133^rd Infantry Regiment

The 133rd Infantry Regiment, an Iowa National Guard unit of the 34th Infantry Division, entered federal service on February 10, 1941, and deployed to Northern Ireland in January 1942. It landed in North Africa on January 3, 1943 and joined the Tunisian campaign after the 168th Infantry had already entered combat. At Fondouk and Hill 609 the regiment supplied battalions for the division's mountain fighting, supporting attacks that opened the way toward Chouigui Pass and the final drive in northern Tunisia.

The regiment landed in Italy in September 1943. During the advance from Salerno, it took Benevento on October 3 and secured the damaged bridge across the Calore River, an important step in the movement toward the Volturno. It crossed the Volturno again during the upper valley fighting and then entered the Winter Line battles. In January 1944 the 133rd attacked Mount Majo while attached to the 1st Special Service Force, crossed the Rapido north of Cassino on January 25, and fought toward the barracks and monastery approaches. On February 5 it reached the walls below the Cassino abbey before the exhausted regiment was withdrawn.

After rehabilitation, the 133rd landed in the Anzio perimeter and led the division's May 23 attack toward Mount Arrestino during the breakout. It fought at Lanuvio, entered the pursuit north of Rome, overran Tarquinia on Highway 1, and then bore the main burden of the street and river fighting at Cecina from June 30 to July 2. In the Gothic Line campaign the regiment cleared Torricella Hill and captured Montepiano, helping carry the 34th Division through the barrier. It later fought at Monte Belmonte south of Bologna and joined the final Po Valley offensive, entering Bologna with the division in April 1945. The regiment ended the war in northern Italy near Iseo.