135^th Infantry Regiment

The 135th Infantry Regiment, a Minnesota National Guard unit of the 34th Infantry Division, entered federal service on February 10, 1941, and reached Northern Ireland in May 1942. It landed in North Africa on January 3, 1943 and entered the Tunisian campaign in the Pichon-Maison des Eaux area. The regiment attacked toward Fondouk Gap in March and April, then became central to the Hill 609 operation. Its battalions stormed Hill 490 on April 28, held against counterattack, and supported the division's seizure of the Hill 609 complex.

The regiment reached Italy in September 1943 and fought in the hard movement from Salerno to the Volturno and Winter Line. During the Volturno operations it crossed on the division's right, pushed through the upper valley, and later relieved the 168th Infantry on Mount Pantano. In January 1944 the 135th assaulted San Vittore, fought through the Gustav Line approaches, and captured Mount Trocchio on January 15, clearing key high ground before the 34th Division crossed the Rapido north of Cassino. The regiment then endured the same attritional Cassino battle that depleted the division before withdrawal and rehabilitation.

The 135th later served in the Anzio perimeter and in the breakout toward Rome. In the pursuit north of the city it crossed the Cecina River, fought the Battle of Rosignano from July 3 to July 7, and entered Livorno as the division reached the Arno. In September it returned to the mountains for the Gothic Line offensive, where it fought toward Monte Citerna and Monte Bastione. The regiment was shifted between corps sectors during the winter south of Bologna and returned to the 34th Division for the final offensive. It advanced into the Po Valley with the division in April 1945 and ended the war in northern Italy near Iseo.