Following in My Grandpa’s Footsteps: Planning a Journey Through WWII Italy

Some journeys start long before you pack your bags.

I’m at the very beginning of one that feels both deeply personal and historically important. For the past few years, I’ve been immersed in the story of my grandfather, Sergeant Jack Anderson, whose World War II diary I published in A Soldier’s Song: The World War II Diary of Sergeant Jack Anderson. His words captured the experiences of the 451st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion as they moved with the U.S. 5th Army through Salerno, Naples, Monte Cassino, the Anzio beachhead, and finally into Rome.

Now, I feel called to follow his path…literally.

Today feels like the perfect moment to share this, because it would have been my grandpa’s 104th birthday. On September 16, I can’t think of a better way to honor him than by taking the first steps toward a journey that will bring his story to life, not just for me, but for my parents, my children, and anyone who reads his words.

I’ve begun exploring the idea of a trip to Italy to retrace Jack’s steps, from the beaches where he landed to the battlefields where he stood guard through long nights under fire. My hope is to either build a custom itinerary, working with experts like Dr. Danila Bracaglia, or follow one of the major WWII tours, such as those offered by the National WWII Museum. Either way, the goal is the same: to experience the history my grandfather lived through and deepen our family’s connection to it.

This isn’t just a vacation, it’s an opportunity to connect our family to a chapter of history that shaped who we are.

I don’t know exactly where this journey will take us yet, logistically or emotionally, but that’s the beauty of learning in the flow of life. The process of researching, planning, and imagining this trip is already teaching me something: history is not just something we read about, it’s something we can walk through, feel, and pass down.

I’ll share more as this plan develops; the questions we face, the choices we make, and ultimately, what it feels like to stand where my grandfather once stood more than 80 years ago.

Have you ever traced a family member’s journey through history? If so, I’d love to hear what it meant to you.

Learn In The Flow Of Life

Jason