1st United States Naval Beach Battalion

We first published this site on March 9, 2001 by sharing the personal memories and images of my Dad, Robert B. White. Included is a history written by W.J. "Bud" Vey who has since passed away. Over the years, we added information about the annual reunions and other items shared with us. Dad passed away in January of 2011, and I'm afraid I've lost touch with any of the surviving members of the First Beach Battalion.

If you have information you can share, please drop me a line at tim@timwhite.com and I'll try to incorporate your information into the site. I would love to incorporate any photos you may have to share as well.

Robert B. White, Radioman 2nd Class (RM2C), serial number 647 25 50, Company B, Platoon 5, Wave 4, invaded the beach at Salerno, Italy on September 9, 1943, disembarking from LCT 209 approximately 50 minutes after the first wave attacked. The 1st US Naval Beach Battalion was attached to the US 5th Army and fought alongside the British X Corps.

Some of the tasks of the 1st Naval Beach Battalion were to:

• Remove beach obstacles
• Guide incoming and outgoing beach craft
  
• Establish communications, primarily shore-to-ship communications (Dad's job as a Radioman)
• Setup field hospitals & aid stations
• Small boat repairs (as best they could, so the boats could get out of the way)
• Help to evacuate casulaties

It's my hope that this site will become a worthy historical reference for anyone who's interested.

-Robert B. White, Radioman 2nd Class
-Tim White
-Last Updated 10/13/2024