Distinguished Unit Citation: 3rd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment

"Headquarters Company, After Receiving the Presidential Citation, January 1945." From Ross Abrams - World War Two Memoirs 1942-1945. Courtesy U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center, https://arena.usahec.org/.

General Orders

No. 6

WAR DEPARTMENT

Washington 25, D. C., 24 January 1945

As authorized by Executive Order No. 9396 (sec. I, Bul. 22, WD, 1943), superseding Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. III, Bul. 11, WD, 1942), citations of the following units in General Orders, No. 188, Headquarters Fifth Army, 20 December 1944, as approved by the Commanding General, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, are confirmed under the provisions of section IV, Circular No. 333, War Department, 1943, in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The citation reads as follows:

The 3d Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 9 to 13 July 1944 in the vicinity of Laiatico, Italy. During the attack on strongly fortified German positions in the vicinity of Laiatico, the 3d Battalion occupied an advanced position devoid of cover and with both flanks exposed, and for 3 days withstood heavy enemy artillery and mortar bombardments as well as three vicious enemy counterattacks supported by tanks. Displaying courage, skill, and determined fighting spirit, the battalion frustrated all enemy efforts to defend the town and surrounding strategic positions. On the fourth day, the 3d Battalion launched a night attack and penetrated the German stronghold from the flanks and rear. Aggressively exploiting its break-through, the battalion seized a German regimental command post after a savage hand-to-hand struggle in- the darkness and cut the main escape route from the Laiatico hill mass. As a result of the 3d Battalion's prodigious efforts, 425 prisoners were taken, 250 Germans were killed or wounded, and a large quantity of enemy weapons were captured which were promptly employed with telling effect against the battered German forces. The timely capture of this key enemy defensive position compelled the Germans to abandon a carefully prepared, strongly defended line and opened the route of advance to the Arno River. The fearlessness, heroic determination, and aggressive fighting spirit of the officers and men of the 3d Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, resulted in a performance which brings honor to the armed forces of the United States.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: OFFICIAL:

J.A. ULIO

Major General

The Adjutant General

G. C. MARSHALL

Chief of Staff