The Epic of Will Lang Jr.

By John A. Lang

Travel with TIME/LIFE News Reporter Will Lang Jr. as he witnesses and records the events of World War II, The McCarthy Era, and the Kennedy Administration. Meet Wills friends, Bill Mauldin, Ernie Pyle, and Robert Capa. Watch as Will Jr. learns from Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. Feel Wills frustration as he toils to unravel the secrets of the Warren Commission.
Filled with pictures from Wills professional and private lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 26, 2007
• ISBN: 9781462828425

John A. Lang

Born in 1963, Intermediate historian, John A. Lang, author of "The Epic of Will Lang Jr.", returns to his passion for history in his new book, "Of Cowards and Heroes". An in-depth look into the resistance movement during Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II. John has studied world history for the past ten years and decided to choose this subject for the contents of this book. Enjoy!

Book preview

Copyright © 2007 by John A. Lang.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

33777

Contents

FROM THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EPILOGUE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ENDNOTES

Dedicated in loving memory of William Lang’s physical brother, Lawrence Lang and his surrogate brother, Bill Mauldin

FROM THE AUTHOR

In 1997, I attended my mother’s family reunion at Chain O’ Lakes State Park in Spring Grove, Illinois. On each picnic table, were several stacks of paper with branches of my mother’s family tree. After collecting the last sheet of paper, I asked my mother, Why hasn’t anyone written down dad’s family tree? She answered, I do not know. After that, I began cataloguing my father’s genealogy. During my research, I came across my grandfather’s brother,

(My great-uncle in genealogy terms), Will Lang Jr. I saw that he worked for TIME / LIFE Magazine from 1936 to 1968. I then began searching the magazines for his stories and was amazed at the history he witnessed and the famous people he met. Unfortunately, much of his personal history was lost, destroyed or never recorded. More unfortunate than that is the fact that I never met him. Therefore, all of the accounts in this novel are based on second-hand information. I hope that this will not prevent you from enjoying my first novel about one of the most underrated journalists of the twentieth century.

Sincerely,

John A. Lang

Author

CHAPTER ONE

ENGLEWOOD

Golden sunbeams pierced the overcast sky, and a chilly wind blew through the air as autumn began its annual return. Orange and red leaves cascaded towards the cobblestone streets on the South Side of Chicago in Englewood, Illinois. The aroma of burning leaves filled the air. Brick buildings lined the sidewalks of Peoria Street where one could hear the laughter of children reverberating in the playgrounds. In the background, the bells of streetcars clanged as they approached their designated stops.

On the 7th day of October, in the year 1914, in the house of William and Anna Lang at 6148 North Peoria Street, an epic began. The doctor was paying a visit. Another son was born to the Lang household. Their elder son Lawrence, who just turned four years old back on January 26, was in the other room as he anxiously awaited the birth of his sibling. Suddenly, cries of an infant echoed in the house. William, a bricklayer, and the son of a bricklayer, beheld his newborn son. He decided to name this child after himself: William John Lang Jr. Despite this happy occasion, tension filled the air as William Lang Sr. read in the "Chicago Herald" that Germany was on the defensive in the war in Europe. So many nations were already involved in this war. Will Sr. wondered, "Would the United States be next?"

President Woodrow Wilson had already made a statement back on August 14 by declaring the United States neutral. The economy of the United States was very stable.

Back on January 5, Henry Ford of the Ford Motor Company astounded the world by increasing basic wage rates from $2.40 for a nine-hour day to $5.00 for an eight-hour day. In addition, foreign trade improved, because back on August 15, the free world celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. Things could not be better for America. That is the reason the Lang’s came to America, to escape the poverty of Germany. William Sr.’s parents, Peter Lang and his wife Anna were the first to arrive in the Land of Opportunity. They would make frequent visits to their son’s home.

They spoke little English therefore spoke primarily in German. There were times when William Sr.’s sisters Bertha, Catherine and Margaret arrived with their parents.

They had discussed with their father the idea of entering the Convent when they finished school. The School Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate from Joliet—who were the nuns that served Sacred Heart Church where the Lang family had attended since arriving in Chicago—had inspired them to become nuns. Peter Lang proudly agreed. Later that day, Kate, the other sister of Will Sr. arrived. She seemed a bit tall for her age, but was as gentle as a summer breeze. Will Sr.’s other sister Anna arrived with her husband, Frank Schmitt and their children: Marion, Ralph and Mary. Finally, Will Sr.’s other sister, Sophie Wendling arrived with her husband.1 It was a pleasure to see them again. They rarely visited at all.

As the days passed, Larry and Will Jr. grew in stature and shared their toys within the safe confines of their home. In the summer, they played outside.

However, everyone’s joy turned into sorrow on May 7, 1915 when a German ship sunk the Lusitania. The sorrow then turned into anger, and people demanded vengeance. War with Germany seemed inevitable.

In early autumn on August 12, 1915, Will Sr.’s sister Bertha was ordained Sister Mary Maurita. Peter and Anna were very proud of their daughter. In a few more years, Margaret and Catherine would be ordained as well.

Meanwhile, joy enter the Lang residence on December 13, 1916 as the doctor paid another visit to the Lang residence and helped Anna deliver a baby girl. Will Sr. named her Annette Catherine Lang.

A few months later on April 6, 1917, President Wilson declared that the United States would enter the war in Europe. The war ended on November 11, 1918. There were 320,710 casualties, a tragic loss despite the victory.

As the children grew, they developed certain skills. Larry had an ear for music.

Therefore, Will Sr. bought his son an accordion and his mother Anna allowed Larry to use the Steffens family Kinze upright piano. It had been in Anna’s family for a decade, now it was Larry’s piano.

He would entertain the family with selections from Beethoven, Chopin and other composers on the piano. Larry would also play polkas on his accordion. Additionally, his father, Will Sr., enrolled Larry into the Boy Scouts of America to help him gain more confidence.

Will Jr. seemed to have an affinity towards writing. He would find a secluded area of the house and write stories for hours. Annette learned how to cook and sew from her mother.

Later that year, Peter Lang called his son Will Sr. on August 12, 1919 to inform him that Margaret was ordained as Sister Mary Anacleta.

Finally, on August 12, 1920, Catherine was ordained Sister Mary Corrine. On each occasion, the Lang family went down to Joliet to congratulate the nun’s ordination.

After reading the paper on August 26, 1920, Anna Lang cheered with glee when the President passed the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

Later that same year, Will Sr. surprised the entire family by buying a radio. Now they could hear the news as well as reading about it.

In mid-1924, Peter Lang took his entire immediate family to Joliet for a family photograph. With everyone formally dressed, the Lang nuns stood proudly with their loved ones and the photographer took the picture. They had a reason to be proud, for their father, Peter Lang, helped build the Tower Hall at Saint Francis University in Joliet and he saw no reason to withhold his own flesh and blood as well. Additionally, Peter’s son, Will Sr., assisted him in the construction.

Three years later, on his 10th birthday, Will Jr. received some paper and some ink pens to practice his writing skills. He listened to the radio every day so he could write a story.

On May 21, 1927, the Lang family heard their first major news event: Charles Lindbergh had completed his Trans-Atlantic flight to Paris, France. This was an inspiration for Will Jr. He figured that anything was possible, if you set your mind upon it. After hearing the report, Will Jr. mimicked the reporter in front of his parents by reading a short story that he wrote about the event. After he completed his story, his parents applauded their son.

Sibling rivalry amongst the Lang children was frequent to see who could outdo whom.

Will Sr. often treated his family to the movies. However, on October 6, 1927, the theater featured The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson.

The crowd at the theater was awed when Jolson uttered, You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!

One year later, on June 17, 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic. Will Jr. hoped someday to report historical events like this.

While outside on February 14, 1929, Larry, Will Jr. and Annette heard police sirens. Anna Lang quickly summoned her children into the house.

She had just heard on the radio about a gangster shooting in a downtown Chicago garage. The gangsters armed with machine guns, shot down seven men in cold blood. The media called it The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Anna did not want her children to be outside; the gangsters involved in the shootout might drive down their street. Anna loved her children deeply and did what she could to protect them from harm.

Over a year later, horror struck the nation on October 29, 1930 when the Stock Market crashed and caused a nationwide depression. Thousands of people were unemployed. Children across the nation had to quit school and work menial jobs just to put food on the table. Gardens appeared in people’s back yards to prevent their families from starving.

For those who did not have gardens, Soup Lines formed outside Soup Kitchens to make a valiant effort to make sure no one starved. Unfortunately, some did anyway. Many people who homeless and lived in cardboard boxes. In some places, there were rows and rows of boxes with people living in them. People named these areas Hoovervilles in an attempt to humiliate the President. Farmers really struggled during this time. Out west, the ground was dry and parched. It was like a huge bowl of dust and there was no rain in sight. Fortunately, during this time, Will Sr. was working for the city of Chicago; they still needed buildings to erect, and streets that needed repairing because The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed many buildings on the South side of Chicago. Will Sr. and his father, Peter, worked together for the survival of their families. Larry, Will Jr. and Annette were fortunate that did not have to seek work during The Depression. The Church supported the nuns.

Later that summer, Will Jr.’s cousins, Ralph and Marion Schmitt came over for a visit. Will Sr. took the opportunity to get a snapshot of the grown young people.

Every weekend Grandpa and Grandma Lang would still come by and visit. Until on February 16, 1930, Will Sr. got word that, his mother had died.

The children were very upset at the loss of their grandmother. The family gathered at Peter Lang’s house and prayed a Rosary.

Peter Lang grieved many days after his wife was buried. However, he took consolation knowing that she was in Paradise.

By this time, the children were in their teens and continuing their studies in school. Will Sr. encouraged his son Larry to join him as a bricklayer. However, Larry pursued a career as a plumber instead and worked for V. J. Killian. He also continued to increase his music skills and planned to write his own song someday. Will Jr. wanted to be a writer or an author. He planned to go to college and make his dream a reality. Annette’s career choices were very limited because of the continuing sexual prejudice in America, despite the passage of the 19th Amendment.

In September of 1930, Will Jr. enrolled in the University of Illinois to pursue his career as a writer. However, his hopes fell when the Dean made Will Jr. a pinsetter for the campus bowling alley. The job was tedious and boring. It was a dead end job, a real job for losers. Will Jr. also did some other menial jobs while on campus. His dream of becoming a writer became dimmer and dimmer. It seemed hopeless. After school, Will Jr. played for the college football team. Additionally, Will Jr. met a young woman named Kay Meyer, a pampered rich girl from downtown. Her father was a business tycoon with a real mind for management.

One day in the campus bowling alley, Will Jr. noticed a vacant magazine and newspaper rack. He asked around to see if there was a campus newspaper. There was not. Just then, Will Jr. had an idea to begin a school newspaper. He took his idea up with the Dean of Students. After listening carefully, he praised Will Jr. for his ingenuity.

Will Jr. was on his way to become a writer.

He then went around the campus busily gathering the latest school events and writing stories about them.

One of his first real scoops came on October 17, 1931 when Al Capone, a local gangster, faced conviction for committing tax evasion. The verdict came in: Guilty as charged. He would spend the rest of his life at Alcatraz Prison. Al Capone had lived in the Chicagoland area for many years and had taken the Milwaukee Road Railway to his many secret hideaways. He would ride the train to Fox Lake and then sometimes drive out to Lakemoor, Illinois. Other times he went to Antioch.

After the first few editions of the campus newspapers were printed, the Dean took note of Will Jr.’s brilliant writing skills, contacted the Chicago office of TIME Magazine, and mailed them some of Will Jr.’s writings. The staff at TIME was impressed and hired Will Jr. as a campus reporter for their magazine on a part-time basis.

When Will Jr. told his family the news, they were excited.

Larry patted his brother on the back and remarked, "I’m envious of you, Bill, and I can’t wait to read your first article."

Will Sr. did the same and added, "I am very proud of you today, my son!"

Will Jr. could hardly sleep that night due to the excitement, but soon relaxed and fell asleep.

missing image file

The Lang Family

BACK ROW:

(Left to right) SOPHIE LANG-WENDLING, WILL J. LANG SR., SISTER MARY MAURITIA LANG, ANNA LANG-SCHMITT, and KATE P. LANG,

FRONT ROW: (L-R)

SISTER MARY CORINNE LANG, ANNA HURLEMANN-LANG, PETER LANG, And SISTER MARY ANACLETA LANG

(PHOTO TAKEN AT ST. FRANCIS OF MARY IMMACULATE CONVENT IN JOLIET, ILL. IN 1924)

missing image file

The family of Will Lang Sr.

(Left to right)

ANNETTE C. LANG, ANNA M. STEFFENS-LANG, LAWRENCE W. LANG, WILLIAM J. LANG SR., and WILLIAM J. LANG JR.

(PHOTO TAKEN IN CHICAGO ON PEORIA ST. ABT. 1928 BY PETER LANG)

missing image file

Will Lang Jr. with his sister, brother and cousins

(Left to right) Lawrence W. Lang, Annette C. Lang, Ralph J. Schmitt, Frank J. Schmitt, Marion O. Schmitt, Will J. Lang Jr., Little boy = unknown

(Photo taken approximately between 1927-1930 by Will Lang Sr.)

CHAPTER TWO

WILL AND BILL

One week after celebrating his 20th birthday, Will Jr. went to a nearby coffee shop where all the campus teens gathered and met a young man from New Mexico. His name was Bill Mauldin. He was attending the Academy of Fine Art in Downtown Chicago. Bill told Will Jr. that since he was fourteen, he had drawn cartoons and hoped to fund a publisher someday. The two became fast friends and Will Jr. invited Bill to his house for dinner. In spring of 1936, Larry and Annette were in the park talking about their futures when Larry saw a beautiful Irish nurse. Larry wanted to go over and talk with her, but he was apprehensive