(November 2023)
Tim Spitzack
Editor
In the early 2000s, you could often find Rudy Lange at Central Square Community Center enjoying a game of cards. Although his 80-year-old hands likely ached with arthritis he could still shuffle the deck and deal to his companions. Seeing him in those days one would never guess he was a decorated war vet who parlayed his passion for pigeon racing into a way to serve his country.
Rudolph Lange was born January 5, 1917, in Halle, Germany, and immigrated to South St. Paul with his parents six years later. He lived in the city the rest of his life, marrying and having two sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and enjoying a long career as a firefighter with the city of South St. Paul. The only time he lived elsewhere was during World War II.
In 1935, at age 18, Lange received an odd letter in the mail. It was allegedly from Adolph Hitler, asking him to return to his homeland to serve in the German army. Now a longtime U.S. citizen, Lange ignored the letter but did not escape the ensuing war that would grip the world a few years later. In February 1941, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and went on to serve five years on active duty and 18 years in the Army Reserves.
Lange had a typical childhood with days occupied by school, a paper route and any sport that was in season. He also formed an unusual hobby as a youngster after meeting an elderly man from England who lived three blocks away and kept and raced pigeons. That relationship fueled Lange’s lifelong love for the birds and the sport and ultimately influenced his military service.
Lange was assigned to the Army Signal Corps and sent to Fort Monmouth, N.J., to train at the Army Pigeon Center with the 280th Signal Pigeon Company. Due to their unique homing skills and ability to fly long distances with ease, carrier pigeons were used extensively in World War I and II for reconnaissance and to transport important messages, many of which were credited with winning battles and saving lives. The Signal Corps furnished 54,000 pigeons to the Armed Services during WWII, and several were awarded hero pigeon status, including G.I. Joe, which saved 100 British troops and countless civilians in Calvi Vecchia, Italy. The pigeon flew 20 miles in 20 minutes carrying an order to cancel the scheduled bombing of the city, which had been under German control but regained by Allied forces.
Lange served in the South Pacific, rising from the rank of sergeant to technical sergeant, then attended Officers Training School and was promoted to first lieutenant with military intelligence. One of his stations was in London, England, and it was there he met Englishman “Pop” Noterman, who served as a liaison advisor between civilian pigeon racers and the military. One of Noterman’s birds, named Duke of Normandy, is said to have carried the first report of the successful landing of Allied Forces on the beach of Normandy.
Lange served 21 months overseas, then returned home and served in the Army Reserves, retiring as captain. He was also active with VFW Post 295 in South St. Paul. He and wife Ruth built a house on Seventh Avenue South and raised their family there. He continued racing pigeons as a member of the Twin City Racing Pigeon Club and often assisted other clubs by picking up crated pigeons from the airport and releasing them from various locations for 500- and 1,000-mile races. He also provided birds for numerous ceremonies, including the opening of the Science Museum of Minnesota and during Vikings and Twins games. Lange died June 13, 2005, at age 88, and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
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