TRUCK ON HIGHWAY 65 near Loiano receives near miss, January 1945. This highway had been the main axis of advance during the October offensive in the U. S. sector and was the only good road in this area. During the winter stalemate and build-up for the spring offensive, a period of about five months, this road was under observed enemy artillery fire directed from Monte Adone, a commanding position between Highways 64 and 65.
ITALY
MEN RESTING IN THEIR QUARTERS in an old barn after a day in foxholes at the front. During cold weather, winterization of living quarters was carried out on a large scale, although men in the extreme forward positions usually had to improvise with a raincoat and a blanket in a foxhole.
ITALY
TROOPS IN A DEFENSE POSITION near Highway 65. This area was thinly populated and houses were few and far between. Those still standing drew fire, and troops in support or reserve positions would dig in on the reverse slope of hills and make their foxholes as comfortable as possible. Roofs and walls were constructed from empty shell cases, food containers, and the like and reinforced with sand bags. Keeping warm was a problem: the area is almost bare of trees; most of the heating of the foxholes was done by gasoline stoves, sometimes issued, often improvised.
ITALY
