by Filippo Spadi
Gary and Jordan Humble are the son and grandson of Capt. Joe Humble, commander of Co.L of the 135th Regiment of the 34th Red Bull Division. For them Gotica Toscana organized a battlefield tour - a visit to the battle compound - which started at the Gotica Toscana Museum, where the monument to the 34th Red Bull is erected, and then continued on the battlefields.
Numerous artefacts from the 135th and 133rd Rgt. Sector are on display at our Museum, including the personal effects of Pfc. Raymond Chamberland, also Co. L, who died on 14 September 1944 during the hard fighting that the Company found itself facing under Monte Frassino; having left the previous day from Barberino di Mugello, Co. L of the III Battalion found itself faced with important, well-entrenched German resistance.
For Gary and Jordan it was a thrill to walk around the fox holes of the unit commanded by his father and grandfather and see the German positions with their own eyes. Joe never returned to Italy, the nightmares that came back to him were too strong; many survivors of the two companies of the 34th have always remembered those days as days of hell, made of "sweat, blood and death", testifying that the 34th Infantry Division not only carried out a fake diversionary attack, but was actually the third division engaged in the breakthrough of the central Gothic Line.
Thanks to the Humble family for sharing their family memories with us and for the beautiful day spent together.
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Gary and Jordan Humble are the son and grandson of Capt. Joe Humble, commander of Co.L of the 135th Regiment of the 34th Red Bull Division. A battlefield tour started at the MUGOT Museum Gotica where the monument to the 34th Red Bull is erected and then continued on the battlefields. Many WWII relics from the 135th and 133th Rgt Sector are on display in our museum. including personal effects of Pfc Raymond Chamberland, also Co. L, who was Killed in Action on 14 September 1944 during the hard fighting approaching Monte Frassino; having left the previous day from Barberino di Mugello, Co. L of the III Battalion found itself faced with important, well-entrenched German resistance. For Gary and Jordan it was an emotion to walk around the fox holes of the unit commanded by his father and grandfather and see the German positions with their own eyes. Joe never returned to Italy, the nightmares that came back to him were too strong; many survivors of the two companies of the 34th have always remembered those days as days of hell made of “sweat, blood and death” testifying that the 34th Infantry Division carried out not only a fake diversionary attack but was actually the third division involved in the breakthrough of the Central Gothic Line. Thanks to the Humble family for sharing their family memories with us and for the beautiful day spent together.
