PFC Hadley Coolong, G/143rd/36th

Hi All--

I just started another project-- researching my great uncle, Hadley Coolong (ASN 31-318-477), who was in G Company of the 143rd/36th Infantry Division. He was SWA on Jan 22, 1944 in what I assume was the horribly costly Rapido River crossing.

Does anyone know where I can find AARs, morning reports, etc. for G/143rd, for that time period?

I have his OMPF (what there is of it) that I got from NARA--doesn't have a ton but it did get me this far.

Any good unit histories online/books to read/etc? I am pretty new to both the 36th ID and the history of the Italian campaign in general--my reading interests have usually been slanted towards other campaigns or the air war. Always fun learning something new!

Thanks in advance as usual.

Adam

 

Hi Adam,

Can't help with documents but here's a good online source for the 143rd/36th-link will take you to the Italian Campaign segment for the 143rd: 143rd Infantry Regiment - Invasion of Italy
At the bottom of the page, you can "back up" to the main page (click 36th Division Contents) for the 36th which looks to have a decent amount of info.

There are numerous hits on a websearch for the unit, give that a try also.

Good luck with your search.

 

Hey, Adam. You may want to check out this forum thread on the Texas Military Forces Museum website: After Action Report, 143rd Infantry Regiment

 

On a more general note, I just read Fifth Army at the Winter Line not too long ago. You can download the PDF at the previous link. It ends just before the Rapido crossing. There's also Salerno to Cassino which includes the Rapido business. If you'd rather not download it, you can also read it at HyperWar.

The WW2F thread US 34th and 36th Infantry Divisions at Cassino has some great maps, if you're into that sort of thing.

 

Perfect, this is just the sort of thing I am looking for--thanks guys!

 

adamboy,

Good to hear from another 36th ID fan. Our uncles fought in the same division ! My uncle was a member of the 141st, Cannon Company.

I see you've been to the 36th website, it's an excellent one. Be sure to post questions to Lisa, the administrator. She is very active in family searches.

The Rapido River crossing was one of the biggest fiasco of WW 2. I'm sorry to say our uncles suffered under the poor direction of General Clark and General Keys, but were lead into battle by the leadership of General Fred Walker. Make no mistake, Walker was an excellent General and knew the crossing was a no win situation. He then was hung out to dry by those 2 !

Do you have any first hand accounts from your brave uncle ? He was one of the few to make it back across....

 

Those researching the 36th ID might be interested in reading Conclusions Based on the "Avalanche" Operation, a blow-by-blow post mortem of the Salerno landings prepared for Gen Clark:

Conclusions based on the "Avalanche" operation. :: World War II Operational Documents

Richard

 

Adam, If you don't already have it, the Fifth Army History, Part IV, has a chapter on the Rapido crossing:

Fifth Army history. Part IV, Cassino and Anzio. :: World War II Operational Documents

Richard

 

I really wish I did, Steve! I didn't know him well, and he didn't talk much about his experiences. All I do know is that he carried a plate in his head and shoulder for the remainder of his life! I can't even imagine what those poor guys went through. Reading about the Rapido River fiasco (completely the right word, btw) is just jaw-dropping. It's as though the commanders wanted to see how completely $&#*ed-up an operation they could muster. What a complete waste of good men.

That was the end of my great uncle's war. He spent the rest of his time in the army in hospitals and was discharged in November of 1944.

I look forward to learning more about the sacrifices of the 36th ID, but it sure is a bittersweet experience!

 

adambhoy...

Good to see you made it to the 36th site, I knew Lisa and others would be helpful. You really have to read the book "A River Swift and Deadly". Good to hear your uncle is mentioned in this book. In my book he's a true hero !

 

I just saw that, yes!! AMAZING! I had no idea--he is definitely a hero in my book as well! Gonna be looking for "A River Swift and Deadly" right away!

 

Okay...

SO, no copy through my local library system (which is a pretty impressive organization), and copies on Amazon are going for $100? What gives? Anyone have a way to get a copy, for, you know, normal book prices?

 

Request an inter library loan. That's how I got a copy of "From Texas To Rome", by General Fred Walker of the 36th.
Another book I highly recommend.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm going to have to do. I am still waiting for some newspaper microfilm for my other project, and have been for several weeks. That part is no fun, but I do know the ILL system eventually gets you what you want and need.

 

Abebooks shows copies as cheap as $30 if you want to buy.

a river swift and deadly - AbeBooks

 

Thanks Natman--I may look into that; I'd like a nice copy to give to my dad.

I did order a library copy through Inter Library Loan, so I'll see what the context of the mention of my uncle is and then go from there.

Cheers!

 

Lou.

Not all commanders were inept: just some and this was limited to the First, Second and Third Battles. The Fourth Battle was a brilliant success - the US/French breakthrough beyond Minturno and the British/Polish/Canadian breakthrough in the Liri valley.

There were some very competent commanders during the first three battles at Cassino: Tuker, Walker, Juin, Kippenburger and Ryder. The tricky bit was that the two Corps Comds: Keyes and Freyberg, and Clark as Fifth Army Comd, were not up to much.

Regards

FdeP