Operation Shingle, the U.S. effort to flank the dug-in German forces in Central Italy, was still in its early stages as February 1944 began. But already things were going poorly on ground and at sea. U.S. ships resupplying the ground forces off the coast of Anzio were coming under heavy German fire. Not all of them survived the onslaught. The SS Elihu Yale, a liberty ship built for cargo transport and operated by the U.S. Merchant Marines, was among the ships along the Anzio beach that came under attack by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).
Fredrick Robinson, Jr. of Martinsville, IN, was on board the ship.
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About Ronald P. May
About Ronald P. MayAuthor, Historian, Public Speaker, and Preserver of Life Stories
Ron holds a Masters’ Degree in World War II Studies from Arizona State University. He is the author of four published books: three of them feature stories of World War II veterans and his most recent book highlights World War II Landmarks in Indiana.
Ron May is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania and lives in Westfield, Indiana with his wife, Glenda. He was a Lutheran Pastor for 25 years and a Navy Reserve Chaplain for 22 of those years. Ron currently serves as the Chaplain at Hoosier Village Retirement Center Community in Zionsville, Indiana. He is also a personal historian specializing in helping veterans preserve their military service stories. Ron does public speaking engagements focused on World War II history and veteran stories. He also portrays himself as America’s most beloved war correspondent, Indiana native Ernie Pyle, reflecting on his wartime experiences through a dramatic first-person presentation.