One of our most important stops on the WWII Study Abroad tour is at the famous American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. If you don’t recognize the name, you know the place: It’s where Saving Private Ryan opens, and where the film finishes. You know the alabaster monuments, lain in the serenity of breezes easing toward the sea.
We now know that there are thirteen Buckeyes buried here. When we visit, we lay a rose at each Buckeye headstone, and we hope that conveys, in some tiny way, both our gratitude for and our commitment to the memory of Buckeyes who served.
Of those Buckeyes interned here, most were students when they went into military service, but some were alums. What stands out is how many of them were married and how many of them were fathers.
We don’t know nearly so much as we’d like about the Buckeye 13. Thanks to Steve Habash, our stalwart supporter, we’ve begun to learn what we can about them. We even hope that perhaps we can find a family member who might want to know of our visits. But we don’t know much about any of them at this point, beyond what the alumni sources tell us.
Imagine, then, my astonishment, when our visit to the German cemetery at La Cambe in Normandy turned up a remarkable document from one of our Buckeyes.
Some background: We take the students to three different cemeteries. Of course we go to the American cemetery. We also visit the British cemetery here in Bayeux. The nearby German cemetery is an interesting case in contrast to the others. In its dark somberness, it seems like an apology in stone.
The German War Graves Commission, which is responsible for the site, has finally finished the visitors’ center there. It’s been in the works for several years. The theme—that all war is irrational—is made plain. Like many museums here, it presents its case through collages.
While going through it, I was stunned to be looking at a facsimile of a letter from Robert A. Lane to his daughter. Lane was a graduate of OSU, 1934 in agriculture, and an Army major who had served in North Africa and Italy before going to the D-Day invasion.
Early in his extensive service, he wrote his daughter Sandra. This is what he said in 1942:
My Dear Sandra,
“I know that a little girl who is not quite two years old can’t read a letter but perhaps you’ll be old enough to read before I see you again. Your Daddy was in the Army when you were born and most of your life has been without having me with you. We were just getting to know each other when I had to go away and I believe I could have taught you to say ‘Daddy’ if I could have been with you a little longer. I have watched your brother and sister grow up from a baby too and you were a very good baby whenever I got to see you. As you learn to talk and ask for things I want you to pay close attention to what your mother says for your mother knows what is best for you. I hope I get to see you again before so very long and we can really get acquainted.
As ever, Daddy
Robert A. Lane, Class of 1934, was killed in France, August 23, 1944.
He is buried in Coleville sur Mer, France, Plot A, Row 4, Grave 41.
Nick Gelder, a junior from Cincinnati, approaching the grave of Melvin Spruiell, one of three OSU faculty members killed in Europe. Behind on left, Selena Vlajic and Vince Hayden; on right, Kayla Karg and Anthony Tenney.
