Evening star., 1943-07-16

1ud6 WIS AIOQS LAc beaches. In
land the fighting continued through
out the day,
Our own group by daylight had
increased, including this correspond
ent and two medical officers, also
unarmed, who had been "sweated
out" in the dark hours together, to
rs assorted troopers.
All Fought Hard.
And here 1t might be pointed out
that every man who jumps, with the
above exceptions, jumps ready to
fight, whether he's cook, company
clerk, a rigger or one of the service
command, and they fought hard and
viciously.
Our executive officer had joined up
with us and at his command we
moved of in column, with flanking
scouts, intending to swing north
around Vittoria. That was a day we
won't soon forget, particularly this
reporter, who had seldom walked
more than 2 miles at time at home.
The Sicilian countryside was
beautiful in its green and yellow
colors. Most of the natives greeted
us in friendly fashion as we passed,
Offering wine, water or bread. We
trudged along under hot sun, over
plowed fields. through vineyards.
grain stubble and canebrakes and
along dusty limestone roads until
we got to the outskirts of Vittoria
in the morning.
My typewriter, a secondhand
portable weighing at least Is pounds,
had been safely dropped in a para
chute bundle and recovered. Under
the command Of a sturdy sergeant
major we had gotten the load this
far.
snipers Opened Up.
Just as we reached the outskirts
Of the town. which we learned con-
tanned an Italian garrison, snipers
opened up on our scouts few yards
ahead of me. We beat a hasty
withdrawal behind a stone fence and
there my typewriter was left hidden
among the rocks-later to be stolen
while the troopers fought back and
then withdrew to a point south
around Vittoria.
1t was march, march, march all
satternoon and part of the night
s15til we made .bivouac. "A para<
chutist carries no blankets or cloth
asinG 6fher than his jump suit, but
despite the chilliness of this country
We slept and at dawn were of again.
Far out of town we encountered
our colonel and a small party pre-
pairing to attack the enemy holding
the hill up a road 70 kilometers out
of Celia.
Our own group had increased in
force. 1t fought hard battle to
accomplish its original mission.
Despite the smallness of his force
the colonel went into position on the
lower hill In the orchard and then
began working through the tall
grass, gnarled little trees and vine
yards.
Enemy Retreated.
The armored grenadiers-for that
is what the opposition proved to be
fought back with their fast firing
machine guns, mausers, artillery and
mortars.
Our first rush showed the enemy
back up and over the hill altogether.
He outnumbered us then about three
to one. The troopers had him on
the run, but he came back strong
with more artillery fire and then
tanks, not only Mark Tvs but his
huge Mark VI Tiger tanks mounting
88-millimeter guns in the turret
The next hour was our worst,
Everyone expected an attack by the
tanks in force and it looked as if
there were a good chance that We
would be overrun. The colonel had
sent word by runner to Task Force
Headquarters, saying:
II you want this position held we
must have more fire power. But
whatever happens we aren't moving
of this hill"
He and his staff were dug into
1oxholes while the command post
was under heavy fire. One staff
member, Capt. A. w. Ireland of
Baltimore took 10 men to the right
hank with orders to hold at all costs,
Kept Up Constant Fire.
Another held the left flank.
We waited, this reporter being
some 100 yards to the rear shell
tered by a culvert while the roar OF
enemy tank engines grew louder.
Out in front the parachutists
kept up constant fire. The crews
Knocked out two Mark Tvs. but
other crews were blown up. One
youngster after capturing small
Italian tank similar to the British
Bren gun carrier charged OF in it
with the avowed purpose of scar
ing those blanks" A direct hit
killed him.
Then the colonel called on his last
hope and ordered three available
hoWitzers wheeled up for direct fire.
l saw one gun come up this hill
into position.
One trooper rode its barrel while
others muscled the piece up the
slope to ridge beside a small white
stone house. The tanks began reg
istering hits all around the gun al
most Immediately. but with the
coolness OF veterans these men
placed their gun.
Knocked Out Tanks.
They opened fire at 1900 yards.
knocking out two tanks.
BY this time higher headquarters