December 21, 1944

[gfgrant8443]

The following is copied from my father's POW diary for this date:

Wednesday Dec. 21 - 44

Well, we were promised food today and I sure was glad. They finally gave us two packs of hard tack and a little cheese. It had to last us for two days. We were then divided into groups of 60 and put into box cars. We rode the rest of the day and all night long. It was impossible for anyone to sleep in the car so we sat or stood like a bunch of cattle. In fact it was a cattle car.

I just thought I would share a snapshot in time so we will remember what we owe our father's and grandfathers for their sacrifices to make it possible for us to celebrate this Christmas with the freedoms their sacrifices bought for us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[floydragsdale]

Hi:

Those freight cars were "Forty & Eights". Forty men or Eight mules per car. They were the same all across Europe. Of course, the Germans probably put more that 40 P.O.W's. in each one.

The men of the 424th rode in that kind of Box Car in the Spring of 1945 on the way to Renne, France.

Floyd

[connie]

Frank, Thank you for the touching excerpt from your father's diary. It was a good reminder of what we owe to the men who were there.

The info on the boxcars is of interest, too. They were not a comfortable means of transport for anyone. But, as you pointed out, the prisoners were crammed in more tightly.

As Christmas approaches the hardships of that Christmas season are recalled by all who were there and all who knew their story...