Pvt. Jimmie S. Hill
United States Army Coy L. 142nd Infantry Regiment
from:Grenada, Mississippi
Private Jimmie S. Hill, Jr was my uncle. He served in the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Texas Infantry Division, 5th US Army. He was in the 3rd Platoon of Company L. He landed on Salerno beach on September 9, 1943. He landed in the first wave on Red Beach on the extreme left of assault.
After securing their landing site, his platoon was directed to proceed to the Sele River to secure the bridge. The squad proceeded towards the bridge. Since they were lightly armed, they had to take cover as German tanks drove down the road. When they were within 200 yards of the bridge, their group held up. PFC Orby Ledbetter and one other soldier was sent to scout out the bridge. The Germans had machine guns around the bridge. Further up the road was a tank battalion hidden under a group of 40-foot high trees. Beyond the Sele River was another battalion of tank and half-tracks. Before they could report back to their lieutenant, a column of 17 tanks and 32 half-tracks over-ran them and their company. They were taken captive about 7:00pm.
After spending the night in the area, they were trucked to Naples and put on a train. They were carried to Northern Italy without any stops or any food. Once they stopped, the Germans gave them some food and Pvt Jimmie Hill ate some apples that made him sick. Upon arrival at Stalag IIB, Pvt. Hill was placed in the infirmary. When he recovered, he discovered that the rest of his platoon was moved to another POW Camp but Pvt. Hill remained at Stalag IIb.
In 1945, when the Germans moved them on the Death March, Pvt. Hill managed to jump off the trail and hide in the shadows. He was rescued by some local Poles. He survived the war and returned home. He eventually married and had 7 children.
