North Capitol in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Courage

Striking Fortress Europe

— June 1943 —

Courage Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 11, 2022

1. Courage Marker

Inscription. Unable to develop forces strong enough to assault Hitler's "Fortress Europe” before the summer of 1944, the Allies attacked Sicily and Italy from North Africa in 1943 and struck at Germany through strategic bombing. Beginning in the fall of 1942, US B-17s and B-24s flew daylight raids against German military and industrial targets while the British bombed at night. On a given day in December 1944, the Eighth Air Force sent 726 fighters to escort 1400 heavy bombers, dropping 3,500 tons of bombs. Often casualties were heavy. During the war in Europe and the Mediterranean, the Army's Strategic and Tactical Air Forces losses were 42,000 killed and missing, 14,000 wounded, and over 33,000 who became prisoners of war. Almost 600,000 German civilians died during the air raids. Britain, which had been attacked throughout the war by Nazi bombers and rockets, lost over 60,000 civilians.

In late 1943, American and British forces seized Sicily and invaded Italy. The 300th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, comprised mostly of Vanderbilt University medical personnel, was part of the Allied force. Staffed by 200 Vanderbilt doctors, nurses,

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and members of the Red Cross, the 300th cared for 3,000 patients per month during offensives at Anzio, Monte Cassino, and Rome. At home, Thayer Army Hospital in Nashville and Kennedy Army Hospital in Memphis treated wounded veterans.

When General Dwight Eisenhower was appointed to command all Allied forces in Europe, Nashville native Lieutenant General Frank Andrews succeeded him as commander of US forces. Two months later in May 1943, he was killed in the crash of a B-24 in Iceland. Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., is named in his honor.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1943.

Location. 36° 10.318′ N, 86° 47.313′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in North Capitol. It can be reached from 6th Avenue North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1049 6th Ave N, Nashville TN 37219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 11, 2022

2. Courage Marker

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Conviction (here, next to this marker); Terror (here, next to this marker); Triumph (here, next to this marker); Gratitude (here, next to this marker); Tennessee World War II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Valor (a few steps from this marker); Resolve (a few steps from this marker); Fortitude (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 11, 2022

3. Courage Marker

Photographed by Kayla Harper, July 12, 2026

4. Courage Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 11, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2. submitted on September 24, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on November 11, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 4. submitted on July 28, 2026, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.