Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
In the summer of 1994 (50th of the Giogo Pass battles) I was at the Falciani American Military Cemetery where I had accompanied a good friend of mine to meet some veterans who had fought on the Gothic Line. Unexpectedly, the group was joined by a person, apparently the same age as the veterans, who walked up the slope of the cemetery to the main building shouting “Peace, peace!” and carrying a few copies of a “booklet” which he distributed among those present. It was the text “BREAK-THROUGH AT MOUNT ALTUZZO,” one of three chapters in the book “Three Battles: ARNAVILLE, ALTUZZO and SCHMIDT” published in 1993 by the “Center of Military History, United States Army, Washigton D.C.” to commemorate those three wartime events. The visitor then was none other than Colonel Willis Jackson himself, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 338th Regiment, 85th Division, which occupied precisely Mount Altuzzo.
At the moment my friend and I did not grasp the extraordinariness of that encounter, but then reading and rereading the booklet, I could know from “primary source” in great detail all the phases of the entire duration of the Battle of the Bunch, for the part conducted by the 338th Regiment. Among the many episodes described, I was struck by the behavior of Technical Sergeant Fred C. LANG of B Company during the ill-fated September 14 attack on the Western Ridge (also known as Peabody Peak after the Company Commander's name). Due to tactical errors, the Company was pinned down by enemy fire on the slope throughout the day, suffering heavy casualties. When all officers fell, command of the three Platoons gradually passed to junior non-commissioned officers. Among them was Sergeant Lang, who found himself bravely leading the remnants of the entire Company for a long time, expertly and effectively, until, on going to report to Commander Peabody, he was hit in the head by a bullet that killed him instantly. He was 24 years old.
I was not alone in my appreciation of Lang's heroic behavior in that as early as October he was awarded the Silver Star for his memory. Soon afterwards the command passed to Sergeant Keathley, but for a short time because while he was carelessly organizing his remaining forces to resist a strong German counterattack he too was killed by mortar fire. For this Keathley was also decorated in his memory, but with the Congressional Medal of Honor, America's highest honor. Both are buried at the Sickle Cell American Military Cemetery, a few dozen yards apart.
But let us return to Lang. The years at the turn of the 20th and 21st Centuries marked that extraordinary development we all know of the so-called “networks” via computer. It thus became possible to access previously inaccessible sources of information, so that my curiosity to learn more about Lang's personal aspects as well led me to discover, after many many attempts, the existence of a sister, Mrs. Lorna McCann, living in the small town of Tyndall, South Dakota to whom, having found a reliable mailing address, I wrote the following letter on October 21, 2004.
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 of 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 1st Battalion, 338 Regiment, 85 Infantry Division. He gave me a booklet entitled «Break-through at Mt. 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 Mount 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
Florence, October 21, 2004
Dear Ms. McCann,
I am a university professor and live in Florence, Italy. During World War II I was about six years old, nevertheless I was deeply influenced by the events I participated in when the front line passed through Florence in August 1944. In the following years I gradually became more and more interested in the history of the war in Italy collecting many documents and accounts. In 1994 I met some American veterans at the War Cemetery American located in the vicinity of Florence. Among them was Colonel W.O.Jackson at the time (1944) commander of the 1st Battalion, 338th Regiment, 85th Infantry Division. He gave me a booklet entitled “Break-through at Monte Altuzzo” which gave details of the fierce fighting conducted by his Battalion to capture the Giogo Pass (the first barrier of the Gothic Line in the Apennine Mountains). Reading the booklet I was very impressed by the bravery shown by a Technical Sergeant, Sgt. Fred C. Lang, during the attack on Mount Altuzzo, on September 14, at the end of which, unfortunately, he lost his life.
Some time later, I found out that Sgt. Lang was buried at the American War Cemetery.
From then on, every September 14 every year, I bring flowers to his grave as a grateful recognition of this soldier's sacrifice and to the freedom he helped give me, “one for all” along with the other more than 4,000 fellow soldiers who rest around him.
Recently, during an Internet search, I discovered a web page entered on Feb. 1, 2002, by J.J.Dayrider and L.M.Vanderlei, students at Avon School in Avon, South Dakota, describing the exploits of Sgt. Lang by his sister Lornie McCann. I was truly impressed and amazed to discover such a close relative of Sgt. Lang. Thanks to this web page I was then able to find what I hope is his address (through Mr. Robert Hajek, Tyndall S.D.). From that moment I felt the need to witness this feeling to you. So this letter.
I hope you will be pleased to know that someone does not forget your brother's sacrifice and is still grateful to him and sad for what his family has lost.
Sincerely.
Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
I noticed that the letter had reached its destination when shortly thereafter I received a reply, dated November 16 and handwritten, from Lang's sister (deceased in 2018). Here it is in full:
November 16, 2004
Dear Professor Bambagiotti,
I received your letter a week or two ago. What a nice surprise!!! Robert Hajek brought it to me at our farm. He entered the house, told me to take my glasses and sit down. Then he gave me the letter to read. I started to read aloud, but I began to cry, so that I read in silence. I cannot tell you how happy I am knowing that someone there in Florence visits my brother's burial and brings flowers to his grave. In 1989, my husband Gordon and I took a 17-day trip to Europe. We went to Italy 4 days and Florence was one of the destinations. So we reached the cemetery. I was escorted to Fred's grave.
How beautiful that place is. The lush grass, the color of the flowers, and the buildings are all so beautiful. Some time later I was sent a large photo of the cemetery. Fred's daughter Susanna also came there to visit her daddy's grave. That was just a year ago. She lives in Pierce, Nebraska, about 100 miles away. Fred also has a son who lives in Lawton, Iowa. He is a former football coach and teacher.... To this day Tom has never had or wielded a weapon. His wife is still alive. She remarried after Fred's children were raised. Fred saw his son but not his daughter. But he knew he had a daughter before he was killed.
She tells me she has a booklet “Break-trough at Mount Atuzzo”. I have the book “U.S.Army in Word War II” which contains three battles Arnaville, Altuzzo and Schmidt.” Is this Colonel W.O.Jackson still alive ? He may have been the last person to speak to Fred. Fred had a “...?” who was in the “Commissions” in the Army in England at that time. He kept himself very much in the know about Fred for a long time. Fred came from a large family.
There were 7 boys and 4 girls in our family. They all died minus my only brother in Norfolk, Neb. and a sister in Janesville, Wisconsin. My brother, Harold, also told me that he is going 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 were recently on a committee that built a “Veteran Memorial” in Tyndall. This is also very nice. Bob told me he will send you a copy of their book they did.
Thank you again very much! I would be pleased to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Lornie McCann
More letters followed until Christmas 2006, after which correspondence ceased.
It was a great satisfaction for me to have found, directly in the United States, such a touching contact with the sister of a fallen man from the American Sickle Cell Cemetery, 58 years after his passing.
Massimo Bambagiotti Alberti
