First Special Service Force
6th CO, 3rd REG
Living History Group Member: HRS

Sgt. Samual W. Finn, 4th Rangers, F.S.S.F. 1-1, in his own words.

   Basic training, Fort Knox, Kentucky, shipped to Oran, Algeria and interviewed and chosen by Colonel Darby for the new 4th Ranger Battalion.  Served in Sicily, Gela, Italy, Anzio up to and including Cisterna.  SGT of 60mm mortar team.  Joined the F.S.S.F. 30 days after Cisterna, fought into Rome with Task Force Howze, captured the Tiber River Bridges.

   Landed on the Isle Le Cross, entered Southern France, campaigned to the Franco/Italian Alps, present at the Force disbandment ceremony.  Joined the 474th Infantry Division, Rhineland to Norway, mustered out of service October 1945.

   The following story is Sam's, told in his own words.

My Road to Rome and Mussolini's Chair
by Sgt. Samual W. Finn 1-1

   For the final drive to capture Rome on June 4, 1944, Colonel A.C. Marshall was ordered to mount two companies of 1st Regiment on Howze Task Force tanks and move into the city rapidly and secure the six bridges over the Tiber River.  About 6:30 a.m. we passed the sign marking the city limits of Rome.  Suddenly an anti-tank gun, firing through a hole in a stone wall, knocked out two of our tanks.  Needless to say, we all dismounted quickly.  We were ordered to work over the open terrain and try to get behind the Germans.  The 1st Regiment met heavy fire as it eliminated German positions.  The 1st Regiment and some armor units were sent back to assembly areas.  This is where my squad and I got separated from the rest of 1st Company, as we never received the orders to withdraw.  My squad consisted of PFC. Charles Ott, PFC Lou Knox, Sgt Arthur Blanchett, Pvt Colin Parks and PVT. Jauchie Maclean.  We were advancing down the road to Rome when we came upon a German Machine gun position. They were looking toward Rome and did not see us right away.  Firing my tommy gun, and with supporting fire from my squad, I advanced on the position.  Before they could turn the machine gun around, I was upon them and they threw up their hands and surrendered.  We disarmed them and with their hands raised, we ordered them to the rear.  We then turned the machine gun over to some Italian partisans who had come up when they saw the Germans surrender.

   As we continued our advance toward Rome, we thought we saw some Germans in a building we were approaching.  We entered the building ready to fire but finding no one on the first floor, we worked our way up to the roof.  While we were looking around up there, some Germans had come up and started shooting at us from the ground.  Fortunately, before long some Italian partisans came along and rescued us.

   We continued on into Rome, which by now was full of shouting Romans.  We came upon the Piazza Venezia where Mussolini had his office.  Somehow I entered the building and with the help of an Italian, I found myself in Mussolini's office.  It was a very large room with a huge desk at one end.  I learned later that he wanted visitors to feel very humble by the time they crossed the room to approach the desk.  I walked over to his desk and sat in his chair and put my feet up on the desk  I remember remarking that it wasn't bad at all.  At the back of the desk was a doorway leading to a balcony.  When I stepped out onto the balcony, a huge roar went up from the crowd below.  Obviously, on seeing an American soldier there.  I waved and shouted "Viva Italiano" and they cheered some more.  I believe I must have been the first Yank uniform ever seen there. 

   The rest of my squad was milling around the square, and after asking some MP's and Officers, I found out where the rest of my company was located.  We were at Lake Albano which was the Summer Palace of the Pope.  It was a great place for a rest period.  Because I had been recommended for a Silver Star, my 1st Sergeant gave me a pass to Rome.  There I saw Irving Berlin in "This is the Army" at the Rome Opera House.

   This was a terrific ending to a very exciting time and I praise the Lord that I was so fortunate to live through it.