Campaign Credits
World War I
Alsace

World War II
Rome-Arno
North-Apennines
Po Valley

Decorations
French Croix de Guerre with Palm embroidered CENTRAL ITALY (Department of the Army General Order 50-43)

All companies of the 2nd Battalion entitled to the Distinguished Unit Citation embroidered MT. CAPELLO, ITALY by authority of War Department General Order 46-43.**

All companies of the 3rd Battalion entitled to the Distinguished Unit Citation embroidered LAIATICO, ITALY by authority of War Department General Order 45-6. **

Service Company entitled to the Meritorious Unit Citation embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER by authority of 88th Infantry Division General Order 52, 1945.

Medical Detachment entitled to the Meritorious Unit Citation embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER by authority of 88th Infantry Division General order 98, 1945.

Motto
“Toujours Pret.” (Always Ready)

Distinctive Insignia
The shield is blue for Infantry. The Regiment was first organized in Minnesota, and the three stars are taken from the state flag of Minnesota, the “North Star State.” The large star at the top represents Polaris, the North Star. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the service of the organization in France during World War I.

• Drawings
• Historical Narrative
• Events Preceing the Battle of Laiatico
• Maps

• Drawings
• Historical Narrative
• Events Preceing the Battle of Laiatico
• Maps

The 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 27 September to 1 October 1944, near Mt.Capello, Itlay. The battalion was assigned the mission of wresting the strategically important Mt. Capello from a determined and numerically superior German force. In the face of a withering hail of fire from all types of weapons, the 2nd Battalion launched its attack down the barren, forward slopes of Mt.Guasteto, Italy, eliminating a strong reverse slope German position in four violent assaults characterized by bitter fire fights and vicious hand-to-hand grenade duels. Although outnumbered, the soldiers of this organization maintained their captured position, despite ruthless enemy counterattacks preceded by intense artillery and mortar barrages. Although suffering from severe losses and confronted by fanatical enemy resistance, the courageous officers and men of the 2nd Battalion again resumed a full scale offensive and, advancing by infiltration, neutralizing resistance by furious hand-to-hand fighting within the German positions, gained a foothold on the barren slopes of Mt. Capello. Setting a commendable example of coolness and efficiency in the face of great danger, the 2nd Battalion fought grimly, tenaciously maintaining its foothold, despite the murderous enemy fire and wave after wave of fresh enemy assault troops. In a notable display of combat skill, teamwork, and determination, the men of the 2nd Battalion, because of a shortage of ammunition, resorted to using captured German machine guns and grenades to meet the enemy onslaughts. Utilizing personnel from battalion headquarters as riflemen, because of its heavily depleted effective strength, the battalion, in a final all-out assault, drove the enemy from Mt. Capello, retaining this strategic terrain feature, despite final desperate enemy counterattacks. The timely capture of this key enemy position frustrated violent enemy efforts to hold terrain of vital importance. A dangerous enemy penetration between the 351st Infantry Regiment and another hard-pressed infantry regiment on the right was averted by the heroic determination, self-sacrifice, and unfailing devotion to duty of the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment. The valorous performance of the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, reflects great credit on the personnel of the regiment and upon the armed forces of the United States.

Lieutenant General John Lee, Commanding General of US Army Forces in the Mediterranean Theater, fastens the Distinguished Unit Citation Streamer to the colors of the 2nd Battalion 351st Infantry Regiment.

The 3rd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 9 to 13 Jnly 1944 in the vicinity of Laiatico, Italy. During the attack on strongly fortified German positions in the vicinity of Laiatico, the 3rd Battalion occupied an advanced position devoid of cover and with both flanks exposed, and for three days withstood heavy enemy artillery and mortar bombardments as well as three vicious enemy counterattacks supported by tanks. Displaying courage, skill, and determined fighting spirit, the battalion frustrated all enemy efforts to defend the town and surrounding strategic positions. On the fourth day, the battalion launched a night attack and penetrated the German stronghold from the flanks and rear. Aggressively exploiting its breakthrough, the battalion seized a German regimental command post after a savage hand-to-hand struggle in the darkness and cut the main escape route from the Laiatico hill mass. As a result of the 3rd Battalion's prodigious efforts, 425 prisoners were taken, 250 Germans were killed or wounded, and a large quantity of enemy weapons were captured which were promptly employed with telling effect against the battered German forces. The timely capture of this key enemy defensive position compelled the Germans to abandon a carefully prepared, strongly defended line and opened the route of advance to the Arno River. The fearlessness, heroic determinations and aggressive lighting spirit of the officers and men of the 3rd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, resulted in a performance which brings honor to the armed forces of the United States.