tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post882455045472598027..comments2023-07-04T10:09:25.824-07:00Comments on The World War II Letters of William Wellington Taylor, Jr.: Letter 96- May 1, 1944Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-26180070076098058272009-08-03T16:00:07.848-07:002009-08-03T16:00:07.848-07:00I'm currently reading Steven Ambrose's boo...I'm currently reading Steven Ambrose's book "Citizen Soldiers". Aside from the heroics of the ordinary American soldier what strikes me most is the overwhelming advantage the U.S. military had in terms of weapons,airpower, equipment,fuel and supporting materials. I actually feel sorry for the German soldier who had to endure a P-47 Jabo bombing run or concentrated American artillery attack with unlimited shells.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-22629368573599161072009-08-02T18:46:50.928-07:002009-08-02T18:46:50.928-07:00The British had their own agenda for the Med strat...The British had their own agenda for the Med strategy. They wanted to secure the sea route to the Far East, they had political designs on the region, as well as satisfying Stalin's demands for a Second Front. The U.S. generals wanted to go right into France, but luckily were ordered to do otherwise. <br /><br />Kasserine Pass was definitely the nadir of the U.S. fortunes in Africa, but the rest of the operation was fraught with problems starting with the landings. The allies had much to learn about putting an army ashore and supporting it. It took the landings at Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio to get up to speed for Normandy. <br /><br />I suppose everyone was a strategist in those days looking at the maps printed in the papers and writing to the president and the War Department. The fact remains that U.S. military might didn't really come online until '44 and would continue to climb through '45.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885277626153324891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-43561628827512668652009-08-02T15:16:17.081-07:002009-08-02T15:16:17.081-07:00David,
As I understand it, Churchill was adamant a...David,<br />As I understand it, Churchill was adamant about opening up a second front in the Mediterranean. The Allies were under tremendous pressure from Stalin to open up a second front thereby drawing German forces from the Eastern Front and reducing pressure on the Soviet Army. In retrospect, after the abysmal performance by the U.S. Army at Kasserine Pass it is clear we were nowhere ready to even consider an invasion of Western Europe in 1942.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-6016478366638497392009-08-02T14:49:17.806-07:002009-08-02T14:49:17.806-07:00Griff,
I don't know about the lawsuit and I do...Griff,<br />I don't know about the lawsuit and I don't recall seeing references to it in any other letter.<br /><br />I don't have any period photos of Bill's parents, but I do have some taken in the early 1920's, around the time they were married. How about a post entitled "About Bill's Parents"? I can put up a brief bio of them. This seems appropriate as the letters are all addressed to them.Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409962933357676885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-49972900792104528122009-08-02T14:22:17.110-07:002009-08-02T14:22:17.110-07:00Bill is like everyone else, looking ahead to the i...Bill is like everyone else, looking ahead to the invasion of Europe. U.S. leaders wanted to invade Europe in 1942, but were persuaded by the British to attack North Africa, then Sicily and Italy first. In hindsight the Mediterranean strategy was a better move since the Allies did not have the material or human resources to sustain an invasion of Europe in 1942 as demonstrated by the abysmal performance of U.S. forces in Africa. <br /><br />By 1944, everyone, the Germans included, knew that the invasion would come to northern France in the spring. The date and exact location were kept secret, even from the troops until the last minute. <br /><br />After D-Day, the war would shift into high gear consuming lives in unprecedented numbers until May 1945.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885277626153324891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889963722674899878.post-65332054978069860492009-08-02T13:38:48.569-07:002009-08-02T13:38:48.569-07:00Do you know what the lawsuit is about? Maybe I mi...Do you know what the lawsuit is about? Maybe I missed an earlier reference to it. I fell behind a little on Bill's letters but am caught up now. Say, as I read through the letters, I can't help thinking about what Bill's parents looked like. Do you have a photo of them in 1944 you could post up with the letters?Ward Clarke Griffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06010828665483669226noreply@blogger.com