Thirty five members of the American base, Camp Darby were in Barga this morning along with Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Bigelman a native of Killeen, Texas, graduate of the United States Military Academy and from last year, the new head of the camp in Livorno. They were here as part of the continuing program of visits by the American forces to Sommocolonia, the site where the Buffalo Division fought their battle on the 26th December 1944 in which 150 people including American, Austrian, German soldiers and Italian partisans and residents lost their lives.
When a massive German assault was launched on this windswept mountain village in December 1944, a scant two platoons of American infantrymen were dug in here. Their own commanding officers expected them to throw down their guns and run.
But for twenty critical hours, the tiny complement of seventy G.I.s — all of them black, from the U.S. Army’s segregated 92nd Infantry Division — held out against an offensive that might have changed the course of World War Two.
One of those who died that day was Lt. John Fox. On January 13, 1997, he and six other black Americans were posthumously presented with the Congressional Medal of Honour by the then President of the United States, Bill Clinton for their actions in World War Two. -- full article about John Fox from Frank Viviano here
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The visits this morning also coincided with the “Black History Month” -- a remembrance of the events in the history of the African diaspora. Since 1976, it is celebrated annually in the United States of America and Canada in February. In the U.S., Black History Month is also referred to as African-American History Month. Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. The goal of Black History Week was to educate the American people about African-Americans’ cultural backgrounds and reputable achievements.*
Lt. Col.Vittorio Lino Biondi, explaining (in English and Italiano) the exact dynamics of the battle for Sommocolonia in 1944
The visitors this morning arrived on foot via the old mule track up from Catagnana along with their guide, Lt. Col.Vittorio Lino Biondi, historian and co-author of the book “La Battaglia di Sommocolonia” (article here)
They were met by the Mayor of Barga, Marco Bonini and shown the remains of the tower left standing in Sommocolonia after the battle and viewed the plaques on the tower installed during 2004 to commemorate the American soldier, Giacomo Martorana who died in the Normandy Landings and who’s family came from this area. -- full article and images from 2004 here
They then moved on to a short visit of the museum before laying wreaths at the memorial for the fallen partisans and John Fox at Monticino.
The citation for John Fox read out at the memorial on Monticino.
Upon returning to Barga they were invited to Palazzo Pancrazi for an official welcome and exchange of gifts with the Barga Administration.
*Black History Month sparks an annual debate about the continued usefulness of a month dedicated to the history of one race. Several journalists argue the advantages and disadvantages of emphasizing one month of the year to promote African American History.
It is seldom argued that America’s youth does not at least somewhat benefit from having an annual Black History Month, however, several critics argue that the adult population now perceives the month of February from a different angle
One argument states the question: why is black history celebrated over the shortest month of the year? It is argued that Black History Month has become a “ready made excuse to ignore African American history for the other 11 months of the year”, thus promoting racism. Journalists argue that by dedicating a single month of the year to black history, it provokes a tendency for people to assume that black history is separate from American history. Joseph Wayne states that “One month out of every year, Americans are given permission to commemorate the achievements of black people. This rather condescending view fails to acknowledge that a people and a country’s past should be nurtured and revered; instead, at this time, the past of black Americans is handled in an expedient and cavalier fashion denigrating the very people it seeks to honour”. Prominent African-American Morgan Freeman has publicly condemned BHM, asking “why would you relegate my history to a single month?”
Un nuovo importante momento nel segno dell’amicizia fra Barga e gli Stati Uniti, legati nel dolore e nel ricordo dalla tragica battaglia di Sommocolonia del 26 dicembre 1944, dove tra soldati americani e tedeschi, civili e partigiani persero la vita circa 150 persone.
Stamattina a Sommocolonia si è svolta la visita di una numerosa delegazione dei militari e del personale di Camp Darby, la base statunitense di Livorno, guidati dal comandante americano della base, il tenente colonello Bigelman e dal vice comandante.
La visita faceva parte delle iniziative in programma per celebrare il “Black History Month”, un momento sentito e particolare in America, con il mese di febbraio dedicato alla Memoria e alla celebrazione della storia del popolo Afro-Americano. Da qui a Sommocolonia il passo è breve. In questo piccolo paese montano, in quella tragica battaglia persero la vita i soldati di colore della Buffalo Division e tra questi il ten. John Fox, poi insignito alla memoria dal presidente Clinton della medaglia d’oro al valore per aver fatto dirigere il fuoco delle artiglierie amiche sulla propria postazione pur di fermare l’avanzata degli alpini austriaci che stavano attaccando Sommocolonia.
Già un anno fa una delegazione di soldati afroamericani era stata a Sommocolonia, ma stavolta la delegazione era ancora più numerosa, circa 40 soldati che sono voluti giungere a Sommocolonia ripercorrendo la vecchia mulattiera che arriva al paese da Catagnana. Una scelta voluta per conoscere meglio il territorio della battaglia di Santo Stefano. Di seguito la visita della Rocca alla Pace ed al Museo che raccoglie documenti e reperti della Seconda Guerra Mondiale allestito e curato dal locale Comitato Paesano, sempre molto attivo, che peraltro ha accolto con grande ospitalità i soldati americani.
La visita a Sommocolonia si è conclusa con la deposizione di una corona americana e di una corona portata dall’Amministrazione Comunale di Barga, presente peraltro con il sindaco Marco Bonini e diversi amministratori, al monumento ai caduti di Monticino, dove si ricordano i partigiani morti nella battaglia oltre che il sacrificio eroico del tenente John Fox. Il cappellano militare di Camp Darby ha detto per tutti una preghiera mentre il gruppo dei soldati americani ha reso omaggio al loro eroe, ricordano la storia del ten. John Fox.
La visita si è conclusa con il saluto ufficiale del sindaco, Marco Bonini, che ha accolto il gruppo nella sala Consiliare di Palazzo Pancrazi a Barga.