American Japs' Fighting Wears Out Commander
By DON WHITEHEAD
Associated Press Foreign Staff

WITH FIFTH-ARMY IN ITALY, Dec. 27.--(Delayed)--The little men from the Hawaiian Islands who have fought in the Italian invasion to prove they are as good Americans as any other Doughboys, have won their place so far as their fellow-fighters are concerned.

From the beaches of Salerno right into the Nazi winter line, these troops of Japanese descent have fought and are now fighting some of the hardest battles of the entire campaign.

Their first commanding officer was Lieut. Col. Farrant Turner, 48 years old, of Honolulu. He led them on the invasion and stayed with them through some of the hardest fighting in Italy. But in the rugged country now embraced by the front a man near his 50s can hardly expect to stand the physical strain of mountain warfare as a field commander.

Reluctantly Turner gave up his command to Maj. James Gillespie of Des Moines, Iowa, one of the most popular officers in his division. But Gillespie suffered an attack of stomach ulcers and, in turn gave over the command to Maj. John A. Johnson, Jr., whose home is at Kanai in the Hawaiian Islands.

Since landing in Italy the unit has won a reputation for its close fighting and on more than one occasion the men have frightened German troops with their wild cries.