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On the night of February 18th, 1945, the 10th Mountain Infantry Division started its first significant engagement of World War II when several companies of the 86th Regiment scaled Riva Ridge at night, with unloaded rifles. They took the Germans by surprise and were able to hold Riva Ridge against determined counter-attacks.
In the following days, the 85th and 87th Regiments advanced on Mount Belvedere and the adjacent peaks Mounts Gorgolesco and della Torraccia. It was a brief, but bitter battle, with the 10th suffering 900 casualties in just a few days.
John Koski had not yet joined the 10th and did not participate in the actions on Riva Ridge, Mount Belvedere, and della Torraccia. He was still in the 8th Replacement Depot waiting to be assigned to a unit. But many of the men that he later served with did participate in the assault on della Torraccia, including his future platoon sergeant, James Orwig, and his future squad sergeant, James Winterbottom.
When John was assigned to the 1st mortar squad of F-85 on Feburary 28th, it was as a replacement for one of the men killed or wounded on della Torraccia the previous week.
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A remarkable and daring exploit. The Riva Ridge climb was a vertical assault, in winter and icy conditions, and at night.
ReplyDeleteMy late father was an artilleryman supporting the Riva Ridge assault. He had a German officer prisoner to watch at an O.P., and the guy was trying to break a phone line with his boot - my dad threatened him with his carbine and that ended.
This story is illustrative of the dedicated defense that the Germans put up at the Riva Ridge-Belvedere massif. I have been there to see the battlefield.