Soldiers join Italians to remember WWII Lake Garda tragedy, Colonel Darby

NAGO-TORBOLE, Italy - Under the shadow of the Italian Alps, where the echoes of World War II finally fell silent eight decades ago, U.S. Soldiers and Italian community members gathered this week to honor a legacy of sacrifice that remains anchored in the deep waters of Lake Garda.

The ceremonies marked the 81st anniversary of April 30, 1945-a day of dual tragedies for the U.S. Army. It was on this date, just days before the German surrender in Italy, that an enemy shell in Torbole killed Colonel William O. Darby, the legendary founder of the Rangers, and his senior enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. John "Tim" Evans.

Hours later, an amphibious vehicle carrying 26 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division sank in the lake's frigid depths. Only one man survived. For Bradley Galvin, the weight of that history is personal. He traveled to Italy to represent his great-grandfather, Pfc. Frank J. Miller, who was among the 25 men lost in the lake.

"I've kind of known about it probably since I was a kid, but I didn't really know the full story," Galvin said. "I didn't know that it was a major event that other people would know about."

Standing near the shoreline where his great-grandfather was last seen, Galvin noted the importance of the pilgrimage.

"I'm kind of excited for all the events, but also to remember my great-grandfather died here," he said. "They were very important historical events and should keep being remembered."

During an evening ceremony in Torbole's piazza, Col. Vaughn Strong, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, remarked that Darby was only 34, yet his leadership shaped the U.S. Army Rangers.

"His legacy endures in our formations and at Camp Darby, our U.S. Army post in Pisa, which bears his name," Strong said. "As we mark the 81st anniversary, we reflect on what this day represents, leadership in combat, sacrifice at every level and the enduring bond between our Soldiers and the Italian communities who keep this history alive."

Wreaths were presented and Bobby J. White, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8862, read the names of those who died.

The remembrance was not limited to a solemn ceremony. During the day, service members, to include Soldiers from the States joined paratroopers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Soldiers from U.S. Army Garrison Italy for a grueling 40-mile road march beside the lake, retracing the final "race" to the Alps led by Darby's men.

Pvt. Mitchell Crawford, of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, said he'd never undertaken such an endurance event.

"First I came here to honor the fallen but it's also a personal challenge for me," Crawford, said. "After the first 20 miles, I really started hurting. I just focused on getting it done."

For others, like Spc. Elyieth Barton of 2/503rd's Chosen Company, the march was a test of future leadership.

"I thought about Rangers and my future," Barton said. "I wanted to attempt this and see if I have what it takes to do it. And I guess I do."

The local Italian community remains a vital partner in preserving this history. Ben Appleby and Antonella Previdi, co-founders of the Benàch Historical Research Association, have spent years documenting these final battles. Their research led to the 2023 documentary, "The Lost Mountaineers," and helped bring families for the fallen, like Galvin's, to Italy.

"The fighting here and the Soldiers who died here were the last Soldiers who died in Italy in World War II," Previdi said, noting that Darby's death remains a focal point for military historians. "It's something that makes this place very special."

Capt. Anthony Dove, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USAG Italy, emphasized that these events are more than just memorials. They are vital for Soldiers to learn from history.

"Learning from mistakes or what happened in the past is also a training tool that we can use in the future," Dove said. "Just being there, seeing that, honoring Colonel Darby and the 10th Mountain Soldiers, it's an emotional and significant event."

The amphibious vehicle remains submerged under 200 meters of water. After the walk and the ceremony, Sgt. Ernesto Ortiz-Montero of the 173rd Airborne Brigade reflected on the enduring bond between the Soldiers and the Italian population.

"The Italians see us... they see us doing things that have their culture and our culture in it," Ortiz-Montero said. "I feel like they love us. We love them. We're building that cohesion that everybody wants."