Thomas J. Foley only spent one year
enrolled at Washington College, during the 1934-35 academic year, but as a
Paratrooper during World War II he was part of a legendary infantry whose
ferocity and resiliency would earn them an infamous nickname. Foley left Washington College after his
freshman year in the spring of 1935 for unknown reasons. It is unclear whether he joined the armed
forces through enlistment or the draft but Foley was a member of the 504th
Parachute Infantry stationed out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Eventually reaching the rank of 1st
Lieutenant, Foley was with the 504th as they became the first allied
forces to enter Naples in October of 1943.
In January of 1944 the allies were beginning their assault on Rome but first needed to capture the coastal town of Anzio, 35 miles to the south. In what was known as “Operation Shingle”, the 504th landed on the Anzio beachhead on January 22, 1944.
In January of 1944 the allies were beginning their assault on Rome but first needed to capture the coastal town of Anzio, 35 miles to the south. In what was known as “Operation Shingle”, the 504th landed on the Anzio beachhead on January 22, 1944.
After a successfully landing and
capturing the beach, the 504th was met with heavy German and Italian
resistance as they tried to advance.
Both sides established trench positions and the ensuing bloody standoff
lasted for another 8 weeks. Despite the
appalling trench conditions the 504th stood their ground and did not
surrender the beach. The 504th’s
tenacious and forceful counteracts were noted by a German soldier who described
the unit in his diary:
“American parachutists...devils in baggy pants...are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere...”
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| Allied forces occupy a trench in Anzio similar to what Foley and his company would have experienced. Image credit: Wikipedia |
The 504th adopted the Devils nickname
and continue to use it to this day. Foley
was killed sometime during the period of trench warfare on March 19th, just
four days before the Devils were recalled to Naples following the German and
Italian retreat from Anzio. Foley is
honored along with the other Washington College alumnus who were killed in
action on a memorial in William Smith Hall.
--Joseph Swit
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