141^st Infantry Regiment

The 141st Infantry Regiment was a Texas National Guard regiment assigned to the 36th Infantry Division. Federalized at San Antonio on November 25, 1940, it trained in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Massachusetts before sailing from New York on April 1, 1943. It reached North Africa on April 13 and entered combat in the first American division assault on mainland Europe. On September 9, 1943, the 141st and 142nd Infantry led the 36th Division landing at Paestum during the Salerno invasion.

The regiment fought through the Italian campaign from the Salerno beachhead into the Winter Line. In January 1944, the 141st and 143rd Infantry attacked across the flooded Rapido River south of Cassino. Elements held briefly on the far bank, but German fire, mines, mud, and the inability to build a secure bridgehead forced the attack to collapse. After recovery and further fighting in Italy, the division entered the Anzio perimeter. On June 1 the 141st took Velletri after heavy fighting, helping open the road to Rome. The regiment then moved back for the southern France invasion.

On August 15, 1944, the 141st led the 36th Division assault east of St. Raphael, overran Drammont and coastal defenses near Agay, and pushed inland. During the Montelimar battle it fought near the Roubion River, where German attacks temporarily separated it from the 142nd. In the Vosges, the regiment became central to the Lost Battalion episode: 241 men of the 1st Battalion were cut off near Hill 645 in the Forêt Domaniale de Champ and were relieved on October 30 by the attached 442nd Infantry after days of costly fighting. The 141st later fought through the Haguenau Forest, crossed into Germany in March 1945, and advanced into Bavaria. At the end of April and beginning of May it crossed the Lech, drove toward Bad Toelz, and entered Austria before the war ended.