The numbers are not looking that good for a kickstarter project for a documentary film – The Good Giants (Giganti Buoni) to be filmed here in this area later on this year.
They have only managed to raise a mere $8000 of the total needed – $73,000 and with only 8 days left in which to do it, the project is now looking in doubt.
Once again, the story of Lt. John Fox and the buffalo soldiers is in danger of being forgotten.
“Here we were freeing people, and we were still second class citizens in our own country.”
The Good Giants documentary follows Ivan J. Houston, a decorated former Buffalo Soldier who fought in the segregated U.S. Army 92nd Infantry Division in Italy.
In 1944-45, Ivan and his fellow Buffalo Soldiers liberated impoverished Tuscan villages while fighting under segregated, discriminatory conditions in the United States Army.
Including a commander who appears to have deliberately sent the under-trained, outnumbered 366th Infantry Regiment into harm’s way, resulting in high casualties. Even worse, these casualties have never been reported.
A segregated army fighting multiple enemies
Not only were Ivan and his fellow Buffalo Soldiers attacked by the Germans and the Italian fascists, but they were also undermined by their own Army’s institutionalized racism.
“That was just the way the Army was,” says Ivan.
With more detailed research into key battles of the war to liberate Italy, we began to suspect that a significant recording problem had taken place. What was the fate of many hundreds of Buffalo Soldiers.
It is known that the unit was untrained for combat, and compelling evidence indicates these soldiers were severely outnumbered and many were wounded and killed by German Army forces.
Boundless love and eternal gratitude.
Because of their heroism, these Black soldiers are understandably celebrated yearly by re-enactors, parades, and festivals. In Tuscany, by the Italians!
An 88-year-old retired businessman and author, residing in Los Angeles, California, Ivan is returning to Tuscany in September, 2013 – in about 6 weeks!
Our film reflects on Ivan’s emotional journey as he returns to Tuscany, visiting former battle sites and meeting people he helped liberate. In Italy again at last, Ivan moves physically and spiritually in search of his own peace and justice for the over 1,000 Buffalo Soldiers who suffered casualties that were never reported or honored.
Help us capture on film an extraordinarily beautiful, touching, and unexpected story that needs to be shared with the world.
The warm welcome Ivan received in Tuscany when he returned in 2012 was well beyond his expectations, and almost beyond comprehension. This excerpt from a letter he received is eloquent.
“Mr. Ivan,” wrote Flavio Grossi. “I felt to write a few lines to prove the immense love and eternal gratitude that I have towards the American people, and especially the Buffalo Soldiers.”
In Italy, we have already filmed emotional eyewitness interviews, WWII battle sites featuring Buffalo Soldier Reenactors, and a moving memorial ceremony at a cemetery.
As described in Ivan’s book, Black Warriors: The Buffalo Soldiers of WWII, they gave back to these grateful Italians their way of life and their freedom.
Still hale and hearty, Ivan will visit Italy again in September, 2013. He plans to visit historic sites like the Cinquale Canal, where he was wounded; and, in Pontremoli, the northernmost point reached by Allied soldiers, he experienced the end of the European War in 1945.
Please help us document the heroic deeds of the Buffalo Soldiers of World War II. Enduring enemy attacks and bombardments, wounds and deaths, nighttime marches through freezing rain, and treks over dangerously steep mountain passes, these brave Americans courageously climbed the next mountain, risking their lives to fight on.
As Ivan follows the path of the 92nd Infantry Division going North in Italy, a team of Italian Reenactors (from Associazione Linea Gotica della Lucchesia) will continue to portray key events in the history of the Buffalo Soldiers.
Many people of Tuscany, including the grandfathers and fathers of the Reenactors who honor them, owe their lives to the actions of the courageous men they nicknamed, “Giganti Buoni” (The Good Giants).
As an Italian eyewitness recounts in the film…
“The Buffalo Soldiers came down the mountain, freed us, and took care of us.”
One woman remembers how she felt when she encountered these young African-American Buffalo Soldiers.
“These men knew how to relate to our suffering. They too must have suffered. Despite this, or maybe because of it, they fought valiantly to liberate our region.”
The Buffalo Soldiers were reluctant to talk. One man speaks up for them all.
Like most World War II veterans, the Buffalo Soldiers hardly ever spoke about the war. What Ivan has done with his book, Black Warriors: The Buffalo Soldiers of WWII is to give a voice to his generation of soldiers.
If you agree that Ivan’s important story of the Buffalo Soldiers should be told and taught, would you help us make this documentary film so that many, many more people can learn about it?
A Few Words About Our Budget
We have set our Kickstarter goal at $73,000.
This budget will enable us shoot this feature film. We have already purchased airfare for our featured subject, Ivan J. Houston, plus our crew of five who will be traveling with equipment from the United States. Five additional crew members will join us in Italy, including five vehicles (three cars, two vans), and additional equipment for the 12-day shoot in Tuscany. Our budget will also allow for Kickstarter and Amazon payments to be subtracted from the final amount, and for us to fulfill all the valuable rewards to you, our generous and deserving benefactors.
You can become a benefactor here on kickstarter
