Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Gordon | Colonel (ret) Bruce B. Clarke, son of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur F. Gorham, and his...... read more read more
Seventy five years ago British, Canadian, and American service members commenced Operation Husky and initiated the Italian Campaign of World War II, a conflict lasting more than a month and costing more than 14,000 lives from both sides. To mark this significant historical milestone, the Mayor of Gela, Domenico Messinese, joined Vice Adm. Lisa Franchetti, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, Capt. Brent Trickel, commanding officer of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Cmdr. Manny Cordero, commanding officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Sicily, Retired British Army Major Alan Batty, Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce G. Clarke, and officials from the Sicilian towns of Niscemi and Gela to participate in ceremonies at the Ponte Dirillo landing site and in the city of Gela. Sailors and civilians of NCTS and NAS Sigonella gathered in remembrance of the 39 World War II service members from the 82nd Airborne Division who lost their lives fighting off over half a dozen German Tiger tanks and an entire German battalion of infantry near Ponte Dirillo, Sicily, from July 10 to 12, 1943.
The success of Operation Husky was due in large part to efforts by the 82nd Airborne Division. On that hot day in July, the 82nd Airborne Division forced German and Italian forces to fight on two fronts—an amphibious assault along the coast, and over 12,000 paratroopers who landed behind enemy lines. Of these paratroopers, the men of the 1st Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, were blown off course by high winds during a night landing on July 10. Landing among three German pillboxes near Ponte Dirillo, these brave soldiers gave forth heroic effort, forming small groups to wreak havoc on the German and Italian forces, losing 39 men during the heavy nighttime fighting, but ultimately causing the enemy to retreat.
Survivors of the battle recounted how the men were led into action by Lt. Col. Arthur Gorham, amidst the German pillboxes and infantry. As the morning of July 11 approached, Gorham’s forces were surrounded by ten Tiger tanks and additional German infantry. As the assault intensified, Gorham bolstered up his men to keep the fight going. Gorham later fell in battle while leading his men against another German tank, however inspired his indomitable spirit, the remnants of his division fought on. For his valiant efforts, Gorham was posthumously awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, the United States’ second highest award for bravery.
The Master of Ceremonies, Lt. Ronald R. Fall, spoke about the importance of both Operation Husky and the battle at Ponte Dirillo.
“Operation Husky was the largest amphibious operation of World War II in terms of the size of the landing zone and number of divisions put ashore on that first day of the invasion of Sicily. Its significance in relieving the pressure of forces on the Western Front by German soldiers cannot be overlooked.”
Today there is a memorial plaque at the site of the Ponte Dirillo battle listing the 39 service members who gave their lives that day. The plaque and the site are maintained by Cristoforo Ventura, who was a child during Operation Husky.
Retired U.S. Army Col. Bruce G. Clarke, the son of Lt. Col. Arthur Gorham, spoke about his father’s life and sacrifice during the ceremony.
“I speak to you not only as a former warrior myself, but as the son of a true warrior. My father gave his life while leading his paratroopers against a determined foe at the beginning of the effort to rid Italy and Europe of the scourge of Fascism's two evil dictatorships.”
“In this climate, it seems like we need to be reminded of what Winston Churchill said in 1940 before the United States entered World War II: "Victory at all cost. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory no matter how long and how hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”
After Clarke’s remarks, Lt. Col. Kurt Cyr of the 173rd Airborne read aloud the names of the fallen soldiers until all 39 were accounted for. This Last Roll Call is a long held tradition to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and sailors by their comrades and those that serve after them.
The ceremony concluded with the laying of the memorial wreaths at the base of the plaque as Taps was played.
Franchetti, Cordero, and Messinese all gave Ventura plaques to recognize his dedication to maintaining the Ponte Dirillo site and memorial museum attached to his house, ensuring that local residents and visitors alike will never forget the importance of the battle and liberation of the Sicilian people during Operation Husky.
The commemoration continued later in the day at the Gela cemetery. The Mayor of Gela, Domenico Messinese, remarked on the nature of war, "The blood of the thousands of human beings that was shed in those days in Gela has taught us a lesson: in war there are no winners or losers. War’s brutality still does not seem to educate the powerful of the earth and convince them of its uselessness; convince them of the fact that everyone is a victim of the war."
Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti spoke about the partnerships formed following the war.
“Today, Italy and the U.S., along with our NATO allies and partners, remain committed to the stability, security, and economic prosperity of Europe. It is through the strength of our alliances and partnerships that we are able to use our collective power for peace.”
As a last tribute to the lives of those sacrificed on that fateful day in 1943, Commander, Task Force 67 conducted a flyover of one of their P-8A aircraft to end the day’s events.
Although this year marks a milestone anniversary of Operation Husky, ceremonies at Ponte Dirillo and Gela have been organized every year since 2006 in coordination with the Kiwanis Club. This year, Kiwanis Club President Maurizio Gallenti and Dr. Giuseppe Abbate, the primary Kiwanis organizer for the annual ceremonies, conducted a wreath laying ceremony on July 9 at the Gela seafront memorial.
NCTS Sicily reports to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, the Navy component command to U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command, to provide secure and reliable telecommunications in EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM theaters of operation. The command represents a long history of superior command and control to a vital region of the world.
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2018 19:37 |
| Story ID: | 286146 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ponte Dirillo and Operation Husky, 75 Years Later, by PO1 Benjamin Larkin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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