The landing craft continued to come, unload their personnel, and back out into the water, while the German dive bombers returned again and again. The paratroopers ran down the ramps and jumped into the surf. Some went into their knees, some to their waists, and some went in over their heads and swam for the shore. And all the while the German planes continued to roar in from the sun to bomb and strafe. The ship borne anti-aircraft units sent up a terrific barrage, but nobody in the 504 was watching for hits-they were too busy getting ashore and seeking cover.

Two days later, the regiment was ordered to the right flank of the beachhead where German elements had forced the withdrawal of Third Division reconnaissance units in the vicinity of bridges number Two and number Five over the Mussolini Canal.

Near bridge number Five, Lt. Col. W. R. Williams, commanding the 1st Battalion, ordered B Company to attack the Germans in that vicinity. After an unsuccessful attempt to take the bridge, a platoon of A Company was committed along with a platoon of tanks. Four hours later, with the aid of tanks and 57mm guns manned by the 376, the enemy was pushed across the canal and bridge number Five was secured.

In the vicinity of bridge number Two, Lt. Col. L. G. Freeman, commanding the 3rd Battalion, committed I Company to clear the sector. The company was ambushed, however, and forced to take up defensive positions. At dawn of the 24th, I Company, now reinforced by a platoon of tanks and naval gunfire from the sea, counter-attacked frontally while G and H Companies brought the enemy under cross fire from the flanks. Two hours later the enemy, after suffering 69 killed, 25 wounded, 33 prisoners, two halftracks knocked out and one captured, was driven back to the other side of the canal. 504 casualties were two men killed, three wounded, and none missing.

Following days found the regiment patrolling actively and consolidating its line along the Mussolini Canal. It was then decided to attack the town of Borgo Piave, an important road center that came to be known as the "spider", because of the five main roads that joined in the city.

At 1330 on January 25, all three battalions moved out in the attack. The 1st Battalion attacked Sessano, the 3rd Battalion Borgo Sabatino, and the 2nd Battalion made the main drive for Borgo Piave. The 3rd Battalion attained its objective and pushed strong combat patrols to the North and East supported by naval gunfire. The 1st Battalion encountered stiff opposition and heavy enemy artillery fire, nevertheless, a small group of C Company men did reach the objective - Sessano. The 2nd Battalion, supported by a rolling barrage, reached Borgo Piave and D Company pushed 200 yards East of the town. However, the enemy counter-attacked with an armored force of about five tanks and eight flak wagons and isolated D Company from the remainder of the battalion. Upon order from the Third Division, the 2nd Battalion withdrew to the Mussolini Canal leaving behind a strong combat outpost and several tank-hunting teams. D Company, after suffering heavy losses, subsequently infiltrated through the enemy's encirclement and regained their own lines.

As a result of these operations, the regiment had gained outpost positions on the other side of the canal, but generally speaking, had not advanced any appreciable distance-the MLR still remaining along the Mussolini Canal.

After a week of holding and attacking along a front extending from bridge number Five south to the sea, the 504 was relieved in this sector by the 179th Infantry. The 3rd Battalion was attached to the First Armored Division and sent to the Northern (British) flank of the beachhead, while the remainder of the Combat Team was sent North of bridge number Five to participate in an attack scheduled to take place in the Third Division sector.

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