The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 72, July 1968 - April, 1969 Page: 42
498 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
added to our troubles. A misty rain fell almost continuously. The
nights were cold and the days were not much better. The mud got
deeper and deeper. The men were soaked and their uniforms were
plastered with mud up to their waists. Those on the front lines who
were doing the actual fighting suffered from the cold and had no
opportunity to dry their wet clothing or have hot food. Trucks and
jeeps mired down on stretches of bad roads. Beyond the limit of
vehicular travel all front-line battalions had to be supplied initially
by men who carried up the sides of mountains, through mud and
rain, what was needed. Later we were able to use pack animals.
In spite of all the discomforts and hardships, the morale of the
Division was excellent. No American troops have had to fight under
more difficult conditions. The Division took all these hardships in
stride while the fighting went on day after day. Progress was slow until
Lieutenant Colonel Sam Graham and the men of his battalion carried
out their attack on Mt. Lungo with skill and speed. They advanced
across a valley before daylight, struck the German positions on the
flank at dawn as a complete surprise, and had possession of the moun-
tain before noon. The attack was carried out exactly as I had planned
it, and it broke the German defense.
During this same period, the ancient town of San Pietro was de-
stroyed by American artillery, which for about a month daily fired
heavy concentrations in an effort to dislodge the Germans who had
driven out the civilians and fortified the town. Still in ruins, San
Pietro stands today as a reminder of the destruction and inhumanity
of war.
As I went from place to place within the Division area and observed
the cheerfulness of the men under continuous hardship of weather
and battle, I formed a great admiration for them as soldiers. The
trying conditions, the difficult fighting for a little over a month, the
repulses, and the final success brought out the best in the Division.
It was on the "Winter Line" that the Division was molded into a
superior fighting force.
It was a tragedy that this fine Division had to be wrecked later in
an attempt to do the impossible. It was ordered to cross the Rapido
River directly in front of the strongest German positions under con-
ditions that violated sound tactical principles. The German observers
were on high ground from which they looked down on every foot of
area occupied by the Division. The swift, cold, unfordable river was
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 72, July 1968 - April, 1969, periodical, 1969; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117146/m1/58/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.