For Savoy

Italian soldiers who had joined the Allies moved into positions in the Mignano area. They were veterans who had served in France, Russia, Africa, but they had had little chance to develop teamwork. They piled out of busses marked Roma O Morte (Rome or Death), went into the line noisily, clumsily, gave the enemy 36 hours' notice that an attack was brewing.

In their first action as an Italian Army unit since Italy surrendered, they wanted desperately to make good. Through the cold dawn the infantry moved up the hill with spirit, cheered by the friendly Americans. They forged ahead, swept to the summit. Three hours later, a ponderous German barrage pinned them down. The Italian left flank, staggering from severe losses, slowly gave way. With their flank exposed, the Italians wavered and broke.

Many died on the battlefield. Their hospital was crammed with wounded. The unhurt were brokenhearted. Long afterward their general sat, staring sadly at the hill from his observation post. Crown Prince Umberto, who had been there at the start, had already left. Later he flew over the German lines in a tiny, vulnerable U.S. observation plane. Like his pint-sized royal father, Umberto was counting on this new army to remove some of the tarnish from the House of Savoy.

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