Sixth Vanguard
Board Flunky, aka Site Admin
Final U.S. Shot In Europe War Claimed for G.I.
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Private Fired Round at Sniper in Czech Woods the Night of May 7th
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Special to the NY Herald Tribune
CAMP SHANKS, N.Y., June 29. – Private First class Dominic Mozetta, nineteen, didn’t know it at the time, but he was putting an explosive period at the end of a great chapter in history when he banged away with his rifle at a hidden sniper in the woods near Klenovice, Czechoslovakia, on the night of May 7.
The final blind round from Private Mozetta’s rifle was the last official American shot fired in the European war. In the opinion of his outfit, the 387th Infantry Regiment of the 97th Division, which has gone extensively into the matter and challenges any outfit to prove otherwise.
The claim was made here today and has been filed in Washington for official recognition by Major H.W. Thompson, of San Bernardino, Calif, the regiment’s Intelligence and Education Officer. The regiment’s l43 officers and 2,829 enlisted men arrived here after debarking from the transport Marine Raven at Piermont on the Hudson River.
The official order to cease firing became effective at one minute after midnight of May 7th. The 387th has made the farthest eastern advance in Czechoslovakia and, according to Major Thompson, was the only outfit still fighting at the time.
About 9:30 p.m., word came back from a forward position that Technical Sergeant Steve Lumbert has been wounded, and a patrol was requested to bring him back and wipe out a sniper. The patrol went forward under command of Lieutenant Ernest G. Zeek of Bend, Oregon, the patrol leader.
Pfc. Mozzetta, who , not so long before, has been a high school student in Providence, R.I., went along as a squad leader. It happened that his squad advanced the farthest while Sergeant Lumbert was being evacuated to the rear, and the general location of the sniper was pointed out to Pfc. Mozzetta. He aimed in that direction and fired.
“I don’t know whether I hit him,” the young soldier said today, “but the sniping stopped. I withdrew with my squad and didn’t think anything more about it at the time.”
Here is my rendition of that last night night shot Pfc. Mozzetta made. I used some strobe fireworks when I took the pics later on in the evening.
Figure is “Roger” from Reload Action
Extensive work was done on his hands,i.e., fingers were separated, fingernails painted, new paint and flocking was added to the backsides of the hands. Eyes were glossed with clear acrylic.
Uniform is Dragon and is lightly weathered.
M43 field jacket is BBIs and is also weathered.
All the pockets are stuffed with cotton and lead foil.
Pfc. Stripes are from Pangea95. I made the 97th ID patch. Boots are DID buckle boots repainted and weathered. Bayonet in the right boot is DID with the hanger removed and the sheath repainted OD.
Cartridge belt is DID with dragon first aid pouch, canteen and M43 shovel. All had CVI lift dot fasteners added where the buttons once were. GP bag is dragon and has been slightly altered and stuffed with lead foil. The strap ends are lead foil. All the lift dots (DID and CVI), strap ends and belt buckle were repainted “gun metal”. Added chain to the canteen cap.
Helmet is DID with 1stlooey’s helmet mod. I added “MO” to the rear side. Helmet was repainted and weathered.
M1 Garand is Dragon and has been repainted. Peep sight has been drilled out and a battle gear web sling was added.
