Returning to Torbole: Grandson of 10th Mountain Division Soldier Retraces His Grandfather's Footsteps

Andrew Dayton retraces his grandfather's path through the battlefields of Lake Garda and honours the men who liberated the eastern shores of the lake in April 1945.  Andrew's grandfather Samuel Gray Dayton a soldier of Company H of the 86th Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division (the American Alpini), who liberated the towns on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, including Nago-Torbole.

His grandfather had spoken above all of the battle of the Gardesana tunnels, and in particular of the Tunnel of Death. Ben Appleby and I accompanied Andy to that very place, where he was able to pause for a moment of reflection and prayer.

We then showed him the two monuments in Piazza Lietzmann: the one dedicated to the 25 soldiers who perished in the sinking of the amphibious vessel on April 30, 1945 and the one in memory of General William O. Darby, founder of the U.S. Army Rangers and Deputy Commander of the 10th Mountain Division, killed in Torbole together with Sergeant Major John Tim Evans on the same day.

In the evening, at our headquarters, we shared with Andy and his friend Joshua our documentary "The Lost Mountaineers".

Welcoming the families of the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division is part of our mission — alongside historical research and spreading awareness. Because every story deserves to be remembered.

Andrew Dayton and Ben Appleby from the Association Benach at the monunment to the 25 men who died when their DUKW sank.

Andrew Dayton with Antonella Previdi from the Association Benach at the monument to Bridgadier General William O.Darby

At the Association Benach Welocome/Research Centre in Torbole

At the Association Benach Welocome/Research Centre in Torbole

At the Association Benach Welocome/Research Centre in Torbole

Screening The Lost Mountaineers at Association Benach for Andrew and Josh

Andrew Dayton watching The Lost Mountaineers

#Benàch #Torbole #LakeGarda #10thMountainDivision #Darby #TheLostMountaineers #Memory #History #WWII #Italy 

l'Associazione Benàch APS (Historical Research 1914-1945)

ha avuto l'onore e il piacere di accogliere Andrew Dayton, nipote di Samuel Gray Dayton, soldato della Compagnia H dell’87 Reggimento della 10ª Divisione da Montagna (gli Alpini americani), che liberò le cittadine della sponda orientale del Lago di Garda, inclusa Nago-Torbole.

Il nonno di Andrew aveva raccontato soprattutto della battaglia delle gallerie della Gardesana, e in particolare della Galleria della Morte. Ben Appleby e io abbiamo accompagnato Andy proprio in quel luogo, dove ha potuto fermarsi in un momento di raccoglimento e preghiera.

Gli abbiamo poi mostrato i due monumenti di Piazza Lietzmann: quello dedicato ai 25 soldati caduti nell'affondamento dell'anfibio il 30 aprile 1945 e quello in memoria del Generale William O. Darby, fondatore dei Rangers americani e vice-comandante della 10ª Divisione da Montagna, ucciso a Torbole insieme al Sergente Maggiore John Tim Evans lo stesso giorno.

In serata, presso la nostra sede, abbiamo condiviso con Andy e il suo amico Joshua il nostro documentario "The Lost Mountaineers".

Accogliere i familiari dei soldati della 10ª Divisione da Montagna è parte della nostra missione — insieme alla ricerca storica e alla divulgazione. Perché ogni storia merita di essere ricordata.

#Benàch #Torbole #LagodiGarda #10thMountainDivision #Darby #TheLostMmountaineers #Memoria #Storia #WWII #SecondaGuerraMondiale