Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

THE FALL OF ROME 217
88TH DIVISION INFANTRY RIFLEMEN PASS BURNING TANK IN ROME
commanded by Lt. William C. Sheldon.
What followed appears to have been
rather typical of the experiences of
many of the small company-sized patrols
infiltrating Rome that day. No
sooner had Lieutenant Sheldon's men
entered the city than they found a
Mark IV tank blocking their way. Local
partisans led them around the roadhlock
by passing through a nearby
convent. A few moments later the company
emerged onto a street behind the
roadblock only to find another enemy
tank blocking the way. This time Sheldon
led his men through a store and
out the rear door onto the street behind
the second tank.:lI
Sheldon and his men advanced along
a street leading further into the center
of Rome until halted by machine gun
fire from a high building overlooking
an intersection. Leaving most of his
men huddled in sheltering doorways,
Sheldon and Mueller led a squad into
the building opposite the machine gun
position. Finding the elevator in order,
the men rode it to the top floor, where
the occupants of an apartment over-
31 Interv, Mathews with Mueller, 8 May 50, CMH.