| Original caption: “Plenty to eat – even if it comes in tin cans – adds to the jovial mood of these three Yanks as they wait for action on Anzio beachhead. In the foxhole left to right: Sergeants Edward Szlhaj and William Walker and Private Nolif Johnson.” 3 soldiers from 1st Special Service Force (FSSF), a joint American-Canadian early special operations unit, are dug in at the side of a road on the right flank of the Anzio-Nettuno beachhead in Italy. Left to right: Corporal Edward Czekaj (November 30, 1919 – June 21, 2001), Buffalo, New York; Staff Sergeant William B. Walter (September 21, 1919 – March 12, 1985); United States Army Private 1st Class Nallis Johnson (March 26, 1914 – March 8, 1972), Phoenix. They have a M1919 Browning 30 caliber (7.62 millimeter) machine gun set up, and they are organizing their canned rations. This is 1 of a series of photographs of foxholes along the Anzio-Nettuno front line that appeared in American newspapers at the end of February 1944. Czekaj and Johnson served with the 3rd Company, 1st Regiment; Walter served with 1st Company, 1st Regiment. Having completed grammar school, Czekaj enlisted on January 6, 1941. Czekaj came to FSSF from Battery A, 209th Coast Artillery, which he joined on February 10, 1941. He was honorably discharged on September 14, 1945. Czekaj was wounded in combat, and was afforded accommodations when he returned to Buffalo to work for the Fire Department, where he was employed for 30 years. He was awarded the Bronze Medal. Walter joined the United States Army on November 18, 1940, after 3 years at El Paso High School. He came to FSSF from the National Guard. He was discharged from the Army on February 26, 1948. A Pima Native American, Johnson enlisted on December 17, 1942, after 1 year of high school. He came to FSSF from G Company, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Johnson struggled with alcoholism and life on the Pima Salt River Reservation, where economic opportunities were limited. He was repeatedly fined for drunk driving after the war. In July 2013, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded, collectively, to FSSF, in recognition of its superior service during World War II. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0652.jpg |
| Image Size | 598.67 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1884 x 1566 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 20, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Anzio |
| State or Province | Lazio |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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