May 1 and 5, 1945

On April 30, 1945, the combat team received an alert to relocate to Treviso and promptly commenced their movement at 6 PM. However, as the march was underway, the designated area was modified, shifting from Treviso to a location just west of Vicenza. As the period drew to a close, various organizations were settling into the temporary camp. Interestingly, despite the significant historical event, Adolf Hitler’s suicide on the same day, Johnnie had not mentioned it in his letters.

During the month of April, a total of 74 officers and 4074 enlisted men were interrogated and subsequently evacuated as prisoners of war. However, these figures do not account for several thousand enemy combatants who were either handed over to other divisions or directly transported to prisoner of war facilities without undergoing formal processing. Two Distinguished Service Cross Medals, 1 Legion of Merit, 3 Silver Stars, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star Medal, 21 Bronze Stars (1 posthumously), 62 Purple Hearts, 13 Oak Leaf Clusters to Purple Hearts, 2 Second Oak Leaf Clusters to Purple Hearts, 31 Combat Infantryman Badges, and 192 Medical Badges were awarded. One officer and 23 enlisted men were killed in action, 5 officers and 85 enlisted men were wounded in action, and 3 enlisted men were missing in action. The Regiment now consisted of 179 officers, 3 attached officers, 5 warrant officers, 3334 assigned enlisted men, and 7 attached enlisted men. 

Click here to read the Operations Report by the 337th Infantry Regiment for May 1945.

On the rainy night of April 31 to May 1, the Combat Team, detached from the 85th Infantry Division, closed into an assembly area west of Vicenza. They received orders to move west of the Piave River, passing through the right flank of the 349th Infantry (attached to the 88th Infantry Division). The regimental motor column advanced, encountering disorganized German groups fleeing to Austria. By 3:30 PM, the 2nd Battalion reached a new temporary camp. The Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon captured 266 prisoners, while Partisans reported thousands more in the hills. At 10:30 PM, the Commanding General of the 88th Division ordered the regiment to advance on May 2 via Feltre, Sedico, and Agordo toward Highway 49 and the Austrian border.

Partisan leader plans patrol for four members of his partisans, two women and two
men. The woman second from the right, will cross into German territory to seek
information. This photo was taken on October 5, 1944, in the Castelluccio area
of Italy and depicts Partisan troops. Photographer: Baker, 3131 Signal Service
Company. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps
Archive. Public domain.

Field Order No. 2, issued at 11:15 PM, assigned missions for the advance on May 2. The 2nd Battalion, reinforced with motorized units, including tanks, tank destroyers, field artillery, chemical mortars, and engineers, was ordered to boldly advance north and northeast from Feltre toward Highway 49. Meanwhile, the 3rd Battalion’s mission included mopping up the regimental sector, reconnoitering the mountainous left flank, and evacuating prisoners. The 1st Battalion served as the regimental reserve.

Amidst the events of May 1, 1945, Johnnie managed to write to Lucile. You could sense that he must have known the end of the war was near and he was in a happy mood.

My Dear Darling

Today I received two letters from you and in one of the letters was the pictures of Nell and the baby with you in one holding the baby. All of them are really good and that baby. I don’t want to brag on Nell and Robert but they do alright on producing good looking baby’s, Ha Ha. Don’t tell them that or they might go in for a living on doing such things, Ha Ha. Putting all kidding aside though, tell Nell her and the baby look swell. I am glad to hear that you received the watch and rifle badge OK. Yes, I would like to have the watch back. That is if it doesn’t cost too much to have it fixed up. Before you have it fixed up let me know the price. Then I will let you know whether to go ahead or not, OK? I guess I wrote you and told you Evelyn was going to have another baby. Did I? I wrote her back and told her to take it easy, Ha Ha. Also told her to tell Bill to send me a big box of candy or something. I told her to tell him I shall get something out of the deal, Ha Ha. Boy, I bet that burns then both up, don’t you? You know little Mary. Or shall I say Miss Mary Stacks, Ha Ha, wrote me a nice letter. But I have never answered it just yet. I guess she thinks I will never answer it. But tell her not to give up hope. One of these days I will have plenty of time and I will just keep on writing till my fingers won’t hold the pen or pencil anymore. Well honey, I guess I have run short of news. So, I will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie and his sister Evelyn

During the night, the Combat Team (except the 1st Battalion) moved to a new area. Units attached for the next day’s advance joined their respective battalions. At 2:06 AM on May 2, Task Force Morgan began moving, with Company G infantry riding tanks and tank destroyers. Despite an initial bulldozer delay, the column resumed by 7:30 AM. The 2nd Battalion surged ahead, encountering no opposition on excellent roads. At 9:10 AM, the 2nd Battalion’s Commanding Officer reported a destroyed bridge at Bribano and was ordered to continue westward toward the Torrente Cordevale and seize the bridge at Mas.

In the meantime, the Combat Team came under 85th Division control since 7 AM. The rapid advance of the 2nd Battalion made mopping up their assigned zone unnecessary. Consequently, the 3rd Battalion was ordered to move swiftly along the advance route, ready to assist the 2nd Battalion if they encountered significant opposition.

As the 2nd Battalion surged ahead, they passed through Sospirolo, seized the intact bridge at Gron, and turned east toward Mas. At 10 AM, they encountered the first enemy troops. The leading tanks and 1st Platoon of Company G attacked the village of Mas, resulting in the destruction of three enemy artillery pieces, 20 horses killed, and 377 prisoners captured. Most importantly, the vital bridge at Mas remained intact. The task force then headed north toward Agordo, navigating a narrow mountain gorge flanked by the Cordevale and steep cliffs. South of Peron, they encountered a German supply train of about 50 vehicles and horse-drawn wagons. The tanks swiftly destroyed the entire column. Despite enemy attempts to delay the advance, the 1st Platoon of Company G engaged in fierce combat, with six wounded and four killed by hidden snipers. After routing the remaining Germans, the column continued forward.

At noon, Lieutenant Colonel Frank H. Morgan encountered a German representative who conveyed that hostilities in Italy would cease at 2:14 PM. Seeking safe passage through our lines, the representative aimed to notify other German troops of the surrender. Despite no official word from higher headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Morgan proceeded with his advance, while the German envoy was escorted to the division command post.

As the task force moved north, it encountered sniper fire from the cliffs east of the road. At 1:45 PM, the column was halted due to a road block caused by German troops, vehicles, wagons, and horses. Genlt Hoppe, Commanding General of the 278th Volksgrenadier Division, informed Lieutenant Colonel Morgan that an armistice had been signed at 1 PM, but Colonel O. W. Hughes clarified that only unconditional surrender terms would be accepted. Genlt Hoppe surrendered his division, leading to disarmament and evacuation. Meanwhile, Genlt von Graffen of the 76th Panzer Corps arranged the surrender of his estimated 30,000 troops. American prisoners were freed, and the troops proceeded toward Agordo. At 5:40 PM, a conference between Colonel Hughes and Genma J. Polack of the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division determined that both sides would await orders from higher headquarters.

The 3rd Battalion scouted the Mis Valley for a route to Highway 49 but found destroyed bridges. They camped around Mis, guarding 4,000 prisoners. Meanwhile, the 1st Battalion reached Giustina and camped there. At 8 PM, a radio announcement confirmed the unconditional surrender of German armies in Italy and western Austria.

At 10:45 PM, the division canceled the mission to cut Highway 49 and ordered the regiment to halt. The 1st Battalion received instructions to move to an area near Mas, Sedico, and Belluno by 3:08 AM, establishing a concentration area for enemy troops.

On May 3, a conference involving Genlt von Graffen, Major General John B. Coulter, Brigadier General Williams, and Colonel Hughes resulted in arrangements for the assembly and disarmament of troops from the 76th Panzer Corps. Later that day, Genlt von Graffen requested a delay in troop movement and surrender of arms, following instructions from the 10th German Army, which was granted.

On May 4, the 2nd Battalion assumed control of 2,600 surrendered enemy troops previously held by Partisans in Agordo. The battalion then assembled near Agordo on May 5.

Sam Yoshihana, Chicago, Illinois, leads a bunch of German prisoners taken
by the 100th Battalion, through the village of Valecchia to a PW cage,
April 8, 1945, Valecchia, Italy, 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Photographer: Bull, 196th Signal Photo Company. Photo Source: U.S.
National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive. Public domain.

During the war, safeguarding family photos carried by troops posed a challenge. On May 5, 1945, Johnnie shared unfortunate news about a picture of Mickey that Lucile had sent him.

My Dear Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and I hope with all my heart that this finds you the same. Darling, this picture of Mickey you sent me you said you wanted it back. Well, it is in pretty bad shape now. When I received the letter with the picture, I put the picture in my shirt pocket and I forgot about it being there and I put other things in there and smacked the picture up. Darn, I really hated that and I know you won’t like it, even a little bit and if Mickey knew about it, he would blow his top. But things like that happen as you know. I am sending the picture back. You will have to be more careful with it or it may fall apart, Ha Ha. I received a letter from Kate the other day. She said Annie Joy and Bennie was really growing. And that Annie Joy was as big as she is. She sure is large for her age. How are the rest of the family? Give all my regards. Well honey, I will have to close for now. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie’s sister, Kate Marston