NW Kansas News

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and co-chair of the Senate Army Caucus, has introduced a Senate Resolution to designate September 9th as National World War II Italian Campaign Remembrance Day. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).

Speaking on the Senate floor, Moran highlighted the heroism and sacrifice of veterans who served in the Italian Campaign during World War II, including his father, Staff Sergeant Raymond Moran of the 603rd Armament Maintenance Battalion.

“I am introducing a resolution to establish September 9th as the ‘National World War II Italian Campaign Remembrance Day’ to commemorate their valor and ensure their legacy endures for generations to come,” Moran said. “Eighty-two years ago, Allied forces launched Operation Avalanche, marking the start of the liberation of the Italian peninsula from fascist Nazi occupation. This military campaign was a testament to the unyielding resolve of U.S. Forces and the strength of our foreign military alliances, united by a shared commitment to democratic ideals and the fight against fascism.”

Moran noted that only a small fraction of Americans who served in World War II are still alive today. “Today, fewer than half a percent of the more than 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive today,” he said. “The veterans of the Italian Campaign, including my father, Staff Sergeant Raymond Moran of the 603rd Armament Maintenance Battalion, are dwindling in number. My father dedicated two years of his life to the liberation of Italy, repairing rifles and other small arms weapons under the regular threat of attack to make certain U.S. Forces were equipped to win.”

He recognized September 9th as an important date in American history—the beginning of the Italian Campaign in 1943—and emphasized that its success was due to “the courage and sacrifice of hundreds of thousands” from both U.S. and Allied forces.

“The Italian Campaign was not just a series of joint and allied military operations; it was a stand against despotism and a defense of the freedoms we value, an important moment in history,” Moran stated.

He described how fighting occurred across challenging terrain from North Africa through Sicily along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, ultimately leading to Rome’s liberation—the first major European city freed during World War II.

“U.S. Forces, alongside brave and committed global Allied forces from over ten nations, including Italian resistance brigades, faced grueling conditions, fierce combat, and severe materiel constraints. Battles such as Monte Cassino and Anzio stand as two of the most intense of the war, costing countless lives,” he said.

Moran also acknowledged Senator Rick Scott’s father Orba Scott Junior—a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division—who served in this campaign. He expressed gratitude for organizations like Allies Museum for efforts to memorialize those who fought by building a museum in Rome dedicated to what is sometimes called “the forgotten campaign.”

The senator recounted that “the Italian Campaign spanned 602 days, culminating in surrender at Caserta...on April 29, 1945 when nearly one million Axis Troops capitulated—the largest surrender of German forces at that point in the war.” The next day marked Adolf Hitler’s death and collapse of Nazi Germany.

“This resolution acknowledges the tremendous cost...with hundreds of thousands of U.S. and Allied casualties,” many now buried in American cemeteries across Italy.

“Our resolution reaffirms that victory was driven by an unwavering force of will, ironclad military alliances, and enduring power of democratic values...that remain vital in today’s global conflicts today,” Moran concluded.

“I hope my colleagues...will join me in honoring...those who fought and died...to salute surviving veterans...and recognize families who carry forward their legacy.”

“Let us designate September 9th as ‘National World War II Italian Campaign Remembrance Day’ to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten and memorialized on the floor of the U.S. Senate.”