A Soldiers Story.
The 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 10th US Mountain Division was unique in being the first infantry regiment to serve in both the Pacific and European theatre of operations. After taking part in the occupation of Kiska in the Aleutians, and a period of increased training the 87th found themselves in Italy. At the beginning of January 1945, on the Eve of what was to the beginning of the end in Italy US Army General Hays, the 10th Division Commander met with Lt. General L.K. Truscott, Jr the new commander of the US Fifth Army in Italy. They were discussing the forthcoming assault on Mt Belvedere. But what was said I believe sums up the very essence of the fine qualities of the 87th Mountain Infantry, if not the whole Division.
Truscott says, "My plan is for your Division (the 10th Mountain) to capture Mt Belvedere, then proceed by stages to capture all the high ground to a position east of the town of Tole". Hays replies, "Who is going to share the bullets with us when we attack?" Truscott answered, his face not showing a bit of emotion, "No one."
Such is the background to one soldiers story, but this is not the story of a General. It is the story, as far as we have been able to tell, of one American PFC, fighting in his first war.
PFC, Jack Goldberg Army Number 33935228 had entered service for his country from Pennsylvania. He left behind him his sister Jennie. He had trained hard with his comrades on the parade ground and in the Rockie Mountains and was now a member of the special brotherhood of Mountain Infantry. He was a radioman, attached to the "Stubby mortar" company. The 87th were from all across the vast American countryside. Their numbers were made up of farmers from small towns, as well as trappers, hunters. These were soldiers who not only felt the keen bond of service in the Mountain Infantry, but they also worshipped the great outdoors, the jagged mountains, the sparely planted fields, the bracing wind as it whipped across their faces, and to ski through the jewelled snow. Jack Goldberg was attached to D Company, 1st Battalion, 87th originally. However the offensive across the mountains in pursuit of a stretched, but determined enemy was not without cost. The 87th, as well as it's sister Regiments suffered constant losses. Every ridgeline that had to be crossed meant another soldier fell victim to shot, shell or combat exhaustion. George F. Earles' history of the 87th records a bleak campaign, with every casualty named. It also shows the gritty spirit of an Infantry Regiment that was, in the words of the Regimental Co. Col. Fowler "fired up like no other unit he had ever seen". Jack was soon a vital part of the "stubby mortar" section. He acted as a forward observer, a job not without risk, this post had already cost two men their lives in the offensive.
Below life in Italy: 1st Section 81mm Co. D. Left rear, standing S/Sgt Robert Dakin.
Below: The town of Mongiorgio, the objective of the 87th Infantry attack on April 19th 1945. Photo taken from A Company positions, prior to the assault.
Former S/Sgt Robert Dakin was section Sgt with the "stubby mortars". (I should perhaps mention that the "stubby" mortar was a standard 81mm piece with a shortened barrel. The thought being that these support weapons could then be used in close order with attacking infantry, rather than being located further to the rear).
Dakin recalled that the regiment were in good spirits, they had the enemy on the run.
Usually one "stubby" and its crew went in with an attacking rifle company as the 81mm mortar was much more effective than the 60mm weapon. So recalled Dennis Erickson, another 87th Infantry veteran.
The offensive was had been a steady slog, fighting the Germans for every hamlet and farm, as the 1st Battalion, 87th made it's way towards it goal, the river Po. The 18th April found them looking across to the town of Mongiorgio, located on a steep ridge that jutted out into the Samoggio river valley. It's main entrance was approached by an exposed road. It was not going to be an easy egg to crack! A preliminary patrol during the evening was forced back by some intense artillery fire - although German light artillery appeared ineffective they still had heavy calibre weapons of 170 & 240mm that could drop deadly shrapnel onto the advancing Americans.
The plan was to attack it with two companies abreast. B Co. on the right, A Co. on the left. H hour was 8am. D Co. were to act as direct support. By this time Jack Goldberg had been seconded to Able Company and was advancing on Mongiorgio with an accompanying Battalion of Sherman tanks. The leading tank fired a into the Church steeple of Mongiorgio as they thought there was an MG42 inside it. However the threat to the attackers was not only in the hamlet itself. Below is the entrance (up the steps) to the church in Mongiorgio as it is today.
From across the valley German Tiger tanks started to shell the Shermans, three of which were soon ablaze. The remaining tank carried on into Mongiorgio. Able Company were already in the town, and having knocked out four MG42 positions were in the process of taking the dwellings surrounding the Church. Beyond the Church was an open area in front of more houses. As the Americans moved across this patch of open ground they began to receive heavy weapons fire from the front. True to form the Germans were launching a counter attack.
This was met and foiled, but not without losses. The MG section had begun the day with twelve men. It ended with only one! All through this attack on Mongiorgio the air had been filled with bursting artillery shells and Jack Goldberg, like his comrades had to contend with this, as well as the German Infantry. Dennis Erickson recounted to me that during this time Goldberg as wounded by shrapnel;
"Shrapnel had pierced one cheek and cut his tongue half off," Erickson said. "He went by us on his way back to the medics, he was walking."
Above is a sketch of Jack Goldberg. He was one of the men who featured in "Life" magazine in October 1944, as one of "Truscotts men". Even in this sketch Goldberg looks as though he has seen more than lesser men could stand. His moment of fame was short lived. Despite walking to the rear Jack Goldberg succumbed to his wounds on the 20th April 1945. Less than three weeks from the end of the war in Europe.
General Order #111 Silver Star Citation: During a fierce barrage of artillery fire and mortar fire, all wired communications between a heavy weapons company and other units were destroyed by exploding shells. At a time when exposure meant almost certain injury, Private Goldberg left cover to repair wire that had been broken. Returning to the command post, he found that the wires had again been broken. For a second time he risked his life to effect repairs, in order that the supporting heavy weapons and artillery fire could be brought to bear on the enemy to repulse an expected counterattack. In another battle when the advance of an Armoured Division was being held up by fiercely resisting enemy forces using rockets and demolition charges, again Jack Goldberg distinguished himself by crawling to an exposed position to direct mortar fire on the hostile defenders, as he gallantly accomplished his dangerous mission, he was mortally wounded by an enemy shell.
We acknowledge the grateful support of: Olan D. Parr Col. (ret), George F. Earle, Dennis Erickson, Bob Dakin and other veterans of the 10th Mountain Division.
As Erickson recalls, "They were an exceptional group of men".
Today Jack rests among his comrades in the military cemetary in Florence.