THE BIG RED ONE TO THE B-29 by Robert N. Colombo (Colombia)
A new book —
The Big Red One To The B – 29 Men And Women From The Fillmore Central School District, Allegany County, New York, In World War Ii: Pearl Harbor North America North Africa Pacific Islands Europe – Asia
by Robert N. Colombo (Colombia 1963-65)
Bowker Publisher
August 2024
462 pages
$25.00 (Hardback)
Fillmore Centeral School Distrrict residents participated in virtually every major invasion of World War II. They were with Big Red One (1st Infantry Division) in North Africa and Sicily. Marlie Hodnett of Fillmore was one of the first (if not the first) men ashore in the Sicily invasion at Gela. They were in the invasions of mainland Italy and Southern France. The FCSD was well represented at Normandy, on land, sea and in the air, including the first waves at deadly Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. David Hambling identified 20 battles which he considered the 20 most important battles of World War II. Of the 20, 4 were fought prior to US entry into the war. Four others were fought between Germany and Russia. Of the remaining 12 battles, individuals from the FCSD area participated in 11.
. . .
John,
This is an important book on how small town America actively participated in many of the major battles of WW II. Its author, Robert Colombo, painstakingly spent some 50 years tracing down every one of its residents from Fillmore, New York, that served in that war–some 375 of them.
Bob, glad to see your still at it, making history personal. Always appreciated your passion for telling stories about what you have learned and experienced. Miss our Colombia Peace Corps talks and seeing you at DC events. Best wishes, Sam Farr (Colombia 64-66).
LIFE IS GOOD WHEN ON A SATURDAY NIGHT IN ATLANTIC BEACH FLORIDA I SEE THE NAMES OF JERRY NORRIS, BOB COLOMBO AND SAM FARR ON THE SAME PAGE.