Chapter 60: The last hill
In Chapter 60, John and the men of F-85 resume the advance on Hill 915.
1. The conversations between John, Bobby Kraft, and James Winterbottom are fictionalized.
2. The details of the charge across the valley have been reconstructed from various sources. Most of the veterans remember only chaotic action.
3. The actions of Nesbur Brandt are from his Silver Star commendation.
4. We don't know if Johnny saw that wounded soldier on the hill, but a number of veterans from F Company, including some from the 4th Platoon, did see him and remember it clearly to this day.
5. As far as can be determined, Johnny was hit by an artillery shell at about 10:30 a.m. on April 15th, 1945 as he advanced up Hill 915. John's last thoughts are of course fictionalized.
6. Review the F-85 morning reports for April 15, 1945.
Media and Web info:
1. Figure 60-1 Web: Learn more about the movements of F-85 on April 14th and 15th.
2. Figure 60-2 Video: Tustin Ellison describes James Winterbottom in action.
3. Figure 60-3 Video: Death in the mountains in Italy.
Copyright 2007 by Dan Oja