Germans outflanked at San Fratello

8th August 1943: Accounts from Omar Bradley and Audie Murphy of how a difficult German position in the Sicilian mountains is outflanked

Audie Murphy would later re-create his time in the infantry in the film “To Hell and Back’.

As the US 3rd Infantry Division pushed its way along the north coast of Sicily one man was beginning to emerge as a natural soldier. Audie Murphy¹ had been nicknamed ‘Baby’ during training on account of his youthful looks and slight build. But soon after the landings in Sicily, his first time in action, Murphy had shot and killed two Italian officers who had attempted to escape on horseback. The action shocked his lieutenant - who then grudgingly admitted he had ‘done the right thing’.

On our approach to the stream, we are caught in a concentra­tion of artillery and mortar fire. The earth shudders; and the screaming of shells intermingles with the screaming of men.

Murphy was promoted to Corporal but was out of the line for a week as he recovered from Malaria, a condition that was beginning to affect many US troops.