San Pietro

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In 1943 it was one

of our strategic aims.

To draw as many German

forces as possible.

Away from the Russian front

and French coastal areas.

And to contain them on

the Italian peninsula.

While liberating as much

of Italy as might be possible.

With the means at our disposal.

As the bulk of our supplies

was directed to England.

For the forthcoming invasion.

Operations in Italy had to be conducted.

On an extremely limited scale.

Thus it came about.

That during the winter months.

The number of allied divisions

in Italy .. was greatly reduced.

Yet, so determined was their effort.

That they succeeded in holding in Italy.

A very large number of German divisions.

During the pre-invasion period.

San Pietro.

In the 5th Army sector.

Was the key to the Liri Valley.

We knew it .. and the enemy knew it.

We had to take it.

Even though the immediate

cost would be high.

We took it.

And the cost in relation to the

later advance .. was not excessive.

By its very nature.

This success worked bitter hardships.

Upon each individual soldier.

Calling for the full measure

of his courage .. and devotion.

The response of our 5th Army troops

provides an inspiring page.

In our military history.

To these individuals .. living and dead.

And to those who now

continue in their tradition.

This picture is dedicated.

Liri Valley lies in the Italian midland.

Some 60 miles northwest of Naples.

Some 40 miles southeast of Rome.

A wide, flat corridor enclosed

between four walls of mountains.

In winter, the highest peaks of the

Liri range ascend into the snow.

But the valley floor with its

olive groves and ancient vines.

Its crops of wheat and corn.

Is green the year around.

That is, in normal times.

Last year was a bad year

for grapes and olives.

And the fall planting was late.

Many fields lay fallow.

There are two ways from

the south into the valley.

One, a narrow pass.

The other a high, scenic

road over the mountains.

They converge before the site of

the ancient village of San Pietro.

Which for 700 years, has stood

at the threshold of Liri Valley.

Welcoming the traveler

The stones of its walls were quarried

from the parent hill from where it rises.

The population was:

1,412 at the last census.

Affirming community.

Patron Saint:
Peter.

Point of interest: Saint Peters. 1438.

Note:
interesting treatment of chancel.

From the end of October 1943.

Until the middle of December, San

Pietro and the surrounding ground ..

Was the scene of some of the most

bitter fighting on our 5th Army front.

The Italian campaign had

entered its second phase.

To push forward again,

after a static period.

Brought on by heavy seasonal rains.

Our battle lines were as

haphazard as the terrain itself.

With its flood-swollen rivers

that twisted back and forth.

Across our line of march so

that each river seemed like five.

And where there was no river to cross,

a mountain blocked our goal.

Each peak ahead being a few meters

higher than the last we had won.

So that each new peak

had to be fought for.

The hard, uphill way. With the

enemy looking down our throats.

They had had time to fortify and

camouflage their positions.

No amount of artillery fire or aerial

bombardment could force them to withdraw.

That was for the infantry to do.

Employing those weapons ..

That can find and destroy life in narrow

trenches, caves and fighting holes.

It was up to the man with the rifle,

the man under fire from all weapons.

The man whose way, all our weapons,

land, air and sea serve only to prepare.

It was up to the foot-soldiers

to attack a hidden enemy.

Over ground that was sown with mines.

The antipersonnel S-Mines.

That fly up a footfall to

explode beneath the groin.

Nowhere along the entire front were

enemy preparations more elaborate.

Than the San Pietro area.

For San Pietro stands at

the threshold of Liri Valley.

And through Liri Valley, wide and level.

Runs the most highly prized

length of road south of Rome.

By December, we had the high ground to

the north, east, and south of San Pietro.

The Camino Maggiore hill

mast being the last to fall.

An Italian brigade under a line command

had made an attempt to capture Mt Lungo.

The possession of which would be greatly

to our benefit in the impending action.

The Italians were all but annihilated.

In view of their excessive losses.

Further operations against Mt Lungo's

strategic heights were abandoned.

And it was decided to make

a direct frontal assault.

On enemy positions in

and around San Pietro.

Elements of the 36th

Texas Infantry Division.

Were rotated from position to

position, overlooking the valley.

So the troops might study the terrain

ahead from various viewpoints.

Patrol activity was continuous.

Day and night, units went out to

reconnoiter the ground, draw fire.

Take prisoners.

Thus adding to the sum of our

information about the enemy.

High points. Mount Lungo was 351.

Mount Sammucro was 1205 and

950 were all manned in force.

The town itself was strongly garrisoned.

With numerous mortar, machine gun,

and heavy weapon emplacements.

Four enemy battalions were dug

into a line of connecting trenches ..

And mutually supporting

pill-boxes in depth?

That extended from the

base of Mount Lungo.

North-east across the valley floor

o the base of Mount Sammucro.

Another battalion was organized to defend

the high ground northwest of San Pietro.

Areas before these positions

were heavily mined.

And held a confusion of

barbed wire and booby traps.

On the afternoon before, D-day and H-hour

were communicated to battalion commands.

December 8th .. at 06.20 hours.

The 1st Battalion of the

143rd Infantry Regiment.

To attack the summit of 1205.

As they moved up the mountain

under cover of darkness.

And upon achieving its objective,

to attack along the ridge ..

To a point northwest of San Pietro.

The 3rd Ranger Battalion

likewise to attack 950.

Another feature of the Mount

Sammucro hill mass.

The 2nd Battalion of the 143rd to attack

over the orchards north of San Pietro.

The 3rd Battalion, acting in support,

to follow the 2nd at 400 yards.

Of the original force to establish

the beachhead at Salerno.

The 143rd had since been

all but a fortnight in action.

Under extremely bitter

weather conditions.

At Salerno, at the Volturno Crossing.

It had taken mortal punishment.

The task ahead promised

no less bloodshed.

And it was undertaken in good

spirits and high confidence.

The 1st Battalion began the long,

rugged climb up Mount Sammucro.

As night fell, our artillery opened up.

And through the night, intense fire was

laid down on the enemy's main resistance.

It had rained most of the night.

And it was raining at H-hour as the

battalions crossed the line of departure.

Some 200 yards forward,

they encountered ..

Mines and automatic

fire from pill-boxes.

The artillery was deadly accurate.

By reason of excellent enemy observation

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