Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
In the summer of 1994 (50th anniversary of the battles of Passo del Giogo), I was at the American Military Cemetery of Falciani, where I had accompanied a dear friend to meet some veterans who had fought on the Gothic Line. Unexpectedly, the group was joined by a person, seemingly the same age as the veterans, who climbed the cemetery slope to the main building shouting "Peace, peace!" and carrying with him several copies of a "pamphlet" that he distributed among those present. It was the text *"BREAK-THROUGH AT MONTE ALTUZZO"*, one of the three chapters of the book *"Three Battles: ARNAVILLE, ALTUZZO and SCHMIDT"*, published in 1993 by the *Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington D.C.* to commemorate those three military events. The visitor was none other than Colonel Willis Jackson himself, commander of the 1st Battalion, 338th Regiment, 85th Division, who had occupied Monte Altuzzo.
At the time, my friend and I didn’t fully grasp the significance of that meeting, but later, reading and rereading the pamphlet, I was able to learn, from a “primary source,” all the details of the entire Battle of Passo del Giogo, specifically the part fought by the 338th Regiment. Among the many episodes described, what struck me was the behavior of Technical Sergeant Fred C. Lang of Company B during the unfortunate attack on September 14th on the Western Ridge (also known as Peabody Peak, named after the Company Commander). Due to tactical errors, the company was pinned down by enemy fire on the slope for the entire day, suffering heavy losses. When all the officers fell, command of the three platoons passed to the lower-ranking non-commissioned officers. Among them was Sergeant Lang, who courageously led the remnants of the entire company for a long time, with skill and effectiveness, until, when reporting to Commander Peabody, he was struck in the head by a bullet that killed him instantly. He was 24 years old.
I was not the only one to appreciate Lang’s heroic actions, as by October, he had been posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Immediately afterward, command passed to Sergeant Keathley, but only for a short time, as while he was organizing the remaining forces to resist a strong German counterattack, without regard for his own safety, he too was killed by a mortar shell. For this, Keathley was also posthumously decorated, but with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest American distinction. Both are buried at the American Military Cemetery of Falciani, just a few dozen meters apart from each other.
But let’s return to Lang. The years between the 20th and 21st centuries marked the extraordinary development of the so-called "networks" accessible via computers. This made it possible to access previously inaccessible sources of information, and my curiosity to learn more about Lang’s personal aspects led me, after many attempts, to discover the existence of a sister, Mrs. Lorna McCann, living in the small town of Tyndall, South Dakota. After finding a reliable postal address, on October 21, 2004, I wrote the following letter to her.
Florence, October 21th, 2004
Dear Mrs. McCann,
I am an University professor and I live in Florence, Italy. During the second world war I was about six years old; nevertheless I was deeply affected by the events I attended when the front line passed through Florence, during the summer 1944. In the following years I became more and more interested in the history of war in Italy collecting a great deal of documents and reports. In 1994 I met some American veterans at the American War Cemetery that lies on the outskirts of Florence. Among them was Colonel W.O.Jackson, at that time (1944) the commander of 1° Battalion, 338 Regiment, 85 Infantry Division. He gave me a booklet entitled «Break-through at Monte Altuzzo», reporting in minute details the fierce fight made by its Battalion to capture the «Giogo Pass» (the first natural barrier of Gothic Line on the Northern Apennine Mountains). Reading the booklet I was particularly impressed by the bravery displayed by a Technical Sergeant, Sgt. Fred C. Lang, during the attack of Monte Altuzzo, occurred on September 14 th , at the end of which, unfortunately, he lost his life.
A short time after, I discovered that Sgt Lang was buried at the Florence War Cemetery.
Since then onwards, each September 14 th of every year I put flowers on its grave to gratefully acknowledge the sacrifice of this soldier and the liberty he contribute to take me; “one for all” within the over 4,000 other fellow soldiers resting with him thereabouts.
Recently, during an Internet search, I discovered a web page submitted on February 1, 2002, by Josh J. DayRider and Lisa M. Vanderlei, students at Avon Schools in Avon, South Dakota, briefly describing the achievements of Sgt. Lang provided by its sister Lornie. I was really impressed and astonished in discovering such a close relative of Sgt. Lang. Thanks to that web page I was then able to find what I hope it would be your address (trough the name of Mr. Robert Hajek, Tyndall S.D.). From that moment I’ve felt the need to witness this sentiment to you. So this letter.
I hope you would be pleased to know that somebody still not forget the sacrifice of your brother and is still grateful to him and sorrow for what his family lost.
Yours faithfully.
Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
Firenze, 21 Ottobre 2004
Cara Sig.ra McCann,
sono un professore Universitario e vivo a Firenze, Italia. Durante la seconda guerra mondiale avevo circa sei anni, nondimeno fui profondamente influenzato dagli eventi a cui partecipai quando la linea del fronte passò da Firenze, nell’Agosto 1944. Negli anni seguenti divenni via via più interessato alla storia della guerra in Italia raccogliendo tanti documenti e resoconti. Nel 1994 incontrai alcuni veterani Americani al Cimitero di Guerra Americano che si trova nei dintorni di Firenze. Tra questi c’era il Colonnello W.O.Jackson al tempo (1944) comandante del 1°Battaglione, 338°Reggimento, 85°Divisione Fanteria. Egli mi dette un libretto intitolato “Break-through at Monte Altuzzo” che riportava dettagli dei feroci combattimenti condotti dal suo Battaglione per catturare il Passo del Giogo (la prima barriera della Linea Gotica sulle montagne dell’Appennino). Leggendo il libretto fui molto colpito dal coraggio mostrato da un Sergente Tecnico, il Sgt. Fred C. Lang, durante l’attacco a Monte Altuzzo, il 14 Settembre, alla fine del quale, sfortunatamente, egli perse la vita.
Qualche tempo dopo, scoprii che il Sgt. Lang era sepolto al Cimitero di Guerra Americano.
Da allora in poi, ogni 14 Settembre di ogni anno, io porto fiori sulla sua tomba come grato riconoscimento del sacrificio di questo soldato e alla libertà che egli contribuì a darmi, “uno per tutti” insieme agli altri oltre 4.000 commilitoni che riposano intorno a lui.
Recentemente, durante una ricerca Internet, ho scoperto una pagina web inserita il 1°Febbraio 2002 da J.J.Dayrider e L.M.Vanderlei, studenti della Scuola di Avon, in Avon, Sud Dakota, per descrivere le gesta del Sgt. Lang a cura di sua sorella Lornie McCann. Fui realmente colpito e stupito nello scoprire un parente così stretto del Sgt. Lang. Grazie a questa pagina web sono stato quindi in grado di trovare quello che spero sia il suo indirizzo (tramite il Sig. Robert Hajek, Tyndall S.D.). Da quel momento ho sentito il bisogno di testimoniare questo sentimento a Lei. Quindi questa lettera.
Spero le farà piacere sapere che qualcuno non dimentica il sacrificio di suo fratello ed è ancora grato a lui e triste per quanto la sua famiglia ha perduto.
Cordiali saluti.
Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
I realized that the letter had reached its destination when shortly after, I received a handwritten reply, dated November 16, from Lang’s sister (who passed away in 2018). Here it is in full:
November 16, 2004
Dear Professor Bambagiotti,
I received your letter one or two weeks ago. What a lovely surprise!! Robert Hajek brought it to our farm. He came into the house, told me to get my glasses and sit down. Then he handed me the letter to read. I started reading it aloud, but I began to cry, so I read it in silence. I cannot tell you how happy I am knowing that someone in Florence visits my brother’s grave and brings flowers to his tomb. In 1989, my husband Gordon and I took a 17-day trip to Europe. We spent 4 days in Italy, and Florence was one of the stops. So we visited the cemetery. I was taken to Fred’s grave.
How beautiful that place is. The lush grass, the color of the flowers, and the buildings are all so lovely. Some time later, a large photo of the cemetery was sent to me. Fred's daughter, Susanna, also came there to visit her father's grave. This was just about a year ago. She lives in Pierce, Nebraska, about 100 miles from here. Fred also has a son who lives in Lawton, Iowa. He is a former football coach and a teacher. To this day, Tom has never had or held a weapon. His wife is still alive. She remarried after Fred's children were grown. Fred met his son but never his daughter. But he knew he had a daughter before he was killed.
She tells me she has a pamphlet titled "Break-through at Monte Altuzzo." I have the book "U.S. Army in World War II," which contains three battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt. Is Colonel W.O. Jackson still alive? He might have been the last person to speak with Fred. Fred had a "…?" who was in the "Commissions" in the Army in England at that time. He kept very well informed about Fred for a long time. Fred came from a large family.
There were 7 boys and 4 girls in our family. All of them have passed away except for my only brother in Norfolk, Nebraska, and a sister in Janesville, Wisconsin. My brother, Harold, also told me that he is about to write to you. I have copied your letter and will send it to my sister, brother, and Fred's children. Robert Hajek is a very good friend. He and my husband have recently been on a committee that built a "Veteran Memorial" in Tyndall. This is also very beautiful. Bob told me he will send you a copy of their book that they made.
Thank you again very much! I would be pleased to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Lornie McCann
Other letters followed until Christmas 2006, after which the correspondence stopped.
It was a great satisfaction for me to have found, directly in the United States, such a moving contact with the sister of a fallen soldier from the American Cemetery of Falciani, 58 years after his death.
Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
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