Buffalo Soldiers in Italy by Hondon B. Hargrove

Author:Hondon B. Hargrove
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Published: 2016-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

Captain Wetlaufer had previously received the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in action on 4, 9, and 11 January.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, it became evident that ROCKY RIDGE and GEORGIA were exceptionally strong points in the enemy defense line, and supporting enemy artillery, mortar, machine gun, and sniper fire was so coordinated as to ensure maximum fire power on call on our forward positions on these strong points. Despite continuous pressure by attacking elements, and heavy and accurate American artillery and mortar fire on these mountain bastions, and bombing and strafing by planes, the Buffaloes were unable to dislodge the Germans completely.

At 1800 all elements were ordered to dig in and plan to continue the attack at 1630 the next morning with GEORGIA and OHIO 1 as the objectives.

At 1912, redoubtable Company E, still fighting out of minefields, reported capturing two more, killing nine, and taking two machine guns.

During the first day, the 371st lost some of its finest officers and enlisted men. One, Lieutenant Theodore 0. Smith, was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star for his action on that day:

Lieutenant Smith was the leader of a squad committed to assist in taking his company's initial objective. Passing through one platoon which had suffered numerous casualties, he seized his objective under heavy enemy artillery and machine gun fire. Using the balance of his platoon he then captured nine enemy soldiers from well fortified positions which commanded the ridge of approach. Still under increasing enemy fire, Lieutenant Smith then used another squad to capture a second enemy position which yielded numerous small arms threatening the entire left flank of the company's objective. His intrepid determination in his desire to close with the enemy and destroy him exemplified the highest gallantry of the American soldier.

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