Evening star., 1944-03-12
District Men Help Small Band Halt Charge
Of Germans on Mountain Crest in Italy
Infantry Duel Fought
At Close Quarters,
Americans Victorious
BY PFC. JACK HALLOWELL.


typical Apennine hump will forever
remain in the memories of two
Washington ID. c. infantrymen-
Pfc. Lawrence NJ. Hill, son of Mrs.
Mary E. Hill of 1904 Tenth street
Sc, and Pfc. Bill c. Hong, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Chin Y. Hong, 1910
Pennsylvania avenue NV.
Nothing physical DISTINGUISHES
the steep, bald-pated ridge from
many another barren, rocky hill in
the same region. The ruins of
many rock-wall terraces, centuries
old, ring the hill, but the mountains
of Southern Italy abound with these.
To Hill, Hong and few others the
mountain setting is scared into the
mind as the scene of a desperate
infantry battle fought at close quar-
ters, involving only a handful of
men on each side, many of whom
do not live to remember the carnage
of that brief skirmish.
Hill and Hong told the story sew
eral weeks later, and they were still
moved visibly by the recollection.
Ordered to Take Hill.
A company of an infantry regi-
ment of the 45th Infantry Division
was assigned one midDecember day
to move forward across several hun
dred yards of the terraced top of
the ridge and seize the military
crest" of the reverse slope. The
military crest in this case was line
connecting the nearest, most pro-
tected points from which grazing
fire could be delivered to the larg-
est areas of ground over which an
approach might be made up the hill
from the enemy side.
From this military crest rifle and
machine-gun fire could be aimed di-
rectly at located German positions
on neighboring hill
The company commander sent the
third platoon ahead.
AS the leading scout neared the
top of the hill, a German soldier in
a crudely made pillbox tossed a |
grenade at him. 1t sailed HARM
lessly past the man for whom it was
intended The other scout saved
himself by his alertness. He dived
instantly to the ground and rolled
rapidly away, just escaping the
bursting radius of the exploding
grenade.
Stage Set for Battle.
This was the challenge. The pla-
toon leader, Hill, Hong and the
other men of the platoon accepted it.
The leader surveyed the situation
quickly, decided to engage in fire
fight from behind the cover offered |
by terrace about 100 yards forward |
and sent one squad to each side for |
flank protection.
One of the riflemen put bullet |
through the only German helmet
that could be seen moving behind
the terrace and the skirmish line
was formed there as proposed.
Meantime, an assault against the
pillbox was eventless, as the thrower
Of the grenade had left, and only an
occasional German artillery shell |
disturbed the temporary quiet of
this sector.
Finding no protected route to their
the platoon leader waited
until he saw the second platoon
up in support, then lead his
men across open ground, directly
;oward the crest. Ii i
Hill sighted an estimated ~ Ger
mans approaching the same place
rom the opposite direction andswas
able'to giveanotice of this in time for
he platoon to go back to the last
,errace and prepare an ambush for
them, without giving the enemy any
,lueS.
Nine Defenders Await Charge.
1t was a motley gathering that took
lp the position there. Left with the
platoon leader, after he had sent
out those assigned to protect the
tanks, were just Hill, Hong and six
,ther members of the platoon and
reinforced by three volun-
seers sent to that desolate place by
tate.
The volunteers were an artillery
observer, whose observation post
to be atop the ill-starred
hill, his wire man and his radio man.
What was plainly going to happen
wasn't in their line, but all three in
sisted on taking the quarrel per-
sonally.
They helped prepare hasty am
oush and the hodgepodge little band
settled down to waiting.
1--WE had to wait Is minutes for
the appointment" Hill said, land
that's a long time to hold your
breath"
when they did come up to U.s."
Hong declared, 1--WE didn't get the
NV, at Station Hospital, North Camp
Hood