This account of 14 April 1945, the day he was killed in action north of Rocca di Roffeno in Po Valley, Italy, from The Museum of Jola↗.

At 0758 on the morning of 14 April 1945 the uncertainty and delay was over. Division informed Col. TOMLINSON that “H-Hour” was to be at 0945 that same morning. The artillery preparation at 0910 would follow the air bombardment beginning at 0830. Quickly giving his final instructions to his subordinate officers, the regimental commander and Major DAVID A PFAELZER, S-2, left for the forward OP in order to observe and direct the action. Promptly at 0830 the airplanes began to circle lazily over the front lines, to be greeted with shouts and waves from the troops below. The planes moved over the valley and let loose with firebombs over Rocca di Roffeno. Great geysers of flame and heavy black smoke rose up to 200 feet in the air, and the concussion could be felt 3000 yards away. When the planes had finished, the artillery opened up, seemingly pounding every spot that the Air Corps had missed. In a few moments the valley was almost completely obscured by a fog of gray, black, and white smoke. The bursting shells started rockslides on the shale slopes of Rocca di Roffeno, and buildings were reduced to irregular piles of rubble. The infantry attack jumped off on time, and at 0951 April 14 the 2nd Battalion was in position to follow the 87th across the line of departure. Col. TOWNSEND lost communication with the supporting 605th Field Artillery and requested through regiment that the artillery continue its devastation fire on Roffeno, his principal objective. Opposition in the 86th sector was light at first. Once in the lowlands between the two ridges, the men moved rapidly and encountered no Germans. They ignored heavy enemy mortar fire and at one point covered a mile in ten minutes. By 1045 Company F was at L623275, near Torre Iussi where the 87th had met unexpectedly determined opposition. So far there had been no complications, but by 1110 the 87th was very definitely pinned down on Hill 860 (L619272) and the 2nd Battalion 86th was held up behind them in the vicinity of Mt. Acquaretto (L622268). Major JOHN E. SEAMANS, executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, contacted the 87th to learn their plans for dealing with the impasse. He was told that the 1st Battalion 87th was to move back off Torre Iussi and allow the artillery to lay in a new barrage on the enemy positions. Shortly after this information was obtained, the divisional commander, General HAYS, informed Col. TOMLINSON that the 1st Battalion 87th was to bypass Torre Iussi and head for Hill 903, fire from which was hampering the 86th’s 2nd Battalion attack on Rocca di Roffeno. Company F was to draw the tough assignment of cleaning up Torre Iussi after it had been flanked. Almost immediately the 2nd Battalion began to move again toward its main objective, Rocca di Roffeno. Company F ran into severe resistance on Hill 695 (L627269) and in Torre Iussi itself, but by 1513 Capt. PERCY RIDEOUT’s men had cleaned up the little mountain village and were headed toward Hill 847 (L635277), their next objective. The main body of the battalion had moved past them, and at 1600 Capt. JACK D. CARPENTER’s Company E had captured Hill 868 (L638272) on Rocca di Roffeno. Shortly thereafter, Company F also moved onto the hill. F Company had suffered heavy casualties—46 killed and wounded. Among the wounded was Capt. RIDEOUT who was hit in the face with a bullet. The enemy was still resisting fiercely; only 18 prisoners had been captured by 1610 that afternoon. As the infantry units advanced, the engineers moved in behind them to build roads and bridges so that tanks and armor could be moved up. The enemy raked every approach route with his artillery, hampering the work of the engineers and impeding supply. Mule trains labored up the steep slopes. When shelling fell close to the road, the mulemen hit the ground, holding fast to the lead rope while the mules stood placidly. At 1622 the Corps commander, General CRITTENBERGER, called Colonel TOMLINSON in regard to his consolidation for the night. He advanced plans for the taking of Mt. Pero in the morning. In turn, Col. TOMLINSON called Major SEAMANS. He ordered the 2nd Battalion to contact the 87th so as to tie up the defense for the night. The battalion had continued the attack. Supported by fire from Company E on Hill 868, Company F attacked Hill 847, and occupied it at 1738. By 1800 they were pushing on to Hill 846 (L637277). Company E dug in on the east slope of Rocca di Roffeno, and Col. TOWNSEND set up his advance CP at L633272 near Le Ville. The 2nd Battalion had suffered damaging casualties in the day’s action. Capt. RALPH LAFFERTY, battalion S-3, and Lieutenant RICHARD BLICKENSTAFF, battalion S-2, had both been wounded and evacuated. In addition, two company commanders, Capt. RIDEOUT and Capt. CARPENTER of Company E had been wounded. Late on the night of April 14, 1st Lt. TRAYNOR of I & R was sent forward to the 2nd Battalion to take over the job of S-2. The direction of the I & R Platoon was assumed by the platoon sergeant, Technical Sergeant WILLIAM IGLEHEART. The night was an apprehensive one, for a strong German counterattack was expected, particularly on Hill 868. Information from S-2 was that the enemy had all of his battalions on line, with about 10 men in reserve for each battalion. The regimental commander ordered active patrolling of the flanks of all positions.