Italian had said he would give us warning before
we reached the vicinity of the bridge, so we could size up the
situation and get everything set. But actually he led us right smack
up to the bridge; we burst out above it without any warning.
We saw several vehicles go by; trucks. And then an armored car came
down, went to the center of the bridge, and waited. Then we heard
the armored car start up and move out. We decided then that the
coast was clear. We would take our chances with the men In the house
if there were any left. We contacted a runner from the major and
told him we were all set to go. Jeanes still carried his pack full
of TNT. He'd been lugging that bundle ever since we jumped. Now at
last we had a chance to use it.
