Post by connie on Sept 12, 2014 11:25:12 GMT -5
Jones, Lloyd Martin 2 Lt. 423 G., POW IXB , XIIIB- Hammelburg
His History: www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Stalag%20XIII-C%20Hammelburg/Martin%20Jones/Martin%20Jones.htm
More History (with Maps Included): www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Stalag%20IX-B%20Bad%20Orb/LMartinJones/Jones-L-Martin.pdf
Still more history (including Oflag 64) in a letter written in 2000: oflag64.us/ewExternalFiles/jones_l._martin_account-letter_and_emails.pdf
Oral History interview Transcript (Kansas Historical Society: www.kshs.org/archives/211718
Biographical sketch: Martin Jones enrolled in the Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Reserve Officers Training Corps while he attended the University of Kansas. In October 1942, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Camp Wallace, Texas for basic training. He was transferred to the Army Infantry and sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for infantry training.
He was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The division was shipped, with very little training, to England on the Queen Elizabeth and quickly sent to the front lines at the border between Belgium and Germany. The Allies had advanced beyond their supply lines and were in a vulnerable position.
Jones describes the geography of the Ardennes Forest region, its lack of roads, and the poor Army intelligence that left the 106th Infantry Division greatly outnumbered by attacking German troops. He provides detailed descriptions of the first three days of the Battle of the Bulge. The surviving division troops were out of food and ammunition by the third day. The regimental officers decided to surrender, and Jones describes being taken prisoner by the Germans and being marched through the snow into Germany.
The Division prisoners were eventually sent to POW camp Stalag IX-B in Bad Orb, Germany and the officers, Jones among them as a second lieutenant, were sent to nearby Hammelburg, Germany. Jones describes the conditions in both camps. He provides a detailed description of the Baum Raid launched by General Patton to liberate the camp and rescue his son-in-law.
Captain Baum left many of the prisoners to shift for themselves, and Jones was among about 150 prisoners who were recaptured by the Germans. The POWs were marched away from the camp and to the southeast towards Nuremburg, Germany. Allied bombs were dropped on Nuremburg, killing some 30 Allied prisoners.
The remaining prisoners crossed the Danube River on a ferry at Weltenburg, Germany and marched deeper into Germany to the Austrian border. In early May 1945, Allied troops overran Gars am Inn and liberated the prisoners. They were transported to an airfield in Ingolstadt, Germany and flown to Le Havre, France for processing. Sick prisoners were sent to hospitals in England, and the others, including Jones, were sent by ship to Camp Shanks near New York City. Jones was given a 60 day leave at home and then reported to Camp Robinson, Arkansas where he remained until his discharge in January 1946. Jones received the Combat Infantry Badge, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European Theater of Operations ribbon, three Bronze Star medals (Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe), Prisoner of War Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal for his service.
Oflag XIIIB, Hammelburg Discussion Board Notes: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5023/thread
His History: www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Stalag%20XIII-C%20Hammelburg/Martin%20Jones/Martin%20Jones.htm
More History (with Maps Included): www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Stalag%20IX-B%20Bad%20Orb/LMartinJones/Jones-L-Martin.pdf
Still more history (including Oflag 64) in a letter written in 2000: oflag64.us/ewExternalFiles/jones_l._martin_account-letter_and_emails.pdf
Oral History interview Transcript (Kansas Historical Society: www.kshs.org/archives/211718
Biographical sketch: Martin Jones enrolled in the Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Reserve Officers Training Corps while he attended the University of Kansas. In October 1942, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Camp Wallace, Texas for basic training. He was transferred to the Army Infantry and sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for infantry training.
He was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The division was shipped, with very little training, to England on the Queen Elizabeth and quickly sent to the front lines at the border between Belgium and Germany. The Allies had advanced beyond their supply lines and were in a vulnerable position.
Jones describes the geography of the Ardennes Forest region, its lack of roads, and the poor Army intelligence that left the 106th Infantry Division greatly outnumbered by attacking German troops. He provides detailed descriptions of the first three days of the Battle of the Bulge. The surviving division troops were out of food and ammunition by the third day. The regimental officers decided to surrender, and Jones describes being taken prisoner by the Germans and being marched through the snow into Germany.
The Division prisoners were eventually sent to POW camp Stalag IX-B in Bad Orb, Germany and the officers, Jones among them as a second lieutenant, were sent to nearby Hammelburg, Germany. Jones describes the conditions in both camps. He provides a detailed description of the Baum Raid launched by General Patton to liberate the camp and rescue his son-in-law.
Captain Baum left many of the prisoners to shift for themselves, and Jones was among about 150 prisoners who were recaptured by the Germans. The POWs were marched away from the camp and to the southeast towards Nuremburg, Germany. Allied bombs were dropped on Nuremburg, killing some 30 Allied prisoners.
The remaining prisoners crossed the Danube River on a ferry at Weltenburg, Germany and marched deeper into Germany to the Austrian border. In early May 1945, Allied troops overran Gars am Inn and liberated the prisoners. They were transported to an airfield in Ingolstadt, Germany and flown to Le Havre, France for processing. Sick prisoners were sent to hospitals in England, and the others, including Jones, were sent by ship to Camp Shanks near New York City. Jones was given a 60 day leave at home and then reported to Camp Robinson, Arkansas where he remained until his discharge in January 1946. Jones received the Combat Infantry Badge, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European Theater of Operations ribbon, three Bronze Star medals (Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe), Prisoner of War Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal for his service.
Oflag XIIIB, Hammelburg Discussion Board Notes: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5023/thread