The untold story of the GI's who were used as pawns to draw the Germans away from the impending Normandy invasion.

Written by the combat photographer who saw the action first hand and fought his way through the unyielding Italian landscape, into the cities and over the mountains with the Fifth Army. The photographs in this book, unless otherwise noted were taken by the author. Robert Schmidt died before his book was completed but his son carried on the task of final editing because he knew how important it was to his father that this story be told. The task was completed two and a half years after his fathers death and was published by McFarland & Co.

Robert H. Schmidt, born March 6, 1913. He entered the United States Army on January 15, 1943 and served until January 24, 1946. Robert was a combat photographer and photo unit commander starting his overseas duty in Africa and from there moving on to the Italian campaign. He was attached to the Fifth Army, II Corps, 196th Signal Photo Company and ultimately received the Bronze Star and a battlefield commission. Robert died before the book was finished but his son carried on the task of final editing because he knew how important it was to his father that this story be told.