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Horace Sullivan enlisted in the 10th Mountain Division from Odessa, Missouri. He arrived at Camp Hale and joined L Company of the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment in October, 1943. He participated in the grueling D Series training, and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His company was among the first troops of the 10th Mountain Division sent to Italy, where they landed on Christmas Eve of 1944. They went to the front, and Sullivan went out on several patrols in January 1945.
During the ski troops’ first major offensive operation, S/Sgt. Sullivan’s company saw very heavy fighting on Monte Gorgolesco, Monte Della Torraccia and Campo Del Sole, suffering 45 percent casualties in less than two weeks. This was followed by a period of rest and refitting. Many men went on leave to various sites in Italy. Some of the men enjoyed their last liberty before the spring offensive. Sgt. Norman Goldenberg later remembered how,
On occasion soldiers were given three day passes to town. Horace Sullivan had arrived in the truck that was returning me to the front. The last surviving mountain jacket in Love Company was mine and Sullivan wanted to dazzle the girls. He entreated, he begged, he swore B’Jesus that the jacket would be back on my back within four days. Four days later wearing Sullivan’s jacket, I was sergeant of the battalion point on approach march to battle. Sullivan was marching in the ranks behind. So Sergeant Sullivan never kept his holy vow.
The 3rd Battalion of the 86th Mountain Infantry was committed to the offensive on April 16, 1945. Their orders were to push through what was presumed to be a no-man’s-land and attack the town of Monzuno. Allied intelligence was unaware of any German forces south of the town. About halfway to their objective, L Company encountered a steep, razor-backed ridge. S/Sgt. Sullivan led his men up the sharp incline. As they neared the top Pfc. Lloyd Fitch recalled,
A German tank was observed positioned in what was left of a house. Two walls were standing. Our squad leader, Sergeant Sullivan shouted, “Down! Everybody down!”
Suddenly, there was a loud crack, followed immediately by the sound of shrapnel whistling through the air. German automatic weapons began firing. They had stumbled upon three camouflaged panzers armed with cannons and machineguns. Sgt. Bob Krear later recounted that,
I did not realize they were there until an incoming 88 shell exploded about 20 yards ahead of me with a tremendous crash and a cloud of black smoke. Shrapnel screamed and whined past us, and I remember the feeling of immediate relief that I had not been hit – but I had! Sometime later in the day when I removed my steel helmet I was shocked to see a deep indentation in the steel in the front center of the helmet where a piece of shrapnel had hit it.
S/Sgt. Sullivan knew that to remain in their exposed position was suicidal, so he quickly got the men organized and led a group of them into the incoming fire. The first man in the assault, Pfc. Belesario Farrell, was wounded and Sullivan took over the lead. Machinegun fire hit S/Sgt. Sullivan and the group became disorganized and fell back in the face of heavy fire. The men could hear Sullivan making noises and knew he was still alive. Pfc. Lloyd Fitch recalled that,
Our lieutenant ordered one of the new replacements to go out and check on the sergeant. The young kid was scared to death and kept repeating, “I don’t know! I don’t know! I don’t want to see!” The lieutenant demanded that he had better go and find out. So, the kid crawled over to Sullivan. He reported back that the sergeant had been hit in the abdomen, and the bullet had come out his tailbone. The soldier also said that he stayed with Sullivan for about fifteen minutes, listening to the moaning and groaning until it finally stopped.
Another Sergeant took command of Sullivan’s squad and they succeeded in driving the tanks out of their positions and pressing on to their objective, which they captured after fierce fighting. For his bravery in pressing the advance on the three panzers, and taking over the lead scout position when Pfc. Farrell was wounded, S/Sgt. Sullivan was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star. He is buried in the American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
HORACE L. SULLIVAN, 37522458, Staff Sergeant, Infantry, United States Army. For meritorious service in combat on 16 April 1945 in the Apennine Mountains, Italy. Leading a squad in a flank attack on an extremely difficult enemy position, Staff Sergeant SULLIVAN circled the objective, which was atop a razor edged ridge, and had succeeded in bringing his men half-way to the crest when a sudden hail of fire forced his squad to take cover. Realizing the danger of their precarious position, he rallied his men and pressed forward in spite of the terrific fire. When one of his scouts was injured, he took over the task of reconnoitering forward, and facing the withering fire, maneuvered his men into position for the assault. In the ensuing action, Staff Sergeant SULLIVAN was mortally wounded. His gallant leadership and splendid devotion to duty were an inspiration to his men, who fought on to overcome all resistance and capture the objective. By his courageous and aggressive actions, Staff Sergeant SULLIVAN has well merited the highest praise and commendation. Entered the military service from Odessa, Missouri. Next of kin: Mrs. Pearl Sullivan (Mother), Route #3, Odessa, Missouri.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL HAYS
This blog is part of a larger body of research culminating in the publication of the book ‘Heroes in Good Company: L Company, 86th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division 1943-1945’ which is available in select bookstores and on amazon.
