--- title: "A former violinist singlehandedly cleared a mountain fortress during World War II" date: "2026-06-26" modified: "2026-06-26" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/thomas-wigle-concert-violinist-monte-frassino-world-war-ii/" categories: - "Army" - "Heroes" - "History" - "Medal of Honor" - "War History" - "World War II" tags: - "America250" - "Army" - "Medal of Honor" - "World War II" --- # A former violinist singlehandedly cleared a mountain fortress during World War II ![thomas wigle red bull winter line]() *The U.S. Army's 34th Infantry in Donna Neary's "The Red Bull in the Winter Line."* Thomas Wigle was a concert violinist and teacher when the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He was 32 years old. He was a skilled marksman, shooting on rifle ranges, but he disliked hunting and hated war. That wouldn't change , but he decided to fight anyway after spending three days in Washington, D.C., looking at monuments and buildings and reviewing our nation's historic documents. He joined the Army in Detroit in May 1942. He later [wrote a friend](), "I’ve decided that this government is worth fighting for.” **Read Next: [‘The Iron Major’: James Capers Jr.’s long road to the Medal of Honor]()** Wigle was born in 1909 in Indianapolis, but because his mother was a Michigan native, the family moved to Detroit, when he was a baby, and that's where he grew up. He discovered a passion for music at a young age and became an accomplished violinist, starring in his school band. After high school, he studied music at Michigan State University. His talent earned him a scholarship to the Mozarteum Conservatory in Salzburg, Austria, where he studied for about eight months. Upon returning to the U.S., Wigle worked as a music teacher in places like Oroville, California, Chicago, and Detroit. He performed as a concert violinist with the Kansas City Philharmonic for about five years and contributed to composing symphonies, including one titled "Western Saga." After the attack on Pearl Harbor and his subsequent visit to Washington, he attended Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned 2nd Lt. Thomas Wigle. He was assigned to Company K, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, the "Red Bull" Division, where he was a platoon leader. Wigle would spend his entire Army career with the Red Bulls and later die leading them. ![wigle gothic line combat italy WWII army]() *Lt. Thomas Wigle would die fighting a literal uphill battle. (U.S. Army)* ### The 34th Infantry Division By the time Wigle arrived to his company, the Red Bulls were already seasoned veterans. They just needed good infantry officers to lead them. The unit began its World War II combat record [with Operation Torch](), first landing in North Africa in November 1942. Through May of 1943, they were part of the Tunisia Campaign that ended the Axis presence in North Africa entirely. Having taken heavy casualties, the 34th sat out the invasion of Sicily, but landed at Salerno for the invasion of the Italian mainland in September 1943. It fought its way north, hitting the Bernhardt Line, the Gustav Line, and Monte Cassino. When the 34th joined the Anzio Beachhead in March 1944, Lt. Wigle was leading his company's defense, fighting with artillery, mortars, machine guns, and snipers. Supplies were critically low; the men often ate cold C-rations, used strict fire discipline, and sometimes resorted to bayonets. In May 1944, the Allies broke out from Anzio, and launched Operation Diadem, a turn north to flank the Germans' Winter Line and press on Rome. Wigle’s platoon advanced through mined farmlands, vineyards, and villages, fighting battles at Cisterna, Velletri, the Alban Hills, and liberated Rome on June 4, 1944, pushing the retreating Germans further north. ![thomas wigle 34th infantry map army]() *(U.S. Army)* ### Assault on the Gothic Line On Sept. 14, 1944, they'd reached Monte Frassino, a critical forward outpost of the Gothic Line. There, the 3rd Platoon of Company K faced a heavily fortified German position protected by three parallel high terraced stone walls. The assault was part of a diversionary attack to prevent the enemy from reinforcing the Il Giogo Pass. After a withering enemy crossfire halted two attempted to scale the walls, Wigle became acting company executive, and volunteered to lead the next attack. Leading his men up the bare, rocky slopes under intense fire, he reached the first wall, had himself boosted to the top in full view of the enemy's guns. He returned fire, allowing his men to climb the walls and join him. They made the same maneuver to scale the second wall. When it came time to climb the third wall, Company K was confronted by three houses full of enemy soldiers. Wigle ordered his mento provide cover fire while he ran through a hail of machine pistol toward the first house, clearing it and forcing the enemy out. As the Germans fled out the back door for the next house, Wigle and his carbine followed, forcing the Germans to take refuge in the cellar of the third house. By the time his platoon caught up to him, they [found him mortally wounded]() on the cellar stairs after trying to force a surrender, with 36 German troops taking shelter below. The enemy soldiers [surrendered within minutes]() and the houses were secured. Wigle succumbed to his wounds two days later. He was 35 years old. ![Lt thomas wigle world war II army]() *Lt. Thomas Wigle. (U.S. Army)* For his daring and boldness under enemy fire, Wigle would receive the Medal of Honor and ultimately be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The kind of bold action that made the assault on the Gothic Line so successful also allowed Gen. Mark Clark's assault on Il Giogo to succeed. Not only were the Germans held at Monte Frassino unable to reinforce Il Giogo, it forced the German I Parachute Corps to vacate the vital Futa Pass and retreat, allowing the Allies to push down the Sambro Valley toward Bologna. ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty **• [Soldier killed protecting a Polish officer in Afghanistan will receive Medal of Honor]()** **• []()[AUSA graphic novel spotlights ex-NFL player who earned the Medal of Honor]()** **• [This Medal of Honor recipient turned on his helicopter lights during a risky rescue in Vietnam]()** ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()