Purchased by the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College on August 12, 2020 from Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

Good Samaritan G. I.: Hershel Newlly of Willard, Tennessee may be tough enough when it comes to fighting Germans, but his soft heart asserts itself here. He distributes food left over from an Army meal to Italian civilians in the Cassino area. American soldiers have won many new friends by their generosity in sharing their rations with hungry Italians.

The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the Allies against the Winter Line in Italy held by Axis forces during the Italian Campaign of World War II. The intention was a breakthrough to Rome. Between January 17 and May 18, 1943, Monte Cassino and the Gustav defenses were assaulted four times by Allied troops. Following an Allied victory on May 18, the German Senger Line collapsed on May 25. The German defenders were finally driven from their positions, but at a high cost. The capture of Monte Cassino resulted in 55,000 Allied casualties. German losses were far lower, estimated at around 20,000 killed and wounded.

Ferrotyped prints are processed in such a way that they are shiny. The print has a sensitive surface, usually thinner, because it was put through a press while still wet.

On recto: Label in bottom right corner, "DISPATCH / PHOTO NEWS / SERVICE / INC. / NEW YORK".

On verso: Typewritten label attached in center, "GOOD SAMARITAN IN G. I. / Hershel Nelly, of Willard, Tenn., may be tough enough when it comes to fighting / Germans, but his soft heart asserts itself here. He is shown distributing food left over / from an army meal to Italian civilians in the Cassino area. American soldiers have won / many new friends by their generosity in sharing their rations with hungry Italians. / Produced Exclusively by Dispatch Photo News Service, New York City". Handwritten in graphite in top left corner, "DP-WW2-077".

Ferrotyped prints have a sensitive surface, usually shiny and thinner, because they are put through a press while still wet. Ferrotyping makes the surface of the photograph smoother. Light does not scatter as much on a smoother surface, so this increases contrast. That makes ferrotyped images better for press photography.

This object has the following keywords:

• Battle of Monte Cassino
• Cassino
• Civilians
• European Theater
• Food
• Food aid
• Friendship
• Germany
• Hershel Newlly
• Hershel Newlly
• Italian Campaign
• Starvation
• United States Army
• United States Army
• Willard
• Winter Line
• World War II

This object is a member of the following portfolios: