Aubrey Engineer Combat Company was in North Africa from Nov 1942 to July 1943. From July 1943 to September 1943, they took part in action in Sicily. They moved next to Paestum to take part in the invasion of Italy. During their service in Anzio, Italy, the unit was subjected to heavy bombardment by the German Air Force. Their mission was to clear and maintain the beach as a port of operation for the Allied Forces. In July, the 540th began support of the 36th Infantry Division for “Operation Anvil”, the invasion of Southern France, scheduled for August 15. The day after the invasion, “YELLOW” beach was designated as a supply and unloading beach. Company “F” was assigned to clear and maintain this beach. After a successful operation, Company “F” moved to St. Raphael, France, to reconstruct the harbor and clear the streets. While working on the street clearance, Company “F” suffered the loss of two enlisted men, one of whom was PFC Aubrey F. Hughes. Two other men later died of their injuries. Twenty-seven men were wounded. The casualties were sustained when “Teller-mines”, deeply embedded in concrete blocks, detonated by a bulldozer in removing the blocks.