| Original caption: “Negro ‘doughfoots’ of the Ninety-Second Infantry (‘Buffalo’) Division pursue the retreating Germans through the Po Valley. German forces in Italy have since capitulated unconditionally.” The 92nd Division never operated in the Po Valley, which was 80 miles (a 125 kilometers) north of their base at Viareggio. These “Buffalo Soldiers” of the 370th Infantry Regiment are proceeding on what is today the Via Della Resistenza south of Montignoso. Artillery fire has damaged the town and removed much of the foliage around the road. Note the footbridge, which still exists, solidly rebuilt after the war. Note the 2 Nisei from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the Willys MB jeep. Major General Edward M. Almond (December 12, 1892 – June 11, 1979), Commanding the 92nd Infantry Division, aimed to secure the high ground at Montignoso that dominated Highway 1 in an offensive that started April 5, 1945. With this hill in friendly hands, IV Corps units could safely advance to Massa. Almond directed the 370th and 371st Regimental Combat Teams to make the main attack to seize German-occupied Monte Folgorito, which dominated the Ligurian coastal area. The Allies would need to clear that area in order to get to Massa and then Genoa. After 3 days of hard fighting, the 3rd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team moved off the newly won peaks of Monte Folgorito and Monte Belvedere to capture Motignoso on April 8. The town was occupied by elements of the 370th Infantry riding on M4 Shermans of the 760th Tank Battalion. Then, in further fighting, they decimated a Nazi German heavy weapons platoon at Painina and were on the banks of the Frigido River by April 10. The 370th’s assault did not go as planned on April 5. Hard fighting developed around Castle Aghinolfi, and C Company, 1st Battalion, sustained 60 percent casualties. The rapid advance was disbelieved by Headquarters, who refused fire missions, thinking the unit couldn’t possibly be where they claimed to be. When they requested reinforcements, they were told they would have to wait for days. When C Company attempted to stabilize their lines to receive a Nazi German counterattack, the inexperienced soldiers bunched up and were cut down by mortar fire. The lone Negro officer in C Company, 2nd Lieutenant Vernon J. Baker (December 17, 1919 – July 13, 2010), had personally destroyed an observation post, a well-camouflaged machine gun position, and a dugout during the morning, killing their 8 German occupants. Baker now volunteered to cover the withdrawal of the 1st group, containing most of the walking wounded, and to remain to help remove the more severely wounded. 8 men and the wounded artillery observer stayed with him. Baker guarded the rear, leaving last after destroying equipment left by the killed and wounded. During the withdrawal, 4 different enemy machine gun crews were destroyed by the 1st group without loss to itself; Baker’s party, following, lost 2 men, 1 wounded by mortar fire and 1, its only medic, killed by sniper fire. Private James Thomas (???? – ????), the group’s Browning Automatic Rifleman, located the sniper and killed him. The group encountered 2 machine gun nests bypassed during the morning attack. Baker, covered by Thomas’ Browning Automatic Rifle, crawled up to the machine gun positions and destroyed them with hand grenades. The small party successfully evacuated its casualties to the battalion aid station. Basker received the 1st Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in the 92nd Infantry Division, but Almond was not impressed. Curtly dismissing Baker, he ordered that his Silver Star, a lesser decoration, be bestowed at the awards ceremony before Baker received his DSC. Baker never forgot the slight. Decades after war, Baker’s record was reviewed along with many others in the investigation ordered by United States President Bill Clinton (born 1946). That review resulted in the upgrade of Baker’s DSC to the Medal of Honor. President Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to Baker, the only living recipient among 7 African American soldiers so honored that day. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0644.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.13 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2373 x 2904 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Office of War Information |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 8, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Montignoso |
| State or Province | Tuscany |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-208-AA-49E-1-13 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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