How a 20-Year-Old’s ‘Human Bait Trick’ Killed 52 Germans and Saved His Brothers in Arms
On the morning of February 1, 1944, the air was thick with tension and the distant sounds of war echoed across the Italian countryside. Private First Class Alton Warren Nappenburgger, a mere twenty years old, lay prone on a small mound near Sisterna De Latina, Italy, his heart racing as he peered through the scope of his Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). The battlefield was a hellscape, where death lurked behind every bullet, and the cries of wounded men were drowned out by the relentless rattle of German MG42 machine guns. In that moment, he was not just a soldier; he was a deer hunter, instinctively aware of his surroundings and ready to turn the tide of battle.
The Calm Before the Storm
Alton was born on December 31, 1923, in Spring Mount, Pennsylvania. Growing up in a rural setting, he learned the art of hunting at an early age, mastering the patience and precision required to stalk white-tailed deer in the woods. His father worked in a factory, while his mother managed the household, instilling in him the values of hard work and resilience. From the age of twelve, Alton spent countless hours in the woods, waiting silently in tree stands, honing his skills in observation and control of the field. He understood that height provided visibility, and that patience was key to success. Little did he know that these lessons would soon be the difference between life and death on the battlefield.
The Call to Arms
The world was at war, and Alton’s life took a drastic turn when he was drafted into the army in March 1943, just sixteen months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He underwent basic training, where he learned to fire the M1 Garand before being assigned as a BAR gunner. The BAR was heavier and more challenging to manage, but it offered the firepower needed to suppress enemy forces. Despite the rigorous training, Alton remained an ordinary soldier, nicknamed “Nappy” by his comrades, without any notable achievements or commendations. He was just another face in the crowd, blending into the ranks of the Third Infantry Division, known as “The Rock of the Marne.”
The Battle of Anzio
By January 1944, the Allies had landed at Anzio, aiming to break through the German Gustav Line and advance toward Rome. However, hesitation from General John P. Lucas allowed German forces to regroup and surround the beachhead. The situation became dire as counterattacks began, and Alton’s company received orders to scout the area near Sisterna. On February 1, they moved out, crossing open farmland with minimal cover. The terrain was flat, and the air was heavy with the anticipation of an impending clash.
As Alton walked on the right flank of the line, his instincts kicked in. Something felt wrong—the field was too quiet. Suddenly, the first MG42 opened fire, its high-pitched ripping sound slicing through the silence. Chaos erupted as the patrol was pinned down, caught in a deadly crossfire. Alton found himself in a shallow depression, the ground barely concealing him from enemy fire. He watched as his comrades fell, realizing that the only way to regain control of the situation was to take a risk.
The Decision to Go High
In a moment of clarity, Alton formulated a plan. He spotted a small mound, a null, about sixty yards away. From that elevated position, he could see everything. The thought crystallized in his mind: if he could climb that null, he would become the hunter instead of the hunted. He turned to the soldier beside him, declaring his intention to move. The soldier’s eyes widened in disbelief, pleading with him to reconsider. But Alton was resolute. He knew that if the Germans were focused on him, they wouldn’t be shooting at his brothers.
At 12:05 PM, Alton began to crawl toward the null, dragging his BAR behind him. The bullets whizzed overhead, but he pressed on, driven by a fierce determination to protect his comrades. He passed a fallen soldier, a grim reminder of the stakes at play, but he didn’t stop. Every inch was a battle against fear and the instinct to survive. As he reached the base of the null, he felt the ground slope upward beneath him. He crawled the last few meters, finally reaching the top.
The Hunter’s Advantage
From his vantage point, Alton had a 360-degree view of the battlefield. He quickly identified the three MG42 nests that were wreaking havoc on his platoon. The first nest was 85 yards ahead, manned by three Germans. The second was 100 yards to the left, and the third, hidden behind sandbags, was 120 yards to the right. Alton’s heart raced as he switched the BAR to slow fire, taking careful aim at the gunner in the first nest. He controlled his breathing, squeezed the trigger, and sent four rounds downrange. The gunner fell, and chaos erupted among the remaining crew members.
As the Germans scrambled to locate the source of fire, Alton continued his assault, moving from one target to the next. The second MG42 fell silent under the weight of his fire, and he could feel the tide beginning to turn. But Alton knew that the fight was far from over. He had limited ammunition—only three rounds left in his current magazine and two more magazines on his belt. The BAR was hot to the touch, and fatigue was setting in, but he pressed on, fueled by adrenaline and the desperate need to protect his fellow soldiers.
Facing the Assault
At 12:30 PM, a new threat emerged as a German assault platoon advanced from the rear, intent on overrunning his position. They moved in tactical bounds, a textbook infantry maneuver. Alton quickly shifted his focus, recognizing that the infantry was a more immediate danger than the distant MG42. He opened fire, short bursts to conserve ammunition, picking off Germans as they tried to advance. One by one, they fell, and the rest sought cover, retreating under the relentless hail of bullets.
For nearly two hours, Alton held his position, repelling wave after wave of German attacks. He reloaded his magazines using ammunition scavenged from a dead comrade, each reload a dangerous gamble under fire. The weight of his weapon was a constant reminder of the physical toll the battle was taking on him, but he refused to yield. The battlefield was a brutal dance of life and death, and Alton was determined to emerge victorious.
The Aftermath
At 2:00 PM, the American platoon, finally able to move after being pinned down for hours, advanced toward Alton’s position. As they approached, he fired his last rounds before descending from the null, exhausted but alive. His uniform bore the scars of battle, with three bullet holes as testament to his harrowing experience. Soldiers looked at him in awe, recognizing the extraordinary feat he had accomplished alone.
Days later, intelligence officers returned to the field, counting the German bodies that lay scattered across the battlefield. The total was staggering—approximately sixty casualties confirmed dead, along with many more seriously wounded. Alton’s actions had single-handedly broken the German counterattack, saving countless American lives in the process.
A Legacy of Courage
Alton Warren Nappenburgger was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery, his actions described as those of a one-man army. But he remained humble, refusing to boast about his accomplishments. After the war, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he lived a quiet life as a truck driver and later as a supervisor of an asphalt paving crew. He taught his children and grandchildren the skills he had learned in the woods, passing on the values of patience, observation, and respect for nature.
On June 9, 2008, Alton passed away at the age of 84. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, his headstone a simple testament to his service: name, rank, private first class, Medal of Honor. No mention of the sixty Germans he had killed or the two hours he had spent on that null. Yet, in the hearts of those who knew his story, Alton Nappenburgger would forever be remembered as a hero—a quiet, humble man who rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Conclusion
The battlefield near Sisterna De Latina is now a quiet field, with no signs of the fierce combat that once took place there. But the legacy of Alton Warren Nappenburgger lives on, a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of those who fight for freedom. His story teaches us that sometimes, in the face of overwhelming odds, it is not the doctrine that defines us, but our ability to adapt, to seize the moment, and to rise above fear. Alton’s decision to climb that null, to become the hunter in a world of chaos, stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the unwavering will to protect one’s comrades. In the end, it was not just about survival; it was about making a difference when it mattered most.
