THE GERMAN TROUPS, USING ITALIAN FORCED LABOR GANGS, HAD SPENT NINE MONTHS FORTIFYING A NATURAL EAST-WEST STRATEGIC APPENINE MOUNTAIN RIDGE WITH HUNDREDS OF MG BUNKERS, CAVES AND HIGH POINT LOOK OUTS. IT HELD FOR NINE MONTHS UNTIL WE “CAUGHT THEM NAPPING” IN A SURPRISE ATTACK AFTER MAKING A STEEP 3000 FOOT ALPINE CLIMB.
HAVING SUCCEEDED IN THE ATTACK THE GERMANS FINNALY SURRENDERED APRIL 24 IN AULLA, ITALY.
GENERAL MARK CLARK SUGGESTED TO OUR REGIMENTAL COMMANDER TO GIVE US A WELL EARNED LEAVE. A BUDDY AND I DECIDED TO HITCH-HIKE TO SWITZERLAND.
THE FIRST LEG OF OUR JOUNEY WAS TO HITCH A RIDE ON A
B-17 FROM THE PISA AIR BASE TO MILAN. THE B-17 CREWS WERE HAPPY TO SIGN US UP ON THEIR FLIGHT MANIFEST TO LOG SOME HOURS TO COLLECT THEIR FLIGHT PAY. THAT RIDE WAS A BARF-BAG EVENT! FROM MILAN TO THE TRAIN STATION WAS A SHORT “HITCH” ON A GI SUPPLY TRUCK. HOWEVER, ALONG THE STREET TO THE STATION WAS A HOBBY SHOP! BEING A MODELER I STOPPED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE ITALIANS WERE USING FOR ENGINES. THEY SHOWED ME ONLY UNFAMILIAR (TO ME) DEISEL ENGINES. AFTER EXAMINING SEVERAL THE PROPRIETER ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY U. S. CIGARETTES. I HAD TWO PACKS; THEN HE MADE ME AN OFFER I COULD NOT PASS! I GOT TWO ENGINES –ONE PACK EACH!! I GAVE A FRIEND, YEARS LATER, THE LARGER OF THE TWO ENGINES. THE OTHER IS A “ C.W.G.” S/N 14.
SO, OFF TO SWITZERLAND WHERE THE MAJOR 5-STAR HOTELS OFFERED GIs $20 ROOM RATES AS “THANKS”!
