« «   RETREAT  |||  ADVANCE   » »

VALMONTONE

Photographer Bill Toomey, who at this time was earning his Combat Infantry Badge fighting with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battle Patrol, wrote this about Valmontone: "Sgt. John Samples of Johnson City, Illinois rang the bell in the Cathedral of Santa Maria at 0600 on June 2, 1944 as the 3rd Reconnaissance Battle Patrol known as "The Snoop Troop" signaled the taking of Valmontone without firing a shot." Although the fighting the previous day was fierce as the 3rd Division approached the village 20 miles south of Rome on Highway 6, the Germans had retreated during the night.