"Last Shot" Memorial, Fort Benning Georgia
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97th Infantry Division Monument
Was
Dedicated
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October 12, 2000 at Fort Benning,
Georgia
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The 97th Infantry Division was credited
with firing the last official shot in
the European Theatre of Operations
during World War II. This shot was fired
by Company B, 387 Regiment on the night
of May 7th, 1945 near Pilsen,
Czechoslovakia, ending the greatest war
in the history of mankind (Pfc. Domenic
Mozzetta of Company B, 387th Infantry
Regiment, 97th Division, fired at a
German sniper near Klenovice,
Czechoslovakia shortly before midnight,
May 7, 1945.).
At a recent reunion, a committee of
WWII Veterans from Company B concluded
that an appropriate marker, to
commemorate the “Last Shot”, be erected
in the Memorial Park at Ft. Benning,
Georgia. This monument will serve to
preserve the memory of the historic role
played by the 97th Infantry Division in
that conflict. The memorial is made of
black granite with a bas relief of an
M-1 rifle, symbolic of laying down of
arms and the end of war. Appropriate
inscriptions are shown on the sides
recognizing all military services that
contributed in bringing the WWII
hostilities to an end.
The committee raised the funds from
individual veterans, veterans’
organizations, businesses and other
organizations. The monument was erected
and was dedicated October 12, 2000.
Homer Knight, of B Company, 387th
Infantry, made the Dedication
speech.
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A SPECIAL NOTE:
Domenic Mozzetta who fired last shot in Europe suffered from Alzheimer's
Disease and passed away 18 Dec 2001.
We have been advised by a member of the 387th Inf.: "Homer (Knight) informs that the rifleman credited with firing the "last shot" on the knight of 7 May 1945, in Czechoslovakia has passed away. He was Dominic Mozzetta of Co "B" of the 387th, of which Homer Knight was the Commanding Officer. Dominic, in recent years, had suffered from alzheimers and was unable to be present when the monument was dedicated".
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