| Original caption: “Captain Ezekia [sic] Smith, 370th Infantry Regiment, Ninety-Second Division, receives treatment at the 317th Collecting Station, for shell fragments in face and shoulders suffered near Querceta, Italy. Here, surgeon stitches the wound. Fifth Army, Pietrasanta Area, Italy.” Captain Ezekiel C. Smith (October 14, 1916 – February 13, 1998) of New Orleans, Louisiana, is treated for wounds during Operation 4th Term, the 92nd Infantry Division’s abortive attempt to clear the Strettoia Hills of Nazi German positions. Colonel Raymond G. Sherman (August 8, 1893 – November 11, 1976), the 370th Infantry’s Commanding Officer, launched a fresh attack at 0600 Hours on February 10, 1945, 48 hours into the offensive. The 370th had experienced significant problems on the offense’s 1st day, and Major General Edward M. Almond (December 12, 1892 – June 11, 1979), Commanding the 92nd Infantry Division took steps to reinforce the unit. He attached the 3rd Battalion, 371st, to the 370th and released the 3rd Battalion, 370th, from Division reserve. Sherman passed the 3rd Battalion, 371st, through the 2nd Battalion, 370th, to reestablish the lines abandoned the previous day and then press on to Hill Y. The 3rd Battalion encountered little opposition and quickly secured its objective, but the Germans soon counterattacked. The Heer (“Nazi German Army”) preceded its infantry assault with a mortar barrage, killing Lieutenant Colonel Arthur H. Walker (December 25, 1900 – February 10, 1945), the commander of 3rd Battalion, 371st Infantry. Major John B. Hazel (???? – ????) took command and repelled the Nazi German attack, but the assault rattled the units, and men fled back down the hill. Companies became badly disorganized because of large numbers of stragglers, and the battalion spent the remainder of the day regrouping and consolidating positions. The other 2 battalions of the 371st made slow progress on the steep hills. The 1st Battalion captured its initial objective, but German counterattacks later pushed the battalion back down the hill. The 2nd Battalion finally cleared the minefield in its zone and captured its objectives as well. The 371st lost 5 officers and 30 enlisted men, along with 49 non-battle injuries. The 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, in the coastal sector with the 3rd Battalion, 366th Infantry attached, made no progress at all. The Germans attacked early in the morning and forced a temporary withdrawal before the 9Second’s supporting artillery and tanks repulsed the assault, but succeeding German attacks finally forced the units to move back 500 yards. After 3 days of limited gains and ineffective attacks, Almond reluctantly called off his offensive at 2000 Hours on February 10 and ordered the 370th and 371st to consolidate and withdraw to their original positions. Colonel Everman pulled back the 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, across the Cinquale Canal, and sent the 3rd Battalion, 366th Infantry, now deemed combat ineffective, to a rehabilitation area south of Viareggio to reorganize and refit. The withdrawal proved to be difficult as well, with both regiments repelling counterattacks and suffering casualties. Almond was furious. General Mark W. Clark (May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984), 5th Army commander, was forgiving of White units, like the 32nd and 45th Infantry Divisions, that lacked unit cohesion. They also had large numbers of stragglers, and faced difficult mountainous terrain in their combat objectives. However, only the 92nd Infantry Division fell under intense scrutiny, especially the 366th Infantry, which Almond personally disliked since he did not train them, and they were added to the Division later after its arrival at Viareggio. At General George C. Marshall Junior (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959), United States Army Chief of Staff, suggestion, the 366th Infantry was relegated to non-combat duties in February 1945. Officers and men deemed competent were transferred to the 370th Infantry (which may be why the National Archives caption lists Smith as part of that unit.) Additional, the White 473rd Infantry, and the Nisei 442nd Infantry, were added to the 92nd Division. While Almond intended to prove that integration would not work, unintetionally, he ended up integrating his division with Anglo, Asian, and Black Americans. Smith graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a degree in agriculture in 1938. He was a prominent basketball player there. Smith entered the United States Army in August 1941. In November 1942, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on April 22, 1943. In mid-August 1943, he took command of A Company, 365th Infantry. On December 29, 1944, Smith commanded I Company, 2nd Battalion, 366th Infantry. In a “power” patrol, Smith’s unit climbed Mount Cauala. Separating I Company into 2 Platoons, he left 1 in support halfway up the mountain, while he led the other Platoon up to the peak. Private 1st Class Milton Hall (???? – ????) captured a surprised Nazi German out of his foxhole, and the patrol returned to their lines without any casualties. When – or if – he transferred to the 370th is unclear. Smith separated from the United States Army in 1947. He earned the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge. He worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, the Civil Rights Commission, and the Veterans Administration. He lived in Washington, District of Columbia. He was married twice. Smith is buried in Arlington National Cemetery next to his ex-wife Robert J. Smith (April 14, 1922 – March 2, 1981) and his 2nd wife Fannie W. “Boots” Smith (March 20, 1925 – March 29, 2016). | |
| Image Filename | wwii0646.jpg |
| Image Size | 696.19 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2374 x 2922 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 10, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Pietrasanta |
| State or Province | Tuscany |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-236685 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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