Chapter 10: 1945, The Northern Apennines Campaign

 Buford arrived in Italy in January of 1945. Prior to his arrival, the Fifth Army had slogged its way northward up the Italian peninsula. Slowly but surely, they had applied relentless pressure against the retreating German army.

2 The 757^th Tank Battalion had played a significant part in that campaign, and they had suffered heavy losses throughout the effort. Nevertheless, although the unit continued to experience incoming enemy fire, January proved to be the first month since the opening of the offensive in May of 1944 that they didn’t suffer any casualties.

3 Company “A” had been deployed along Savignana Ridge and had been attached to the 88^th Infantry Division, but they had been relieved by another unit and had retired to the battalion bivouac area near Loiano just prior to his arrival.

4 The countryside and roads were a winter wonderland. There was ice and snow everywhere he looked. And it was cold – bitter cold, especially for an Alabama boy.

5 General Lewis visited the battalion just a few days after Buford arrived. There was a whole lot of standing at attention and saluting, nothing he wasn’t already well accustomed to. Then, as soon as the General had left, he was busy familiarizing himself with the equipment and getting acquainted with the other members of his company.

6 “Can we take this baby out for a spin?” Buford asked. “Sure, kid, let’s go!” Bob replied.

7 Buford immediately noticed that the tracks on his tank had been outfitted with special grousers. Bob noticed the puzzled look on his face. “They help us to navigate in all of this ice and shit!” he grinned.

8 When they started out, the turret wouldn’t turn. “Damn it!” Bob shouted. “One thing you’re going to learn quick here: Everything freezes!” he stated matter-of-factly.

9 “So what do you do?” Buford asked. “A little hot oil poured into the turret ring will fix this right up!” he smiled.

10 Sure enough, within minutes, the turret was moving freely again. “Pay attention, kid, you might learn something that will save your life in this hell hole!” his new friend assured him.

11 The months that followed were devoted to maintenance of the equipment, stockpiling munitions and preparing for the spring offensive. The waiting was interminable, but Buford had learned long ago that waiting was the primary duty of a soldier. They knew that the Germans were only a short distance away, but most of the soldiers were content to wait for warmer weather when it would be much easier to maneuver their tanks along the narrow mountain roads and position their guns for maximum effect against the enemy.

12 During March and April, Company “A” was deployed near Barberino and engaged in intensive training with the 34^th, 88^th and 91^st Infantry Divisions. This training was essential to effectively coordinate the activities of the tanks with the ground troops and would prove to be decisive in the approaching campaign.

13 “We’ll give those Krauts hell when the general gives the nod, but you boys better cover our asses!” one of the foot soldiers shouted toward Buford and his crew. “Those Krauts won’t know what hit ‘em!” Bob exclaimed.

14 On April 13^th, Buford and his crew were ordered (along with the rest of the battalion) to report to an assembly. General Mark Clark addressed the troops. “Boys, we are about to undertake one of the most important missions of this war,” he began. “We must annihilate the German troops that have occupied these mountains and are even now threatening the Fifth and Eighth Armies of the United States!”

15 The hair stood up on the back of Buford’s neck. “This is really going to happen,” he thought.

16 Throughout the rest of the month, the tank crews were given firing missions. They were instructed to destroy known German posts and roads that the enemy would be likely to use. These missions, however, were not considered part of the campaign. They were only intended to soften up the defenses of the enemy.

17 By the middle of the month, the battalion had seventeen M4A3 tanks in reserve and was busy incorporating about fifty new soldiers into their ranks. Also, the officers and platoon leaders had made several trips into the field to reconnoiter the terrain and routes that would be used by their platoons during the campaign. Clearly, the offensive that they had been waiting for throughout the winter months was about to begin.

18 The battalion was assigned to support the 91^st Infantry Division in their push north along Highway 65 toward Mount Adone. The morning of the 15^th, Buford knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that the campaign had begun. He could hear the results of the Allied bombing campaign all around him.

19 Over one thousand two hundred heavy and medium bombers and numerous fighter planes participated in the engagement. They bombed and strafed enemy positions and convoys throughout the day. Later, the ground artillery and tanks joined them in shelling the Germans.

20 Early the following morning, the troops moved out. Company “A” followed the infantry along the east side of the highway. Their objective was Mount Arnigo – the place that dominated everything to the north. The Germans were still entrenched on Mount Adone to the west, but “B” Company was providing cover on that side of the highway.

21 Suddenly, Buford heard a number of explosions just ahead of his own tank and to the right. Several tanks were on fire and black smoke was billowing from the disabled machines.

22 “What in the hell was that!” Bob shouted. The tank came to a standstill. Several of their tanks had stumbled into a German minefield.

23 “Those dirty Kraut bastards!” Bob screamed. “Oh, my God!” Buford exclaimed. “Can’t we help them?” he pleaded. “They’re already dead,” Bob said quietly as he stared at the wreckage.

24 Nevertheless, as the sun sank beyond the horizon on April 19^th, Mount Adone, Mount Arnigo and the surrounding villages were in the hands of the Americans. The Germans were retreating northward.

25 The battalion had lost six tanks to the minefields, two to bazooka fire and one had been hit by artillery. The commander of “A” Company, Captain George Rogers was dead. Two more soldiers had died and sixteen had been wounded in the action.

26 After Mount Arnigo had been secured, “A” Company pursued the Germans along the east bank of the Setta River. “C” Company crossed the Setta and followed on that side of the river. “B” Company forded the Reno River and continued north from there. The retreating Germans fired on one of “B” Company’s tanks, but the boys quickly turned on the Germans and destroyed their attackers. Now the Americans were on the offensive, and it didn’t look like the Axis army could stop them.