Memorial Day, 1945

Memorial Day, 1945: A Commander Apologizes to the Dead  "One of the most unusual Memorial Day commemorations occurred in Nettuno, Italy, on May 30, 1945. Lt. General Lucian Truscott was dedicating the American cemetery where thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in  Italy were buried.
"About 3,000 of those American lives were lost during the battle of Anzio. Truscott commanded the 3rd Infantry Division at the time — the spearhead of the attack. The plan called for a combined British-American landing in January, 1944 at Anzio-Nettuno and a breakout from the beaches into the hills beyond where the allies would be able to cut off the German retreat from the Gustav line further south and eventually flank the German Winter Line.
"There were questions about the landings from the start, especially from Truscott who believed that unless the allies were to move quickly, they’d be cut to pieces by German defenders ringing the hills surrounding the beaches." . . .

http://randallhmiller.com/going-to-war-with-ernest-n-harmon-ii-of-iii/

Memorial Day, 1945; Holland 

The soldiers buried at Margraten died in battles from the D-Day landings in Normandy to VE-Day (Victory in Europe Day) in May 1945.
"Forty-eight of the 61 U.S. divisions that fought in Europe are represented at Margraten, including 3 Airborne, 9 Armor and 36 Infantry. The 29th, 84th and 102nd Infantry Divisions have the largest number of men interred at the cemetery, reflecting their prominent role in the fighting in 1944 and 1945. There are six Medal of Honor recipients buried at the cemetery. Four women are buried at Margraten, including two U.S. Army Nurse Corps Lieutenants and two female civilians, killed near the frontlines. There are 40 sets of brothers lying side-by-side in the burial plots, as well as twin brothers, one buried and the name of the other inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing, and there are the graves of 106 unknown soldiers. Their markers are inscribed with the words "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD."

 A soldier's letter home on Memorial Day 1945  "For Amarillo Globe-News; Editor’s note: "

The following letter was written on Memorial Day 1945 by 19-year-old Howard Temple, a soldier stationed with U.S. troops in Germany in the waning days of World War II, to his parents and sisters back home in Axtell, Kan.
Memorial Day 1945 was somber for most Americans, who were still grieving the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt a month earlier. The war in Europe was over, but there was heavy fighting against Japan on the Pacific front.
The letter was submitted by Howard’s wife, Marlene Temple of Amarillo.

 "Dear Folks, . . .Full letter here.