From esteemed historian Carlo D'Este, World War II in the Mediterranean (published 1990), pages 156–157.
The approaches to Cassino lay in full view of the defenders.
A series of attacks in early February [1944] by the U.S. 34th Infantry Division threatened both the town and the heights of Monastery Hill. An excellent opportunity to have won what historians have designated the First Battle of Cassino was lost when no effort was made to reinforce the 34th Division.
Meanwhile the Germans had rushed in reinforcements to fend off this dire threat. Like the battles being fought at Anzio, the ferocious engagements fought in the jagged mountains surrounding Cassino were among the lesser-known horrors of the Italian campaign. Most of the battles of the heights were referred to simply by the numbers shown in meters on the maps of the participants. The Germans cleverly established their defenses on reverse slopes, with mutually supporting fires to cover an attack from any direction.
One of the keys to breaking the German grip of the Cassino heights was Point 593, which exchanged hands several times but ultimately ended back in German hands after a series of bitter battles with Major General Charles Ryder's 34th Division. Although forced to endure unspeakable hardships in the cold and brutal mountains overlooking Cassino, this National Guard division that Alexander [high command, British] a year earlier had pronounced unfit for combat in Tunisia had long since come of age, and was now one of the most battle-tested divisions in the entire U.S. Army. The performance of the 34th Division was so outstanding that not only were a private first class and a lieutenant awarded the Medal of Honor, but a British historian later wrote that their exploits "must rank with the finest feats of arms carried out by any soldiers during the war." After suffering enormous losses and with its troops at the very end of their endurance, the division was pulled from the line to rest and refit. Their respite was to be short-lived; in early March they were sent to bolster the defenses of Anzio.
This is for you, Rocky.
Peanuts
Peanuts !! I don't know what to say,-gotta get my hankerchief out--WE 135th Regt. was on a hill just next to
Cassino when the B24s' came over and afterward we were stopped cold by the Krauts. Anzio came next.
Rocky-1st. Bn. 135th