edited by Daniele Baggiani
In September 1944, Orville Emil Bloch, a twenty-nine-year-old officer of the United States Army, was fighting in the northern Apennines between Tuscany and Emilia. His story deserves to be remembered: Bloch was one of only two soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor—the highest American decoration for acts of heroism—for actions carried out along the Gothic Line and at Passo del Giogo. Yet his remarkable deed has remained almost unknown.
In the following lines, we retrace the story and deeds of a soldier who fought bravely on these mountains in the days after the breakthrough of the Gothic Line, when German troops were retreating toward the heights of Monte Coloreta, north of Firenzuola.
Before the WW2
Orville Emil Bloch was born on February 10, 1915, in Big Falls, Wisconsin, to a family of German immigrants, Emil and Ottilie (Konopatzke) Bloch. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Steele, North Dakota, where his father found work as an automobile mechanic. Over the next twenty years, the Bloch family lived between the towns of Streeter and Jamestown, where Emil worked as a butcher and meat trader. When Orville was old enough, he began helping his father with the slaughtering and cutting of meat, working alongside him in the family business.
The Bloch family eventually settled in Streeter, in a neighborhood mostly inhabited by families of German descent. Orville was small in stature—barely five feet three inches tall—and for that reason his friends nicknamed him “Weeny.” Despite his height, he had a sturdy build and an energetic temperament: he was athletic and played on his high school basketball and football teams.
During the years of the Great Depression he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public work relief program created by the Roosevelt administration. There, a counselor encouraged him to enroll in college. With only fifty-five dollars in his pocket but great determination, Orville was admitted to the North Dakota Agricultural College (today North Dakota State University), where he managed to obtain a small loan to pursue his studies in agricultural economics. His university path was interrupted several times by financial hardship.
In 1940 he left college to work at a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Rochester, Minnesota. By January 1942 he was only two credits short of graduating but lacked the funds to complete his degree. A few months later, thanks to a new loan, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, fulfilling the dream of a life marked by hardship and perseverance.
Recruitment and training
When the United States entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bloch tried to enlist. However, he was initially rejected by all branches of the armed forces because of his height: at five feet three inches, he was one inch below the minimum requirement. After being turned down by both the Navy and the Marine Corps, he finally succeeded in joining the Army as a private on February 20, 1942.
His determination did not go unnoticed. He successfully completed basic training and was admitted, with a special waiver, to the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. On October 22, 1942, he completed the course and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
He was then assigned to the 85th Infantry Division, which spent eleven months training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The division departed for North Africa on Christmas Eve 1943, where it completed its preparation for amphibious operations. In March 1944 he landed at Naples with his unit, bound for the Italian front. Orville Bloch was assigned to Company E of the 338th Infantry Regiment, part of the 85th Infantry Division of the U.S. Fifth Army.
The retreating enemy is still fighting, beyond Firenzuola
After the capture of Passo del Giogo on September 18, 1944, the columns of men and vehicles of the U.S. Fifth Army resumed their advance toward Firenzuola. The retreating German units organized new defensive positions both before the town, in the areas of Rifredo, Barco, and Casanuova, and on the heights to the north, while Firenzuola itself already lay in ruins after the Allied bombings.
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- Firenzuola – "Porta Fiorentina" before the war
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- Firenzuola, the town before the war, with its porticoes
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- Porta Fiorentina after the bombings
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- Firenzuola in rubble
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- The rubble of the Church
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- American soldiers among the rubble of Firenzuola
The town, fortunately evacuated on September 10, was reduced to a heap of rubble: even the fourteenth-century town hall built of pietra serena stone had been destroyed. Three American divisions—the 34th, 91st, and 85th—moved beyond the hills of Firenzuola, along the border between Tuscany and Emilia. The Germans responded with heavy artillery fire, but their aim was hindered by a smoke screen laid down by a U.S. chemical company, while Army engineers began constructing the first Bailey bridges across the Santerno River.
Meanwhile, the 88th “Blue Devils” Division, under orders from General Keyes, was tasked with advancing toward Imola. On the night of September 21, under heavy rain, its forward elements reached Castel del Rio, encountering only scattered resistance. North of Firenzuola, however, the fighting continued: although in retreat, the Germans mounted a stubborn defense until September 29, when the Raticosa Pass was finally taken.
The day after the fall of Passo del Giogo, on September 19 around 4 p.m., the first American infantry units entered Firenzuola. The soldiers moved cautiously among the shattered and mined buildings, where the streets were barely recognizable beneath the rubble. Meanwhile, the Germans quickly organized a defensive screen. As the bulk of their forces withdrew north along the ridge leading to the Raticosa Pass, passing through Covigliaio and Brento Sanico, a series of strongpoints and firing positions sought to slow the American advance up the Santerno Valley, particularly on the heights of the Monte Coloreta massif.
It was here that the troops of the 85th Infantry Division, and in particular the 338th Infantry Regiment—already heavily engaged at Monte Altuzzo—were ordered to eliminate the remaining German strongpoints along the ridge, clearing the crest line to allow the advance northward.
In one of these engagements, First Lieutenant Orville Emil Bloch distinguished himself. On September 22, 1944, he personally led three men in an assault on a fortified German position at Il Poggio, near Piancaldoli. Enemy fire had halted the American advance. Taking advantage of a steep, rocky ridge, Bloch and his men managed to outflank the German positions and strike the small garrison from the rear: nineteen Germans, entrenched in the village houses and armed with five MG machine guns, were taken completely by surprise and captured.
The Action of Orville Emile Bloch
On September 22, 1944, the 85th Division continued its advance northward beyond Firenzuola. Lieutenant Orville Bloch’s platoon was part of the battalion assigned to capture the heights of Monte Coloreta. Intense enemy fire from machine-gun positions along the ridges halted any movement, inflicting heavy losses on the advancing Americans. Those strongpoints had to be taken out one by one.
A particularly important strongpoint, which the Americans could not bypass, stood at elevation 724 in the hamlet of Il Poggio—a small cluster of nine farmhouses that the Germans had requisitioned and turned into a defensive stronghold. The village was naturally protected by a steep escarpment descending toward a stream feeding the Santerno River, making any frontal assault impossible.
Lieutenant Bloch then took the initiative. With only three volunteers, he decided to outflank the position by descending into the streambed and climbing about 160 meters up the rocky slope until he reached a sheltered spot behind the German defenses. From there, the four men advanced quietly toward the cluster of buildings at elevation 734, taking the enemy machine-gunners completely by surprise. Within moments they captured the defenders and disabled the weapons, opening the way for the battalion’s advance.
For this act of extraordinary courage, Orville Emil Bloch was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honour
- Presentation Date & Details: February 6, 1945 | Firenzuola, Italy, presented by Liutenant General Lucian K. Truscott.
- Born: February 10, 1915, Big Falls, Waupaca County, WI, USA.
- Died: May 28, 1983, Manson, WA, USA.
- Buried: Evergreen Washelli memorial park (MH), Seattle, WA, USA.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Bloch undertook the task of wiping out five enemy machine-gun nests that had held up the advance in that particular sector for one day. Gathering three volunteers from his platoon, the patrol snaked their way to a big rock, behind which a group of three buildings and five machine-gun nests were located. Leaving the three men behind the rock, he attacked the first machine-gun nest alone charging into furious automatic fire, kicking over the machine gun and capturing the machine-gun crew of five. Pulling the pin from a grenade, he held it ready in his hand and dashed into the face of withering automatic fire toward this second machine-gun nest located at the corner of an adjacent building 15 yards distant. When within 20 feet of the machine gun he hurled the grenade, wounding the machine gunner, the other two members of the crew fleeing into a door of the house. Calling one of his volunteer group to accompany him, they advanced to the opposite end of the house, there contacting a machine-gun crew of five running toward this house. First Lt. Bloch and his men opened fire on the enemy crew, forcing them to abandon this machine gun and ammunition and flee into the same house. Without a moment's hesitation, 1st Lt. Bloch, unassisted, rushed through the door into a hail of small-arms fire, firing his carbine from the hip, and captured the seven occupants, wounding three of them. First Lt. Bloch with his men then proceeded to a third house where they discovered an abandoned enemy machine gun and detected another enemy machine-gun nest at the next corner of the building. The crew of six spotted 1st Lt. Bloch the instant he saw them. Without a moment's hesitation he dashed toward them. The enemy fired pistols wildly in his direction and vanished through a door of the house, 1st Lt. Bloch following them through the door, firing his carbine from the hip, wounding two of the enemy and capturing six. Altogether 1st Lt. Bloch had singlehandedly captured 19 prisoners, wounding six of them and eliminating a total of five enemy machine-gun nests. His gallant and heroic actions saved his company many casualties and permitted them to continue the attack with new inspiration and vigor.
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For remarkable sense of duty and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lieutenant Bloch took on the task of annihilating five enemy machine gun positions that had blocked the advance in that particular sector (Firenzuola) for a day. Gathering three volunteers from his platoon, he formed a patrol that headed toward a large rock behind which was a group of three buildings and five machine-gun nests. Leaving the three men behind the rock, he single-handedly attacked the first machine gun nest by charging with furious automatic fire, blocking the machine gun and capturing the five machine guns. Taking the safety off a grenade, he held it ready in his hand and launched himself in the face of automatic fire toward the second machine gun nest located at the corner of an adjacent building, 15 meters away. Arriving within 20 meters of the machine gun, he hurled the grenade, wounding the machine gunner; the other two members of the firing group fled toward a door of the dwelling. Calling one of his volunteer patrol group to him, Orville Bloch and his soldier advanced toward the opposite end of the house, making contact with a five-machine gun squad. First, Lt. Bloch and his men opened fire at the enemy, forcing him to abandon his machine gun and ammunition and flee the house. Without a moment's hesitation, Lieutenant Bloch, alone, rushed through the door as small arms fire raged; he fired his carbine and captured the seven occupants, wounding three of them. Subsequently, Lt. Bloch and his men went to a third house, where they discovered an abandoned enemy machine gun and spotted another machine gun nest at the opposite corner of the building. The enemy squad spotted Lt. Bloch, who immediately rushed toward them. The enemy fired wildly with their guns in his direction, hiding in the house; but Lieutenant Bloch followed them by firing his rifle and wounding two enemies, while six others were captured. In all, Lieutenant Bloch single-handedly captured 19 prisoners and wounded six German soldiers, eliminating a total of five enemy machine gun positions. His brave and heroic actions saved the lives of many men in his Company, enabling them to continue the attack with renewed momentum and vigor.
He always said to me, so many men performed acts of valor and never got recognized for it. I was just doing my job.- ROBIN BLOCK, son of World War II Medal of Honor Recipient Orville Bloch
Orville's Bloch military career
After the war, Orville Emil Bloch remained in the Army, where he pursued a long and distinguished military career. He was first promoted to captain and assigned to the headquarters of the Far East Command, based in Tokyo, Japan, at the outset of the Korean conflict.
In 1951 he was promoted to major and, after the end of hostilities in 1953, was transferred to the headquarters of the Third Army in Atlanta. He later served with the Caribbean Command in the Panama Canal Zone.
In 1956 he was sent to Seattle and appointed Army advisor to the 41st Infantry Division of the Washington National Guard. During this assignment he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. A serious heart condition kept him from serving in Vietnam, but he continued to hold positions of responsibility until his retirement on January 31, 1970, with the rank of colonel. He would likely have been promoted to brigadier general had his health permitted. Thus ended twenty-eight years of active service.
His Legacy
In 1959 Bloch was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Infantry Officer Candidate School Two years later, in 1961, he received an award for his achievements as senior advisor to the Army’s G3 section, responsible for combat operations, while serving in Washington, D.C. In 1960 he had been elected vice president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of America, and in 1965 he received from North Dakota State University, his alma mater, the Alumni Achievement Award for his accomplishments in both his military and civilian career.
After his retirement, Bloch settled in Richmond Beach, near Seattle, where he and his family managed an apple orchard overlooking Lake Chelan. He was well known in the local community for his generosity, often donating boxes of apples to schools struggling with financial difficulties.
He died peacefully on May 28, 1983, at the age of sixty-eight, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones. In 2014, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord dedicated a street in his honor as a sign of gratitude.
Burial
Orville Emil Bloch rests in theEvergreen-Washelli Memorial Park in Seattle, Washington, Section W, Lot 0215, Grave 1.
Memory
Today, the figure of Orville Emil Bloch is remembered not only for the personal valor recognized by the Medal of Honor but also for his place in the history of these lands. His action on September 22, 1944—carried out among the rocks and forests of Firenzuola—contributed to the breakthrough of the Gothic Line and the Allied advance toward the Po Valley.
To remember his name is to give voice to one of the many soldiers who, with courage and determination, fought on these mountains for the freedom of Italy.
Bibliography
- Army Website, Medal of Honor Recipients, WWII
- The National Archives, Access to Archival Databases, Enlistment Records.
- Find a Grave, Memorials
- Donald K. and Helen L. Ross, Washington State Men of Valor (Burley, Washington: Coffee Break Press, 1980);
- “National Guard Adviser Named,” The Seattle Daily Times, July 4, 1956, p. 19;
- “Seattleites Parade at Inauguration,” Ibid., January 21, 1957, p. 6;
- “War Heroes To Be Feted at White House,” Ibid., April 25, 1963, p. 5;
- “Sunburnt Soldiers Sweat Out Training,” Ibid., June 21, 1968, p. 4;
- “Loyalty Day Ceremonies To Be Held at Ingraham,” Ibid., 1975, p. 25;
- “No Gas? There's Plenty To Do Close to Home,” Ibid., May 23, 1979, p. 43;
- Don Duncan, “A Final Tribute to Orville Bloch,” Ibid., June 3, 1983, p. 50.
