The Story of the 34th Infantry Division
Book II • Pisa to Final Victory

Chapter XVIII • ROSIGNANO SOLVAY
Training [pp. 7-10]

   Without question the fighting for Leghorn was a tough proposition, and the complete victory achieved by the Division against Nazi SS Troops was a fitting end to another phase of the campaign. For such had been the rapidity of the Allied advance from the Garigliano, from the Anzio beachhead, past Rome, past Civitavecchia, Cecina, and now Leghorn, to the southern fringes of Pisa, that our supply lines were over-strained and our troops tired. The Arno River, winding down the lovely plain of Tuscany, marked as definitely as a line on a staff map, a suitable point at which to break off active fighting for a spell, to make new plans, to bring up supplies, and to train for future operations. The Division was relieved by an Anti-Aircraft [Artillery] Brigade, and went for a summer vacation along the Mediterranean sea-shore south of Leghorn. This was unexpected good fortune, and the tired troops took full advantage of it. For a full week at the outset they overhauled their equipment, put on clean clothes, went swimming, or just lay around letting the Mediterranean sunshine put back into them some of the energy which they had so generously expended in the rough wooded hills between the Cecina River and the Arno.

   Soon it became necessary to think of grimmer events to come and to digest and profit from the lessons and mistakes which had come to light during the recent slugging. Heavy casualties and the large number of replacements who had only recently joined their units meant that the standard of teamwork between the infantry, the artillery, and armored forces was inevitably lower than usual. The men just did not know each other. So co-ordination and team-play were especially stressed during working time, and for this we were very lucky to have attached to us even during the training period the 757th (Medium) Tank Battalion which was to enter combat with the Division in the near future. By dint of hard training, careful planning, and willing spirit the weeks passed in profitable achievement and a high-degree of self-confidence was obtained throughout the command. After the day's work was done, there was always the resort coast of the Mediterranean, the ample facilities of the Red Cross, and the fabulous beauties of Rome, of Siena, and of Florence.

   Nor did the Division's fame go unnoticed by the exalted. Mr. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, inspected a representative detachment drawn from the major units of the 34th on 19 August [1944] and said in part,

"The 34th United States Infantry Division has the record of the longest period of action of any American troops in this war and participated in Africa, Salerno, Cassino Heights, Anzio beachhead and glorious capture of Rome and movement north thereof. We are now at a phase of this campaign where our enemy can be and will be given a thorough thrashing. The combined efforts of the Fifth and Eighth Armies in assaulting the common enemy has resulted in a greater friendship, more binding than ever before for the United Nations. The former glorious achievements of the Fifth Army and the Eighth Army must be continued and we will have further glorious adventures. The campaign, with the action of Allied troops in Normandy and Southern France, will administer a thorough thrashing to Hitler. We must destroy them so that no other man or nation will again impose such oppression upon the nations for hundreds of years. I pay tribute to officers and men of the 34th United States Infantry Division for their glorious contribution in this great effort."

Chapter XVII LEGHORN Slugging	Chapter XIX GOTHIC LINE Considering
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