General Mark Clark

For almost an entire year, the American forces in the Pacific took the lion's share of equipment and men that America was trickling out of her factories and training camps. The goal of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and United States Army General George C.

The invasion of Sicily was the preliminary step in the invasion of the Italian mainland. The Allies hoped to knock Italy out of the war.

The Allies were flushed with excitement over the possibility of the Italians surrendering. The 82nd Airborne Division prepared for a drop on Rome and Allied planners thought the Italian Campaign would be over in a matter of weeks.