Alphonso Mosley

PRIVATE ALPHONSO MOSLEY was born in New Jersey in 1915. He had a grammar school education, and was single when he was inducted into the Army, and had lived at 1028 South 8th Street in Camden NJ. He entered the service at Trenton NJ on July 30, 1941, along with Herbert R. Williams, and served as an infantryman in the 366th Infantry Regiment. 

Private Mosley was killed in action on December 26, 1944. Originally listed as missing in action, his body was recovered in the summer of 1945, and he was buried at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy. His death was reported in the Camden Courier-Post on October 12, 1945.

Private Mosley lost his life in the action described below

Christmas sacrifice, trial by fire mark heroism in 92nd

by S.H. Kelly, MDW News Service

WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 13, 1996 -- The 92nd Infantry Division was one of the two largest "all-black" units to serve in combat during World War II -- the other being the 93rd, which fought in the Pacific Theater.

The 366th Infantry Regiment, to which 1st Lt. John R. Fox was assigned, had been in Italy since May 1944. Initially the regiment was used for air-base security, but with the arrival of the 92nd, it became that division's fourth regiment Nov. 30.

It was not, however, deployed as a regiment; battalion- and company-size elements were attached to the other divisional units already on line. Fox's Cannon Company found itself attached to the 370th, which was also 1st Lt. Vernon Joseph Baker's regiment.

Now one regiment over strength, the 92nd was given responsibility for the Fifth Army's western flank -- some 20 miles of mountainous front line. The corps leaders knew the 92nd faced at least the German 148th Grenadier Division and that two Italian divisions were in the area. They also suspected five more German divisions were nearby.

Plans for a Christmas Day attack required the 370th's second battalion to advance into Sommocolonia, which it did, but the attack was called off. The battalion withdrew from the town -- all except the 366th's Company F and a Company H platoon. Fox remained to act as a forward observer for the 598th Field Artillery Battalion.

During the night, German soldiers dressed as civilians infiltrated the town. About 4 the next morning the enemy began shelling, and a ground attack followed.

Soon the fighting was door-to-door, and the infantry soldiers were requesting mortar and artillery support as they attempted to withdraw. Fox and his observer party remained on the second floor of a house to direct the fire support.

Fox now reported that Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. Soon the rounds were falling close to his position, but he told his battalion commander, "That round was just where I wanted it. Bring it in 60 more yards."

With the Germans at his door, he requested a smoke screen to cover the withdrawal of the rest of the force, then asked that the distance between his position and the last barrage be halved for the next.

Fox's next correction caused his commander to protest, "Fox, that will be on you!"

The lieutenant again requested the fire. "Fire it," he said. "There's more of them than there are of us. Give them hell!" It was Fox's last communication. His body and those of his party were found among more than 100 German bodies when the position was retaken.

Fox received a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross.