William J. Milhomme, WWII Veteran Day Memorial 2026

William Joseph Milhomme enlisted in the US Army on April 1, 1943. His enlistment was “for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.” His registration recorded that he had completed one year of high school and his civil occupation was listed as “North Woodsman or Guide, Hunting And Fishing.” His stature was listed at 5’6” and weighed 100lbs. 

Dad was assigned to the Fifth U.S. Army, IV Corps, 85th division, 338th regiment and company B. The 85th is also known as the "Custer" division. He trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and embarked for North Africa 12/25/43 aboard the USS General W.A. Mann. After the war he returned to the US on the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain.

He arrived at Casablanca, Morocco on 1/2/44 and received amphibious training at Port aux Poules near Arzew and Oran, Algeria from 2/1/44 - 3/23/44. He landed in Italy at Naples somewhere between 3/28/44 and 4/10/44. There they faced the Gustav Line and held defensive positions for a month.

On 5/11/44 launched their attack taking Solacciano, Castellonorato and Formia. Terracian was taken and they participated in opening the Anzio beachhead. They then took Monte Compatri and Frascati and then onto Rome on 6/5/44. Viterbo was next and then had a few days of Rest and Relaxation. Then they took over the defense of the Arno River from 8/15/44 - 8/26/44. The division attacked the mountain defenses of the Gothic Line on 9/13/44 and broke through taking Firenzuola on the 9/21/44.

The 85th advanced slowly through mud and rain against heavy resistance taking La Martina and gaining the Idice River Valley on 10/2/44.Reached Mount Mezzano on 9/24/44 overlooking the Po River Valley. From 10/27/44 to 11/22/44 they held defensive position near Pizzano. Nothing much happened during 12/44 - 2/45 because the winter was brutal in the mountains.

On 4/14/45 they fought southwest of Bologna pushing through Lucca and Pistoria into the Po Valley as the German resistance collapsed. The Panaro River was crossed and the Po River the next day. The 85th mopped up fleeing Germans until their mass surrender on 5/2/45 in the Belluno Agordo area. So basically Dad walked from Naples all the way to the Northeast area of Italy into the Alps.