Professional Documents
Culture Documents
WWII 10th Mountain Division
WWII 10th Mountain Division
10th-Mountain - Division
September 1 9 4 5
10th DIVISION BATTLE L O G
First Action — T h e d i v i s i o n first went Benedetto b y the d i v i s i o n , G e r m a n re-
i n t o a c t i o n i n J a n . 1945. P r e v i o u s l y , h o w - sistance increased, but b y the end of
ever, i n 1943, the 87th M o u n t a i n I n - A p r i l the d i v i s i o n h a d reached a n d crossed
f a n t r y R e g i m e n t of the d i v i s i o n h a d been the P o .
ready to p l a y a p r o m i n e n t role i n the
Brenner Pass — T h e 10th t h e n went
l a n d i n g on K i s k a i n the A l e u t i a n s . I t h a d
on to t a k e V e r o n a a n d later Bussolengo.
spearheaded this l a n d i n g , b u t no opposi-
T h e m a i n route to the B r e n n e r Pass,
t i o n developed. T h e r e was p l e n t y of op-
along the east shore of L a k e G a r d a , was
position, however, for the 10th i n I t a l y .
cut b y the 10th on A p r i l 26. T h e d i v i s i o n
D i v i s i o n patrols swooped down on enemy
was fighting against f a n a t i c a l o p p o s i t i o n
outposts, w i p e d t h e m out a n d sped a w a y
d u r i n g the last days of A p r i l . T o r b o l e a n d
N a g o were defended w i t h determination
Mt. Belvedere — I n m i d - F e b r u a r y the
b y the G e r m a n s . B o t h towns were u l -
10th began its effort to dislodge the enemy
t i m a t e l y t a k e n . however, as resistance i n
f r o m M o u n t Belvedere, overlooking H i g h -
n o r t h e r n I t a l y ended on M a y 2.
w a y 65 i n t o B o l o g n a , I t a l y . Belvedere h a d
been t a k e n a n d lost again b y A l l i e d troops
several times. T h e 10th conquered the SERVICEMEN'S
peak a n d several other h i g h peaks nearby COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET
in three days of bitter fighting d u r i n g
w h i c h the enemy h a d the advantage of
entrenchment a n d heights. G e r m a n p r i s o n -
ers t a k e n i n this a c t i o n n u m b e r e d more T h i s Booklet on the return of the 10th
t h a n a thousand. D u r i n g the first few M o u n t a i n from the E u r o p e a n war was pre-
days of M a r c h , 1945, the d i v i s i o n struck pared by the Office of the Governor, as an
addition to their souvenirs and memora-
again a n d took a dozen more peaks i n the
bilia of participation i n the defeat of the
heaviest fighting on E u r o p e ' s most diffi- once great G e r m a n W e h r m a c h t .
cult battleground, a d v a n c i n g to w i t h i n 15 The courtesies and assistance of public
miles of B o l o g n a . relations officers, at the ports and at the
F o r t Devens Reception Station greatly
facilitated the gathering of the material
Apennines — O n A p r i l 14, 1945, the for this booklet. T h e group pictures
10th j u m p e d off to spearhead the F i f t h are from Signal Corps photographs. T h e
factual materials herein were prepared by
A r m y ' s n o r t h e r n A p e n n i n e s offensive, the
the Office of Technical Information,
drive w h i c h was to break the back of A r m y G r o u n d Forces.
G e r m a n resistance i n I t a l y . B y A p r i l 20 A l i m i t e d number of copies are available
units of the d i v i s i o n h a d m o v e d down for distribution to Connecticut men of
the D i v i s i o n . T h e y can be secured b y
f r o m the last m o u n t a i n slopes a n d out
written request to the Office of the G o v e r n -
across the floor of the P o V a l l e y , first A l - or, State C a p i t o l , H a r t f o r d .
l i e d troops into t h a t v i t a l f l a t l a n d from the Reproduction of original material is per-
Apennines. T h e advance t o w a r d the P o missible only with written authorization.
R i v e r was r a p i d . W i t h the t a k i n g of S a n
2
10th DIVISION STORIES
E D I T O R ' S N O T E : Memories of the European experience will blur with the passing of
years. Accuracy will diminish. Details will become vague and half forgotten. T o record, i n
black and white here and now, the mood, the impressions, the exciting events of the worst days
and the best is the purpose of these stories. Connecticut men of the 10th were asked for their
own stories and impressions and i n their own words they are here so recorded:
4
is l i k e a m i l l i o n dollars to an I t a l i a n c h i l d , secretary's desk. M u s s o l i n i m u s t have
over here the children take p l e n t y of bought i n the black m a r k e t , because few
c a n d y for granted. A l l the things we t a k e of his coupons were u s e d . "
for granted like t h a t over here are seldom
George, A r i s t i d e s C . , P f c , B t r y C . ,
seen luxuries over t h e r e . "
605 F . A . , B r i s t o l .
Fisher, F r e d e r i c k L . , 1st L t . , C o . K . , " I t was a lot easier t h a n I h a d i m a g i n e d .
8 5 t h Inf., G r e e n w i c h I h a d a different opinion of war. Before
" T h e 10th was the o n l y outfit t h a t got we went across I imagined i t w o u l d be
a n y opposition at the P o R i v e r . I t was like t h a t we h a d seen in the movies a n d
a r t i l l e r y fire f r o m about t w e n t y 88 m m the first W o r l d W a r . It seemed to me
guns. W e h a d m o v e d i n so fast t h a t air that we h a d the odds i n every battle.
c o u l d n ' t support. T h e G e r m a n s p u t d o w n M a y b e t h a t ' s because this was a good
t i m e fire on our flanks. T h e 87th made the outfit."
crossing i n assault boats m a n n e d b y our
126th Engineers, who were under fire Goodall, H a r r y , P f c , 1st B n . , M . D . ,
almost a l l day. T h e 85th took some 85th Inf., A n s o n i a
casualties, b u t resistance, f r o m snipers a n d " W h e n we l a n d e d at B i z e r t e , the G e r -
a u t o m a t i c weapons was l i g h t . mans b o m b e d our boat for quite awhile.
I t was the final action for our regiment. W a s I scared . . . before t h e y were finally
M a y 2 was V - E D a y for us, a n d the 85th driven off. W h e n we got ashore the A r a b s ,
was on the shore of L a k e G a r d a , while in their long d i r t y white gowns crowded
other elements of the d i v i s i o n were i n a r o u n d us a s k i n g for something to eat. I
the approaches to B r e n n e r Pass. A m o n g felt b a d when the sergeant w o u l d n ' t let
m y souvenirs is B e n i t o M u s s o l i n i ' s per- us give t h e m something. T h e y sure l o o k e d
sonal r a t i o n book, w h i c h I f o u n d i n his pretty hungry."
5
Grady, D a n i e l J . , C p l . H q . C o . , 10th P a t r i o t i s m , over there, is i n the back of
Division, Milford y o u r m i n d . . . getting home is the most
" I was the General's d r i v e r . T h a t gave important t h i n g . "
me a chance at A m e r i c a n l i q u o r while the
Johnson, Kenneth E . , P f c , H d q . Co.,
other G I s got grapa, cognac, and vino.
2nd B n . , 8 6 t h Inf., R i d g e f i e l d
A n d i t gave me a chance to see most of
" T h e w e a l t h , the art a n d the culture
E u r o p e . G e r m a n y a n d A u s t r i a are clean
that the Italians have p u t i n t o t h e i r
countries compared with Italy and
churches is a m a z i n g . T h e I t a l i a n people
France."
are l i v i n g largely on the glories of t h e i r
Gramatico, P a u l J . , P f c , C o . B . , 10th ancestors of the Renaissance P e r i o d , while
Anti-tank., Danbury the A m e r i c a n people are l i v i n g for the
" O n one occasion, two R e d Cross girls future."
came u p to visit us when we were w i t h i n
Kaytis, J o h n A . , 1st L t . , C o . K . , 8 5 t h
a couple of h u n d r e d yards of the front
Inf., N e w H a v e n
line. One of the girls was f r o m B r i d g e p o r t ,
" M y company took over M u s s o l i n i ' s
a cute little red-head. T h e y brought up
castle, at Gargano, on the shores of L a k e
some doughnuts which were a hell of a
G a r d a , one of the most beautiful lakes
lot better t h a n the C R a t i o n s we were
i n the w o r l d . I t was f r o m t h a t castle he
l i v i n g on t h e n . "
t r i e d to m a k e his escape i n t o S w i t z e r l a n d ,
Harris, J o h n R . , Sgt,, C o . E . , 86th Inf.,
a n d was p i c k e d u p enroute b y the I t a l i a n
Hartford
partisans who later shot h i m . T h e castle
" I h a d a lot of b a d days i n I t a l y a n d
was in excellent condition when we took
the worst was when we were a m b u s h e d
over. O u r platoon was billeted there for a
f r o m the rear, a n d got a h a i l of machine
week. L a t e r the souvenir collectors r a n
gun fire. One m a n i n our squad was k i l l e d
a m u c k a n d s t r i p p e d the place of e v e r y -
while we were firing our m o r t a r , a n d he
t h i n g moveable a n d m a i l a b l e . "
was the m a n nearest m e . "
Kurtz, Oscar L . , P f c , S v . C o . , 8 6 t h
Homans, E l m e r O., P f c , S v . C o . ,
85th Inf., N o r w i c h Inf., M a n c h e s t e r
" M y best d a y was a S u n d a y spent at " E v e r y d a y was a b a d d a y i n I t a l y .
Grossglevner, in A u s t r i a , where I saw the T h e people there were always on the
famous glacier a n d went s k i i n g . W e stayed winner's side.
at the G l o c k n e r H a u s , real beds w i t h good Massaro, Raymond J . , P f c , Co. D . ,
mattresses a n d e v e r y t h i n g . Y o u appreciate M . D . , B n . , Windsor Locks
a good bed a n d clean sheets after sleeping " W h a t impressed me was the crossing
on the ground i n blankets for weeks." of the P o R i v e r , the speed of t h a t crossing,
Jacobs, W e n d e l l K . , T / 5 . , S v . C o . , 8 6 t h a n d the advance across the P o V a l l e y .
Inf., M a n c h e s t e r W e drove for 200 m i l e s . "
" I w i l l recall i n later years o n l y three
days in I t a l y , the day we landed, the Mathew, Andrew, T/Sgt., Co. B.,
day the war ended and the d a y we left. 10th A n t i - t a n k B n . , B r i d g e p o r t
A n y regular G I m a y be fighting for his " W e h a d it easy. T h e i n f a n t r y went so
country, b u t he is also fighting for h i m - fast a n d kept so far ahead of us we
self, t o w a r d the day when it is over. c o u l d n ' t even catch u p w i t h t h e m . "
6
Mazur, S t a n l e y , Pfc., 10th A n t i - t a n k McNamara, F r a n c i s J . , Sgt., C o . E . ,
Bn., East Haddam 85th Inf., N e w B r i t a i n
" I hated I t a l y . I t ' s so far b e h i n d i n " W e c o u l d n ' t get over the w a y the
e v e r y t h i n g . O n l y the s w i m m i n g i n L a k e Italians acted. T h e y seemed irresponsible.
G a r d a was a l l r i g h t . " T h e y grabbed e v e r y t h i n g we t h r e w a w a y
even cigarette b u t t s . B u t on the whole I
McDonald, J o h n F . , T / 4 . , Sv. Co.,
enjoyed the seven months spent t h e r e . "
8 6 t h Inf., H a r t f o r d
" I n I t a l y there were lots of r a i n y days Molnar, Stephen C , P f c , C o . G . , 8 5 t h
a n d lots of m u d . T h e best p a r t of a l l Inf., B r i d g e p o r t
was the gangplank c o m i n g h o m e . " " N o w we k n o w t h a t our outfit, u n i t e d ,
can go a l o n g way. A f t e r eleven days a n d
McGarty, Eugene L . , T / 5 . , B t r y C,
eleven nights on M t . Dellaspae, under
605th F . A . , W a t e r b u r y
continuous shelling, a n d a l l the rest of i t
" N e a r Sassomolare, I t a l y , as field line- over there, we k n o w w h a t a G o d ' s c o u n t r y
men w i t h a f o r w a r d observation section, we really have i n the States. I t can't be
we were under h e a v y m o r t a r a n d a r t i l l e r y beat. T h e I t a l i a n s are really a n artistic
fire while p u t t i n g lines f o r w a r d for observa- people, a n d at times their work takes y o u r
t i o n posts. F o r t w o days we h a d to go breath a w a y . C o n d i t i o n s there t o d a y
t h r o u g h it regularly to repair the lines really m a k e t h e m a sad people."
broken by enemy fire. That was the Nelson, Stanley L . , P f c , H q . Co.,
toughest spot I was i n a n d t h e y gave me 2nd B n . , 8 5 t h Inf., W e s t H a r t f o r d
the B r o n z e Star for i t . " " T h e support the I t a l i a n partisans gave
7
us on our w a y u p the P o V a l l e y was the b a d off as the I t a l i a n s were. T h e y h a d
most impressive t h i n g about our I t a l i a n v e r y little food, fuel or c l o t h i n g a n d some
experience. W i t h o u t their help, w h i c h of t h e m were homeless. I wasn't sorry
was first class, our advance m i g h t have for t h e m w h e n I remembered t h a t t h e y
t a k e n months, as the G e r m a n s h a d the w a n t e d the war w i t h the U . S., b u t I was
area well fortified. T h e P a r t i s a n s were sorry when I saw the little h u n g r y k i d s
under direct control of the A l l i e d H i g h running around begging."
C o m m a n d and h a d orders to s t r i k e s i m - Sarnowski, S t a n l e y L . , P f c , B t r y . C ,
ultaneously. M a n y of the larger cities 604th F . A . , N e w B r i t a i n
l i k e M i l a n were well fortified, b u t the " I t was a lot of fun shooting 105s, es-
partisan's strength overpowered the G e r - pecially when we got a message t h a t we
mans a n d made our p u s h m u c h easier. had k n o c k e d something out. I t was p r e t t y
M a n y times a l l we h a d to do was mop u p . " good w h e n we were a d v a n c i n g a n d l i b e r a t -
O'Rourke, P h i l i p E . , P f c , C o . E . , 86th i n g the Italians. T h e y handed us jugs f u l l
Inf., B r i s t o l of wine a n d home made bread as we
" T h e best days I h a d were ten spent moved up."
on the I t a l i a n R i v i e r a . I met a v e r y a t - Schmeltz, Douglass F . , P f c , C o . F . ,
t r a c t i v e l i t t l e girl there. She was b l o n d , 8 6 t h Inf., N o r f o l k
blue eyed, a n d p r e t t y and we made friends " I learned quite a l i t t l e s k i i n g back i n
right away. She was three years o l d . . . N o r f o l k and more i n C o l o r a d o a n d I got
cute, no k i d d i n g . " in a couple of good days s k i i n g in A u s t r i a
Perry, G u y , F . S / S g t . , C o . G . , 86th where the D i v i s i o n held s k i races."
Inf., H a r t f o r d Simon, A l c i d e A . , P f c , H q . C o . , 2 n d
" W e a l l remember N a p l e s , a n d other B n . , 86th Inf., E a s t H a r t f o r d
cities i n the Southern I t a l i a n c o u n t r y . . . " W h a t impressed me was the c o n d i -
so t h o r o u g h l y destroyed b y b o m b i n g a n d tions w h i c h Italians must live under a n d
shelling. W e went f r o m there to the front how little has been done about t h e m : n o
lines, where there was p l e n t y of snow i n system, little food, m a n y homeless, m u c h
the m o u n t a i n s , b u t it was a l l right, a n d sickness, w i t h t h e m w a l k i n g f r o m agency
there was a lot of f u n sometimes. I was to agency, i n hopes of relief."
born i n S o u t h e r n I t a l y b u t I never got a Skonieczny, T o n y M . , P f c , H q . C o . ,
chance to go back to the town where I 2 n d B n . , 86th Inf., B r i d g e p o r t
l i v e d w h e n I was a b o y . "
" W h a t impressed me is how q u i c k y o u
Presta, George F . , P f c , C o . G . , 8 6 t h can get into a fox hole. I a c t u a l l y got
Inf., H a r t f o r d caught, v e r y m u c h unprepared, i n a n
" T h e first d a y on M t . D e l i a Torecio, open field one time, when they opened
was the roughest. Soon after we pushed up on us w i t h a lot of artillery. I just h a d
off we were p i n n e d d o w n b y a n a r t i l l e r y to c r a w l like a son of a gun for a l i t t l e
barrage. W e were i n a n open field w i t h house nearby a n d I just made i t . "
no cover at a l l , a n d we just h a d to d i g i n Slomski, Peter A . , S / S g t . , C o . H . r
S
the t h i r d was w i t h the 89th I n f a n t r y " A f t e r weeks a n d months i n the Ap¬
D i v i s i o n , a n d I have a sister i n the W a c s penines we got p r e t t y sick of m o u n t a i n s .
i n Texas. W e ' l l a l l have something to t a l k T h e n finally our lieutenant t o l d us T h e r e
about. T h e d a y I ' l l remember is w h e n a n is o n l y one more m o u n t a i n to cress', a n d
A m e r i c a n h a d his head b l o w n off o n l y we hit the flat lands. T h a t was the P o
a b o u t three feet behind me. I t was near v a l l e y a n d it was the best sight we saw i n
T o r r e Iussie, where I got it i n the l e g . " all I t a l y . "
Stickney, N o r m a n E . , T / 5 . , H q . C o . , Wenger, J . George, P f c , B t r y . C ,
2 n d B n . , 8 6 t h Inf., M i l f o r d 604th F . A . , F a i r f i e l d
" T h e work our medics d i d impressed me " T h i s winds u p m y second t r i p to
most. T h e chances they took i n going to E u r o p e . M y first t r i p was in 1936 when I
the a i d of the w o u n d e d while e v e r y b o d y went w i t h m y parents to S w i t z e r l a n d . W e
else was i n , or t r y i n g to get i n , foxholes stayed there a year a n d a half a n d then
a m a z e d us. I w o u l d n ' t trade places w i t h a D a d , seeing war ahead, got us out of
m e d i c , I ' m a radio operator m y s e l f . " there. H a v i n g a l i k i n g for m o u n t a i n s a n d
Truax, George W . , P f c , H q . C o . , winter sports I was glad to have ten days
2 n d B n . , 86th Inf., W i n s t e d s k i i n g in A u s t r i a . I t was a pleasure t r i p ,
" T h o s e m o u n t a i n s impressed me. W e the d i v i s i o n was sponsoring a glacier
had to c l i m b o v e r t h e m , one after another, school. W e took p a r t in glacier c l i m b i n g ,
d a y after day, for two months. E v e n the s k i i n g , a n d a l l forms of m o u n t a i n w o r k .
mules were w o r n out b u t we kept right N e x t to S w i t z e r l a n d , A u s t r i a is the p r e t -
on. We finally got i n t o the P o V a l l e y , tiest c o u n t r y i n E u r o p e . "
where i t was p r e t t y hot after the m o u n - Wick, Peter A . , S / S g t . , C o . C , 8 5 t h
tains." Inf., S a l i s b u r y
Tucker, Elliott, P f c , H q . Co., 2nd " W h a t impressed me was how fast the
B n . , 86th Inf., C l i n t o n time went over there. A t the t i m e , d u r i n g
9
combat, i t dragged — a w f u l l y slow, b u t 10th DIVISION FACTS
after i t was a l l over o n V - E D a y , when I
thought back i t a l l seemed l i k e a d r e a m . Shoulder Patch — T h e patch con-
M y impressions of I t a l y a n d i t s people sists of a white-bordered powder k e g .
m a y differ f r o m others. Those people took T h e powder k e g is i n blue a n d super-
an a w f u l beating. T h e average A m e r i c a n imposed on i t are t w o bayonets, in r e d ,
G I doesn't realize w h a t t h e people h a d crossed so as to f o r m the R o m a n n u m e r a l
been t h r o u g h . T h e y don't m a k e enough " X " . T h e bayonets represent the I n f a n t r y
allowances. T h e y were t o o critical be- and the n u m e r i c a l designation of the
cause the people a n d l i v i n g conditions
d i v i s i o n . A b o v e the p a t c h is a t a b bearing
d i d not measure u p to U . S. standards. I
the w o r d " M o u n t a i n " i n white letters on a
met some v e r y fine I t a l i a n people, off the
blue b a c k g r o u n d .
beaten t r a c k , a n d they impressed me.
T h i s was i n N o r t h e r n I t a l y . A l t h o u g h
History — T h e d i v i s i o n was organized
they were v e r y poor they were hospitable
a n d w a r m hearted, a n d , u n l i k e the people i n A u g . 1918 at C a m p F u n s t o n , K a n s . I t
of the S o u t h e r n I t a l i a n provinces, t h e y was i n t r a i n i n g u n t i l N o v . 1919 when i t
were not beggars. I f y o u showed t h e m prepared for departure overseas. The
respect, t h e y returned t h a t respect. I ' m signing of the A r m i s t i c e h a l t e d troop
afraid we d i d n ' t m a k e too good an i m - movements overseas, however, a n d the
pression, generally speaking, i n I t a l y . I t division was completely d e m o b i l i z e d b y
does seem as i f we should have made F e b . 1919.
t h e m see t h a t there was more to l i v e for
t h a n a n existence." Army Ground Forces Training —
T h e d i v i s i o n was a c t i v a t e d J u l y 15, 1943,