World War II Honoree

Carl Alvin Coulson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Salem, Oregon

Honored By

Carl Coulson

Relationship

Self

SERVED IN THE 7TH INFANTRY AND 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS LANDING ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942, THE BATTLE OF FEDELA-CASABLANCA IN NORTH AFRICA IN APRIL 1943 AND THE TUNISIA-EAST-ALGERIA, MOP-UP. TOOK PART IN TRANSPORTING PRISONERS BEING SHIPPED TO ENGLAND. 10 JULY 1943 - INVASION OF SICILY, LANDING AT LICATA ON 9 SEPT. 1943. LANDED AT SALERNO BEHIND 36TH DIVISION AND WITH 30TH REGIMENT ASSAULTED TOWARD ACERNA DRIVING OUT THE GERMANS AFTER A STALEMATE LASTING ABOUT A WEEK. THE NEXT TOWN TO FALL IN THE ASSAULT UP THE 'BOOT' WAS AVELLINO AND THEN CASERTA. RESISTANCE STIFFENED AFTER THE GERMANS HAD WITHDRAWN BEYOND THE VOLTURNO RIVER. BOTH BRIDGES WERE DEMOLISHED SO THE ASSAULT CROSSING WAS AMPHIBIOUS. BEYOND THE VOLTURNO, ABOUT TWENTY MILES NORTH, THE PACE SLOWED AND IT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE FROM THEN ON. THE 7TH REGIMENT ASSAULTED MOUNT MONACO ON OCT. 25, 1943. TO THE NORTH, WAS THE MIGNANO GAP. WE HELD OUR GROUND UNTIL RELEAVED BY 36 DIVISION ON NOVEMBER 15, 1943.