1st Platoon, B Company 2nd Battalion, 45 th Inf Div. Under orders to Scout the Lyra Valley we Advanced towards the Crossroads. I placed a Command detachment and 2 Infantry Squads in the Abby and court yard on the Hill to the N.E. Then had 2 Squads and C in C. Detachment ( 3 men) + BAR men and a bazooka team advance up the road. My Cmd section and 1 Squad of riflemen stayed to the left on the high ground travel East. ( 1st Platoon had 59 men at the time). We started taking fire from an Olive grove to the N.E. of the abbey Next ,came enemy Infantry from from the East. Small 45MM Mortar fire came raining in . The abbey became UN-tend able so I pulled back the squads as they were being surrounded. We got hit by a Full Company because the set up and were firing Heavy MG's at least 3 of them along with those silly Lt. ones. We re-grouped on the other side of a bridge and fell-back to wards B Company. Losses 10 KIA 6 wnd Enemy: 159 ? 11 KIA 21 wnd.

Italy Weapons.