The early morning darkness of March 22, 1944, was cloudy with no moonlight to guide the three inflatable boats carrying 15 United States soldiers and 650 pounds of dynamite on a secret mission, almost 250 miles behind enemy lines on the rocky Ligurian coast near Framura, in occupied Italy.

Their mission—to locate and destroy two train tunnels, where the Genoa-La Spieza lines joined together to meet the seashore. These rail lines were the main supply arteries to Anzio. As well-trained soldiers for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to the CIA, these volunteers were chosen for this specific mission because of their Italian heritage and their ability to speak Italian.