“Zeke Cook, Newsweek‘s correspondent with the [U.S.] Fifth Army, was one of the first reporters on the scene. He cabled: ‘I entered Rome with the victorious Fifth Army at 3:30 Monday morning, June 5, after having spent hours lying in a ditch and crouching in fox-holes in the suburbs, dodging snipers and enemy shells…. With the speed of the enemy withdrawal, it was obvious Saturday night that Rome’s capture would come very soon. Allied divisions raced up routes 6 and 7 and all the roads to Rome. The outfits tried to achieve the proper order, with tanks first, then tank destroyers. Although the men had five days mountain fighting behind them and had marched to Rome despite loggy legs and bleary eyes, they arrived in good spirits. As they drove through the moonlit streets, hundreds of the populace leaned out of windows, shouted ‘Vivas!’ clapped hands and rushed out offering vino despite the lateness of the hour.'”
– from Amazon:
