By early February, American infantry had captured a strategic point near the hamlet of San Onofrio, less than a mile from the abbey and by 7 February a battalion had reached Point 445, a round-topped hill immediately below the monastery and no more than 400 yards (370 m) away.
I begyndelsen af februar havde amerikansk infanteri erobret et strategisk punkt i nærheden af bebyggelsen San Onofrio, 1½ km fra klosteret, og den 7. februar nåede en bataljon Punkt 445, en bakketop lige nedenfor klosteret, ikke mere end 350 meter borte.