William Alvey

Painting by Sergi Cadenas shows human aging as you walk by it

On December 23, 1944, First Lieutenant John Robert Fox established an observational post in the Italian town of Sommocolonia, which was under threat from Nazi forces. Being part of the sole Black infantry division in the U.S. Army that engaged in combat during World War II, this was 29-year-old Fox's first time on the front lines. For three consecutive days, he held his position, guiding artillery fire against German forces and aiding numerous American soldiers in their retreat. However, on December 26, the Germans initiated a fierce assault. Outnumbered and running low on ammunition, Fox made the ultimate sacrifice by ordering an artillery strike on his own location. Fully aware of the impending consequences, he made this call to eliminate numerous Nazi soldiers and facilitate his fellow soldiers' escape. As the soldier who received this dire request recounted, Fox's final command was, "Fire it! There's more of them than there are of us. Give them hell!" A week later, Fox's body was found amidst the remains of about 100 German soldiers.