339^th Infantry Regiment

The 339th Infantry was organized with the 85th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby in May 1942, sailed from Hampton Roads in December 1943, landed in North Africa on 2 January 1944, and reached Italy in late March. Its first sustained combat came west of Minturno during the May 1944 offensive against the Gustav Line. On the division's left, the regiment attacked toward San Martino Hill and the Domenico Ridge overlooking Scauri and Highway 7. Mines and heavy automatic fire slowed the attack, but the 339th held the S-Ridge as a base of fire while the 337th and 338th broke through around Castellonorato and Cave d'Argilla.

As the division pushed beyond Formia, the 339th took Sonnino, then crossed the Amaseno River on 25 May into the hills west of Priverno. During the drive on Rome the regiment shifted into the division line for the final attack: on 2 June it took Monte Fiore while the 337th seized Monte Ceraso and the 338th reached Highway 6. In September, during the Gothic Line offensive at II Giogo Pass, the 339th struggled against Monte Veruca, then cleared it as the 338th took Monte Altuzzo and the 337th occupied Monte Pratone.

The regiment then took Monte Frena and Monte Coloreta as the division pursued toward Firenzuola and the Santerno. In October it relieved the 337th on Hill 578, pushed north from the Monterenzio hill mass, took Hill 622, and continued the division's advance above Monterenzio until the autumn offensive stalled near Bologna. After winter duty in the Monte Grande sector and reserve, the 339th joined the April 1945 breakout into the Po Valley, moved through the Panaro, Po, Adige, and Piave phases, and crossed the frontier near Dobbiaco before the final surrender in Italy.