1944 Jun 9: Second Battle of Rome

On June 9 the Combat Team began one of its most memorable convoys, better known as “The Second Battle of Rome.” Moving out of Anzio late that afternoon the first march unit hit Rome in daylight and made it through with only minor deviations from course. All that night, however, serial commanders looked frantically for their reconnaissance officers and vice versa. Columns of trucks wandered around the walls of the Vatican City, looking for the road north. Most of them finally found it, but not before the officers and drivers were on the verge of hysteria. One befuddled march unit commander and his troops tried three different routes out of Rome. Each time they ended up in front of the great Dome of St. Peter’s. At 0330, June 11, the last elements pulled into the bivouac area at Civitavecchia and the last stray vehicle had been accounted for.

Meanwhile, June 10, the 442nd Combat Team, less the 1st Battalion, 442nd Infantry, was attached to the 34th Infantry Division per General Order #44, Headquarters 34th Infantry Division. By the same order the 100th Infantry Battalion was attached to the 442nd Infantry, taking the place of the absent 1st Battalion. Now began the urgent task of whipping the men back into shape for their first combat mission.