South of the abbey, partaking in the first assault towards the Cassino town itself, the 36th Texas Division advanced three hours after sunset on January 20th, 1944. The approach to the Rapido River, west of the Abbey, was still hazardous due to uncleared mines and booby traps, and the highly technical business of an opposed river crossing lacked the necessary planning and rehearsal. The 143rd Regiment was able to get across the Rapido to the south, with the 141st Regiment to the north.

This particular photograph would have been taken sometime before February, 1944. The Germans had blown a dam upriver in preparation of their defenses, as a result, the river current and the banks would have been swift and swollen during the 36th Division's assault.