BATTLE
OF MT. MARRONE
On
1 December 1943, the Regiment continued
the attack with the 3rd Battalion in the assault with the mission
of seizing Hill 1180. The attack progressed slowly against heavy
enemy resistance in the form of mortar
and small arms fire. Ground
gained was outposted that night and the attack on 1140 was resumed the following day. Enemy resistance continued to be heavy and the objective
was taken that night at approximately
0100, 3 December 1943. During this period, 1-3 December, the 2nd (100th Inf Bn Sep) remained in position on Hills 905
and 920 with
two companies facing Hill 832 which was
firmly occupied by the enemy. The
100th Battalion was continually in close
contact with the enemy,
at some points only 100 yards separated
the opposing forces. On 1 December, the enemy counter-attacked Hill 920 but were repulsed. During
this period the 1st Battalion remained
in position protecting the right flank of the Regiment. Company "A" had been attached to the 3rd Battalion, 2 December. The Regiment, with orders to hold, remained
in position,
conducted intensive patrolling, and made
plans for the relief of the Regiment by the 4eme Regiment de Tirailleurs Marocains,
2ems Division
Marocains [4th Moroccan Rifle Regiment,
2nd Moroccan Division], commencing on the night of 8-9 December. Throughout the period 3-10 December, considerable enemy harassing
fire fell in the Regimental sector,
with the Regimental CP in Scapoli, Hill
920, and Cannon Company receiving
the heaviest concentrations. On
7 December the Cannon Company received
a 215 round concentration of 155 mm in
45 minutes. The Regiment
was continually in close contact with the
enemy in the 100th Infantry Battalion sector throughout
the period. In
the remainder of the
Regimental sector, contact with enemy was
maintained by patrolling. On
two occasions defensive barrages were called
down in the face of apparent enemy attacks which never developed. The
weather during the period
was rainy and cold, the men's canteens
froze at night. Supplies had
to be hauled great distances over rough
terrain by mule trains and carrying parties. The
1st and 3rd Battalions were relieved by
the French [Moroccans] on the night of 8-9
December and the remainder of the Regiment
on the night of 9-10 December. Control of the Regimental sector passed to the French at 0140 hours, 9 December 1943,
at which time
relief of the 1st and 3rd Battalions had
been completed. The entire
relief was accomplished without a hitch. It
was quite apparent that
the measures taken to prevent the enemy
from discovering that a relief was taking place, were completely
successful. The
Regiment assembled
in the vicinity of Fornelli, Italy, and
moved during the night of 10-11 December to a rest area in the vicinity of Alife,
Italy.
REST AREA, ALIFE, ITALY
The
Regiment remained in the rest area, vicinity
Alife, Italy, during the period 11-30 December. At the beginning of the period a considerable portion of the time was
spent bathing, cleaning equipment and
assimilating replacements. After
this was accomplished a training program
emphasizing physical hardening, scouting
and patrolling and the training of specialists was carried out. Throughout
the period troops were
sent to the Rest Center in Naples and a
continuous program of entertainment was provided for the troops in the area. Movies were shown every night as well as some stage shows. Decorations were awarded and several officers and men received
Battle Field promotions.
PRESENZANO, ITALY
On
the evening of 30 December, the Regiment
commenced its move to an assembly area in the vicinity of Presenzano,
Italy, where it was to be
in II Corps reserve. That
night the Regiment, less the 100th Infantry Battalion, completed the move, with the 100th Infantry Battalion
closing in, the night of 31 December. A
severe blizzard struck
in the night of 31 December 1943. Plans
were made for reconnaissance
to both flanks of the Corps in anticipation
of entering into
combat.
CASUALTIES DURING THE
PERIOD:
100th Inf Bn: 68 KIA, 211 WIA,
0 MIA
1st and 3rd Bns: 43 KIA, 162
WIA, 7 MIA
133rd Inf Regt: 111 KIA, 373
WIA, 7 MIA
PRISONERS OF WAR CAPTURED:
100th Inf Bn: 22
1st and 3rd Bn: 60
133rd Inf Regt: 82
GENERAL
In
the operations during the period rain was
almost constant, making travel difficult and use of vehicles
at a minimum. Pack
mules were employed to get ammunition and supplies
to the front line units. Men
of the assault units suffered under the
adverse weather conditions throughout
the entire period. Occasionally
water froze in the canteens at
night.
Enemy
aircraft were particularly active at the
beginning of the period. the 100th Bn suffered 12 casualties on Nov 1st as a result
of an
enemy air attack.
CARLEY
L. MARSHALL
Colonel,
Infantry.
Commanding
OFFICIAL:
s/Roy
L. Stephenson
ROY
L. STEPHENSON
Captain,
Infantry
Commanding
[sic]