Testimony of First Soldiers to Enter Rome
12 June 1944
Subject: Entry into ROME- 4 June 1944
To: Commanding General, 88th Infantry Division, APO 88, U.S. Army
1. Attached hereto is certificate of four officers of 1st Battalion, 351st Infantry, giving time and circumstances of the entry of that Battalion into ROME on 4 June 1944.
2. At the time we entered the city, there were no other American troops present. The special Service Force was to our right rear.
/s/ Arthur S. Champeny
/t/ ARTHUR S. CHAMPENY
Colonel, 351st Infantry
Commanding
AG 380. 1st Ind.
HEADQUARTERS 88TH INFANTRY DIVISION, APO #88, U.S. ARMY. 16 June 44
TO: Commanding General, II Corps, APO #19, U.S. ARMY.
Attention is invited to the above communication.
It is requested that this be made of record at Fifth Army Headquarters.
J. E. Sloan,
Major General, U.S. Army,
Commanding.
1 Incl:
Certification of officers
HQ 1ST BN 351ST INF.
11 June 1944.
C E R T I F I C A T E
On June 4, 1944, the 1st Bn 351st Inf was approaching Rome from the south with Company A, commanded by 1st Lt. Harry B Stephens leading the attack. The third platoon of Company A, commanded by 1st Lt. John T. Pogoreslski was leading the company. At 1530 hours the leading elements of the Battalion were crossing a field 100 yards from Via Prenestina. The Battalion entered Rome from the south and proceeded west into the city on the Via Prenestina.
At 1545 hours Company A captured 20 prisoners. These prisoners were taken from buildings in the first block of the city.
At 1610 hours the Battalion Adjutant physically contacted the Battalion Commander at the Command Group. The Command Group was moving in rear of Company A. At that time the leading Company was five blocks into the City.
S/Sgt Lowell P. Sides commanded the point.
Pfc. Miley Kelley was the first soldier to enter Rome.
Coordinates of point of entry - 79.0 - 66.5 (Map: Italy 1:50,000 sheet 150 IV Rome)
/s/ Trevor E. Williams,
/t/ TREVOR E. WILLIAMS,
Capt., 351st Inf.,
Commanding
/s/ Frank W. Carmen, Jr.
/t/ FRANK W> CARMON, JR.
Capt., 351st Inf.,
Bn Ex. O.
/s/ Harry B. Stephens,
/t/ HARRY B. STEPHENS,
1st Lt., 351st Inf.,
Commanding Co. "A"
/s/ Paul Lehner
/t/ PAUL LEHNER
1st Lt., 351st Inf.,
Bn. S-1
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