WW II-3rd Infantry in Italy TB

This travel bug has two modest goals, to survive more than five years and to be moved by 25 cachers.  As of 30-Oct-17 it had been circulating for only 3.6  years, but it had been moved by 37 cachers.

Please drop this item in rural OR Premium Member Only caches.  Do not place it in an urban cache or abandon it at a caching event.  Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and prevents tangling with other items.  Otherwise, take the travel bug anywhere you wish.  No permission is needed to leave the U.S.

Travel bug photos in the logs are appreciated.  I will re-post them here, where they can be seen by other cachers.

Replica Shoulder Patch. This travel bug is one of several made to recognize the US Army Divisions that fought in Sicily and mainland Italy in World War II.  In the Spring of 2014 the travel bug owner activated, dipped, then, in March and April, took the travel bugs to caches in Italy. Some of the bugs were released in Italy and some were brought back to the states to be put into circulation.

The 3rd Infantry Division (nicknamed the 2]) is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.   The division fought in France in World War I where it acquired the nickname "Rock of the Marne."   In World War II, it landed with Gen. Patton's task force in a contested amphibious landing on the coast of Morocco, overwhelming Vichy French defenders in November 1942.  North Africa. In 1943, the division invaded Sicily in July, and invaded Italy at Salerno in September, before fighting in France and finally Germany.   The division suffered the highest casualty rate of any American Division in World War II.  

The division first saw action as a part of the invasion of North African, landing at Fedala in November 1942.  It captured half of French Morocco.  On 10 July 1943, the division made an assault landing on Sicily at Torre di Gaffi, Mollarella and Falconara.  The 3^rd fought its way into Palermo before the armor could get there, and raced on to capture Messina, ending the Sicilian campaign.  Nine days after the invasion of mainland Italy, the 3rd landed at Salerno and in intensive action drove to and across the Volturno River to Cassino.  After a brief rest, the division was part of the amphibious landing at Anzio.  It would remain there for four months in a toe-hold against furious German counterattacks. On 29 February 1944, the 3rd fought off an attack by three German divisions.  In a single day of combat at Anzio, the Division suffered more than 900 casualties, the most of any U.S. division on one day in World War II.  In late May, VI Corps broke out of the beachhead with the 3rd Division in the main thrust and drove to Rome.   The division was then removed from the front line and went into training for the invasion of Southern France.  Elements of the 7th Infantry Regiment serving under the 3rd Infantry Division had the honor of capturing Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden.