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CISTERNA

The rail station at Cisterna. Cisterna was fought over on January 30-February 2, with the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ranger battalions under Col. William O. Darby making the initial attacks along with the 3rd Division's 7th Regiment moving on the right flank east of Cisterna. The assault ended tragically as the 1st and 3rd Rangers failed to capitalize on gains that reached 800 yards from the town where they were pinned down by a heavy enemy concentration. The Allies did not know that 36 enemy battalions had massed in the area for a planned counterattack on the beachhead. As a result, Cisterna remained in enemy hands until late in May.