Cassino to the Alps - US Army Center Of Military History

BREAKTHROUGH ON THE EIGHTH ARMY FRONT 461
The 370th's lagging at first had little
effect on the progress of the 442d
Infantry. After passing through the
37Ist Infantry's lines on Monte Cauala,
three miles northeast of the mouth of
the Cinquale Canal, the 442d led by the
100th Battalion pushed fonvard about a
mile and a half in a wide flanking
attack against 2,800-foot Monte Fragolita,
three miles southeast of Massa. By
nightfall on the 5th, the Japanese­
Americans had driven the enemy not
only from Monte Fragolita but also
from several surrounding heights. 4 For
the next two days the regiment pursued
a retreating enemy over narrow mountain
trails made even more treacherous
by rain and fog and captured 3,000foot
Monte Belvedere, two miles northeast
of Massa.
As the Japanese-Americans pressed
forward, Almond relieved the lagging
370th Infantry with the 473d, which he
brought from the Serchio valley. The
370th then took up positions to protect
the division's right flank. The 442d
men alike, was to create an impression of a
continuing lack of confidence in the fighting qualities
of blacks. That helped explain the continued
poor performance of the 370th Infantry. (See "'otes
on Interview with Truman K. Gibson, Civilian aide
to Sec. War, by Bell L Wiley, 30 May 1945, DA
CMH files.)
• The sacrifice and teamwork inherent in this
bold and successful maneuver was exemplified by
Pfc. Sadao S. Munemori, who, after his squad
leader had heen wounded, took command. Leading
the 5q uad in several assaults against troublesome
machine gun positions and silencing two with hand
grenades, Private Munemori sought shelter in a
shell crater already occupied by two of his men.
Just as Munemori reached the crater an enemy
grenade struck his helmet and bounced unexploded
to the ground. Without hesitation he threw himself
on the missile, taking its full blast with his body,
thereby losing his life but saving the lives of his
comrades. Munemori posthumously received the
Medal of Honor. See Medal of Honor, p. 359.
Infantry having outflanked Massa from
the east, Almond believed he needed a
more aggressive unit to team with that
regiment and make a frontal assault on
the town, for the enemy showed no
inclination to yield it without a fight.
The antiaircraft artillerymen turned infantrymen
would not disappoint him:
they pushed steadily northward astride
Highway I through extensive mine
fields, artillery, and mortar fire to reach
the outskirts of Massa by midday on the
9th. Supported by tanks of the 758th
and 760th Tank Battalions, the 473d
Infantry prepared to assault the town
the next morning; but the enemy,
already outflanked, at last chose to slip
away during the night. The Americans
occupied the town on the n;torning of
the 10th. The same day, northeast of
Massa, the 442d Infantry forded the
Frigido River to capture Monte Bruguana,
two and a half miles north of
Massa, then continued another two
miles carlyon the II th to occupy the
famed marble quarry of Carrara.
By that time increasing difficulties in
supplying the forward troops as well as
growing enemy resistance, including
long-range harassing fire, especially
against the 473d Infantry in the coastal
corridor from the Italian coastal batteries
at Punta Bianca, near the naval base
of La Spezia, indicated that the relatively
swift advances would soon come
to an end. For the next week, until 19
April, the 92d Division would be
brought to a virtual standstill by enemy
forces well dug-in just behind the Carrione
Creek, seven miles north of Carrara.
Operation SECOND WIND had nevertheless
served its purpose, for in order
to check the division's advance beyond