Back-Up Transcriptions & Copies

[connie]

I'm updating this thread to accommodate several back-up transcriptions.

When completed this first post will have an overview of the transcriptions here:

1. Back-Up Transcription: War Department notes on Oflag XIII-B 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5055/thread & next two posts
also see notes on OflagXIII-B: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5023/thread

2. Back-Up Copy: Internet post on Lawler, Loy Dean, Pfc. 423 E, 1st platoon POW IV-B, Arbeitskommando L71A: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5058/thread

[connie]

Back-Up Transcription: War Department notes on Oflag XIII-B

War Department Notes on Oflag XIII B oflag64.us/ewExternalFiles/american_pows_in_germany-mis_docs.pdf

Quick note & disclaimer from Connie:
Having experienced documents disappearing from the internet, I don't want to take a chance with this one. But, because of its format it is not a quick copy and paste. I will have to transcribe it. While doing that, I will correct some of the glaring typos found in the document on the internet. I'll begin with a few pieces I have already transcribed and fill in around them as time allows.

My source for this document is the internet link posted above. I cannot verify the original source, but the information contained in this document seems consistent with what I have read thus far on the subject of this POW Camp. I will include some screen shots of this document above transcribed segments. Click to enlarge.



AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY

Prepared by Military IntelligenceService War Department 1 Nov. 1945

OFLAG 13 B (Transit Camp for Evacuees)

LOCATION

Oflag 13 B was situated in a rural district just outside of Hammelburg, Germany (50 degrees 45" N. - 9 degrees 54" E and formed as a part of a complex consisting of other prisoners war camps within a German military training center.

STRENGTH

Approximately 300 American officers opened the camp on 11 January 1944, and by the time the Protecting Power visited the camp on 23 January 1945, the strength had increased to 453 officers, 12 noncommissioned officers and 18 privates. All of these men were captured on the Western Front between the 15th and 22nd of December 1944. By 24 March1945, the strength had increased to 1291 officers and 127 enlisted men which included the 423 officers and 67 enlisted men who arrived from Oflag 64 at Schubin, Poland
This document includes many more meaningful notes on this camp.

DESCRIPTION

The American compound was formerly occupied by Serbian officers and consisted of 7 stone barracks of antiquated types. Soon after the opening of the camp as an American Oflag, the buildings received some badly needed repairs which made them livable. Approximately 200 men were crowded into each five-room barrack, and although ventilation and daylight were adequate, each room contained only 2 drop lights of 15 watt bulbs. During the extremely cold weather, themed tried to keep from freezing by putting on all available clothing and huddling around the one stove furnished to each room. For each stove, the Germans issued 48 coal briquettes for 3 days. These briquettes measured about 5" x 3" x 3". As a result of this small ration, the barrack temperatures averaged about 30 degrees. At the insistence of the SAO, small details were permitted to "scrounge" for pieces of wood to supplement the fuel supply.

Wash rooms did not exist and officers had to carry water from the kitchen faucet to a few wash basins supplied to each room. No hot water was available for washing because of the fuel shortage, and the delousing plant was not in operation for 3 full months. Toilet facilities were completely inadequate in type and number. Complaints about this were handled by the Protecting Power and some improvement was achieved.


US PERSONNEL

Upon opening the camp, Col Charles C Cavender became the SAO,and he appointed Maj. Albert L. Bemdt as the SMO. There were no other officers appointed to hold definite offices. However when the evacuated officers of Oflag 6y arrived at the compound, Col. Paul R Good became the SAO and organized the camp on the same basis as the compound at Schubin, Poland. He used the Oflag 64 staff but retained Maj. Berndt as the SMO.

GERMAN PERSONNEL

The German camp commander was Generalmajor von Goeckel, who had as his executive officer Oberst Giese. However the block commander for the American officers' section was Hauptmann Fuchs. General von Goeckel was commander of the entire military installation and delegated most of the prisoner of war administration to Oberst Giese.

TREATMENT

Treatment was only fair. It must be pointed out that the camp was opened at the time of German's last offensive, the "Belgian Bulge." Soon after the opening of the camp it was apparent that this thrust was destined to failed and strong feelings of tension between the American and German personnel existed. There were many Allied air raids in the vicinity , and the air alert system at the camp was rigid. When the air alert sounded, all POW were required to hurry to their barracks and were given only 3 minutes in which to clear the open areas between buildings. One evening a warning signal was given and about an hour later a second alarm was sounded. At this moment, 4 American officers were standing at the fence talking to some Serbian officers and were slow in leaving the fence. Just as they reached the steps of their barrack, and before the termination of the 3 minute period, a guard saw them and fired at them. He was about 75 yards away, but he hit one of the officers in the back, piercing his lung and chest. The officer died the following day of his wounds. When more and more air raids occurred and the rigidity of the air alert rules remined the same, it became necessary for the men to be confined to their barracks for 6 and seven hours at a time. The SAO complained to the German commandant that the lack of indoor toilet facilities and the long periods of confinement were detrimental to the health of the men. The commandant later rescinded the order and gave permission for the men to go to the latrine. A guard yelled something in Germanwhich a PW did not understand, and the guard immediately shot him in the back of the head. This incident was witnessed by the camp commandant, General von Goeckel, Col. Good and Maj. Berndt as they were approaching the area. When they reached the officer he was dead and the guard merely stated he did not know about the new rule.

There was one particular rule which caused a great deal of dissension between Germans and Americans. The commandant issued orders that ALL Americans were required to salute All German officers first, regardless of their rank. Naturally, this rule was violated on many occasions and was always a subject of discussion between the SAO and the German officials. After the arrival of the officers from Oflag 64, the commandant was persuaded to revoke the order.

FOOD

When the camp Elrsl opened, the rations had a "paper value" content of 1700 calories per day. This was below the normal requirement for men getting plenty of sleep and performing no work. The ration was cut several times until it contained only 1070 calories a day. Officers were allowed to purchase supplementary rations from the canteen when supplies were available. These usually consisted of cabbage, carrots and beets. There were no Red Cross packages delivered during the entire period, but the Serbianofficers insisted on sharing with the American officers on a per capita basis all of the Red Cross food parcels received by the Serbs. In all approximately 1500 parcels were given to the Americans during 3 months of the camp's operation.

The kitchen used by the Americans was suitably equipped, and the (Gennan? probably German) rations were used to the best advantageThe extreme shortage of fuel hampered preparation of food but after the wood-forage details were formed, this situation improved. The normal daily menu consisted of one-tenth of a loaf of bread, one cup of ersatz coffee, one bowl of barley soup, and one serving of vegetable a day. About 3 times a week a small piece of margarine was issued, and occasionally a tablespoon of sugar. Toward the end of March, many officers were in a dangerous condition due to malnutrition and the SMO credited the generosity of the Serbian Officers with the saving of many lives.

[connie]

War Department notes on Oflag XIII-B continued

HEALTH

The health of the officers was not good. Many of the men arrived at the lag with wounds from the battlefield. Nearly all of them had been marched many miles in bitterly cold weather with insufficient food and rest. Few PW arrived at the camp in vehicles. The lack of a proper diet prevented quick recoveries from such minor ailments as colds, dysentery, trench feet and influenza. Therefore, men with serious wounds and illnesses had little chance of recovery without the assistance of the Serbian compound.

When the 27 medical officers of the compound were captured, their equipment and supplies were confiscated. However, some drugs and instruments had been concealed and were smuggled into the camp. The 20-bed dispensary was on the second floor of a good brick building which also housed the medical personnel and the first-aid room. All of the rooms were well-lighted and clean. Every effort was made by the medical personnel to make the patients as comfortable as possible. The men who were seriously ill were treated in the adjourning lazaret which was a part of the Serbian lag. The Serbian lazaret contained 450 beds, and although there too the equipment was not good, the Serbian doctors had been in prison for about 4 years and were experienced in successfully treating a variety of "kriegy ailments with makeshift medicines and equipment. Fortunately, surgical equipment was quite good; the head of the staff was a famous surgeon of outstanding ability.

Soon after the Americans arrived, the SMO of the Serbian compound assigned 60 beds for the exclusive use of Americans, and since "invalid" rations were issued there in addition to other advantages offered, the men who were admitted to the lazaret had a better chance of recovery.

CLOTHING

There was no German stock of clothing and no Red Cross clothing was received while the camp was in operation. In the beginning, most of the men had complete uniforms, but lacked extra socks, sweaters and jackets. Shoes were in need of repair at all times and no repair equipment was furnished. Because of extreme cold and lack of feel (? maybe lack of food?), the clothing shortage became a bitter hardship for everyone, and life at Oflag 13 was reduced to getting enough food to keep well and finding ways and means to keep warm.

WORK

PAY

The officers performed no work except camp details arranged by the SAO. At the time the men were captured, their money was confiscated and a receipt given to each individual. Since there was no pay scale worked out, the men purchased supplies from the canteen on a debit and credit system, using their receipts as collateral. Prices at the canteen were exceptionally high, but by clever manipulation the officers were able to purchase adequate amounts when items were put on sale.

MAIL

The outgoing mail was satisfactorily handled, and the usual 3 letter forms and 3 postcards per month were issued. However, no incoming mail was received during the camp's operation.

MORALE

Morale at this camp was not high. When compared with long-established camps, there was little resemblance of organization. The extremely bad conditions seemed to create a feeling of futility and carelessness. Several officers reported that this situation was improved by the arrival of evacuees of Stalag 65. The example of military discipline, courtesy and personal cleanliness displayed by menthe had been forced to march 345 miles thru sub-zero and zero weather did a great deal toward raising the morale of the other officers. However, the complete lack of mail and an almost certain knowledge that their families had been notified of safety due to the large number of captives , contributed a great deal to the low morale of the POW.

WELFARE

The first visit of the Protecting Power was made by accident. The Detaining Power had not notified the Protecting Power of the existence of the camp but on 22 January 1945, representatives of the Swis legation arrived to inspect Stalag 13 C and the adjoining Serbian compound in accordance with previous arrangements.

When informed by the commandant of the lag's opening, the representatives' request to visit the camp was approved. At that time there were many shortages. Many requisitions were made on the International Red Cross, but supplies were not received prior to the liberation of the camp. Anothervisit of the Protection Power was made on 25 March 1945 when acute shortages were reported to the Red Cross again. No YMCA or Red Cross equipment was received by the camp, and the only benefits were received through the courtesy of the Serbian compound.

RELIGION

There wer 7 Protestant chaplains and 2 Roman Catholic priests in the camp, but since the room provided by the Germans for religious services was not heated, attendance was small. Religious articles necessary for Catholic services were not available until the last of March.

RECREATION

There was one room set aside as a "day-room" but again the lack of heating facilities prevented its becoming popular. The Serbians donated 2 ping-pong tables, cards, and checker boards, while a small group of Australians located nearby donated a piano and some musical instruments. The "jam-sessions" became the only form of amusement which stimulated moral. For outdoor activity there was room for only one sport, horseshoe pitching, and these had few devotees. The lack of books, theatrical equipment, sports kits and art equipment made the dullness of captivity a constant source of discomfort.

[connie]

War Department notes on Oflag XIII-B continued

EVACUATION

On 27 March 1945, the SAO was notified that the camp would be evacuated that afternoon at 1600. At 1300 American tanks appeared and after a short consultation with the German officials the SAO decided to surrender the camp to the camp to the task force. This force was 50 miles ahead of the main body of American troops and there were no facilities to transport the PW from the camp except on the tanks. The SAO divided the men into 3 groups; those who were not physically able to make the trip; those who were able to walk beside the tanks; and those who would have to ride. Out of about 500 who tried to march, only 30 got through to the American lines. Those who rode on the tanks ran into strong enemy opposition and all were either killed or recaptured. The following day some 500 were moved by train to Nurnberg. All the remaining able-bodied men were marched 90 miles to Stalag 7 A, Moosburg. The men who were sick in the lazaret and the infirmary along with the medical staff remained behind.

LIBERATION

After the main evacuation from Hammelburg, the Germans left only a token guard around the camp to pick up American stragglers from the first "liberation," and to guard the Serbians who were not evacuated. The guard company that had made the march from Schubin Poland, with the members of Oflag 6r, was used for the movement of the troops to Nurnberg. The remaining guards were all Volksturm and were responsible for gathering the American stragglers together in a compound adjoining the American compound. As soon as they collected a group of 50 to 75, evacuation marches would begin.

On 3 April 1945, a German Hauptmann arrived at the camp and asked the SMO for 4 of the most seriously wounded prisoners to be designated for transfer to the town of Bad Kissengen where the germans had supposedly converted 23 resort hotels into 500 field hospitals. The German officer reported that Bad Kissingen was to be made an open city because Frau Goebbles was living in the town. The SMO requested to be permitted to go to American lines and inform the commanders that the city was "open." This permission was refused, and at midnight 4 wounded men were taken in truck to the resort town. The following day 2 more evacuations took place involving about 20 sick and wounded officers. After the second trip that day, the driver evidently became nervous over the proximity of American troops and failed to return to the camp, although he had been ordered to evacuate at least 20 more PW during the day.

On 6 April 1945, the 14th Armored Division entered the town of Hammelburg in great force and fired on all remaining buildings, carefully avoiding the camp. However 2 large shells believed fired by the Germans did explode in the camp area. There were no casualties during the entire liberation and the evacuation of the PW was arranged for in an orderly way. Ty this time only a handful of German guards remained, and they were turned over to CIC units which had accompanied the spearhead.


SOURCE MATERIAL FOR THIS REPORT CONSISTED OF INTERROGATIONS OF FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR MADE BY CMP BRANCH, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, AND REPORTS OF THE PROTECTING POWER ANDTHE INTERNATIONAL Red Cross RECEIVED BY THESTATE DEPARTMENT "Special War Problems Division." Taken for the general introduction to camps.

[connie]

Back-Up Transcription: Internet post on Lawler, Loy Dean, Pfc. 423 E, 1st platoon POW IV-B, Arbeitskommando L71A: www.ericsiegmund.com/fireant/2017/06/170608-loysstory.html


The Greatest Generation: A POW's Story



As they marched us back from the river, one soldier was carrying an American flag. That flag was a beautiful sight. I wish that flag could have the same meaning to everyone in this country now.
-- Loy Dean Lawler
Dr. Loy Dean Lawler was an optometrist who practiced for many years in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He was my wife's uncle (well, the relationship is a bit more complicated than that, but it will suffice). Loy Dean passed away in 2010 at age 86, a well-respected and devout gentleman.

He was also an Army veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. He endured four months as a prisoner of war, captured by the Germans along with thousands of his fellow American soldiers following the Battle of the Bulge.

In 1995, after returning from a reunion of the 106th Infantry Division (the first and only such reunion he could bring himself to attend), Dr. Lawler wrote his memoir of that ordeal. What follows is sometimes hard to read, but perhaps even harder for those of us raised in security and freedom to relate to. It's a stark reminder of the sacrifices that those who came before made so that we can enjoy that security and freedom. It's difficult to know exactly how to express gratitude for these sacrifices, but the least we can do is...never forget.



POW Experience
Dr. Loy Dean Lawler, Mount Pleasant, Texas

I was captured near Schoenberg close to the German border about 4:00 P.M. on December 19, 1944. I was with the 106th Infantry Division, 423rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company E, 1st Platoon. Captain Maxey Crews was our company commander. We had 4 or 5 left out of our platoon. The rest were killed, wounded, or simply missing. We had not had food or been warm or dry since the morning of December 16th.

Newspaper report of MIA status
Undated newspaper clipping reporting on Lawler's MIA status
At the time of our capture I was with Captain Crews near the dugout that I supposed could be called the Regimental Headquarters. I can still see the anguish and tears on Colonel [Charles C.] Cavender's face when he came out and said we were going to surrender. I can truthfully say nobody around me wanted to surrender. Captain Crews had me relay the order to cease firing and to destroy our weapons. I thought some of the guys were going to shoot me when I passed the order on. It was a problem to get everyone to quit firing. There was some firing after I destroyed my M1 rifle, and that did make me nervous, being without my M1

We were marched out of the woods and into an open field. On our way I was nearly shot by an SS trooper when I refused to let him have my watch. I changed my mind real quick when he drew his sidearm and put it in my face. I realized later how stupid I had been. The next thing was to destroy a pen and pencil set my Mother had given me, just to keep them from getting it. We huddled together in this open field the rest of the night. Early next morning we began a march that lasted all that day and the following night. I think we went to Prum and onto Gerolstein, but am not sure. The morning of December 21st we were given a piece of bread and put in boxcars. There were 60 of us in one boxcar. It had wooden benches where some sat, and the rest had to lay underneath the benches on the hard and cold floor.

We had several that were sick or wounded and lot of the men had diarrhea. Some were so weak they simply relieved themselves in their pants. Others hollered for the helmet that was passed around and emptied through a hole in the boxcar. I didn't think until later that I hope that wasn't the same helmet that was used to give us water. There was a stove in the boxcar, but nothing to burn--it was just in the way.

Our train was pulled onto a railroad siding in Limburg, near Frankfurt, to allow higher priority trains to move on. On the night of about December 23, we were bombed by the British. It was quite a show with all the flares and earth-shaking explosions.

We managed to get out of the boxcar. I remembered seeing a foxhole earlier that was nearby. I ran for that and jumped in with the bombs exploding. I jumped on the back of a German guard that was already in the one-man hole. I quickly pushed him back down as he tried to get up and made a fast exit. We had hopes of escaping, but were quickly rounded up after the bombing ceased. I am not sure of this, but I was told we lost 12 out of our 60 men--to the bombs and by the guards thinking some were trying to escape. One of those killed was a friend who had married the day before we left to go overseas. His body lay in front of our boxcar all Christmas eve day. A Sgt. McNamara in our group was a good singer. He was leading us in Christmas carols when the bombing started.

We stayed in the boxcar about 10 days. During that time we had 1/6th of a Red Cross parcel and water once or twice. I am a little hazy on the water that was scarce, but I know for sure about the few bites of food we received.

We arrived at Stalag IVB about December 30th and was assigned to barracks December 31st. Several of the men were too weak to move and had to be carried off the boxcar. I believe we had one die.

We had to undress and were put in a "gas" chamber and deloused before being given a small bowl of warm oatmeal. That was the best meal I ever had-and the last for several months. While at IVB, we were in bunks (hard planks) that were so close together we could hardly turn over. There was a latrine at the end of the barracks with two barrels outside the door. With so much dysentery, most of us couldn't wait our turn and had to go in the barrels. Some Poles who had been in the camp a long time would come in and eat the feces out of the barrels when they could find any of a solid nature. We were not that starved yet. Later on I did find myself digging into a cow pile with a stick, looking for something solid. I found a couple of pieces of undigested carrots that were pretty good. Our diet at IVB was watery soup with very little solids.

About the middle of January, 1945, I was transferred to a Russian work camp, arbeit Kommando L71A near Boxwitz, Germany. We were close enough to Dresden to see the lights and the bombing of that city.

I was with a group of 100 Americans and 400 Russians. Thirty-one of us and four Russians were assigned to work 6 days a week, 12 hours a day, in a coal brickette factory in Boxwitz (or Bockwitz). It was called Fabrique Eine und Zwie. We got out of bed at 4:30 in the morning, stood outside in formation for roll call. The guard would hit anyone with their hand in their pockets because it was not soldier-like. This was before daylight. We then walked one hour to work, before the 12-hour workday.

We had no breakfast--only a cup of what I call acorn coffee, barely more than warm water. Our noon meal consisted of half a Klim can of rutabaga soup without the rutabaga. The night meal was the same with a small piece of bread. On Sunday, our day off, we had only one meal, but I believe we got one small potato occasionally. If we found a worm in our soup that was good--something a little solid. Only on one occasion did we receive 1/6 of a Red Cross parcel, and that was near the time we were liberated.

My work involved some standing on a high scaffold and knocking out a ceiling with heavy hammers. I remember falling once, but wasn't seriously hurt. This didn't last very long, and the rest of the time we were working outside-stacking coal brickettes and loading things on boxcars. One day a German soldier, not one of our guards, came by on an inspection tour and told me to take my coat off--in the coldest winter ever recorded in that part of Germany. I refused. He tried to take it off, but finally gave up and moved on. He was so mad he was frothing at the mouth. I kept my coat on.

A woman in a nearby house saw us wrestling around. She came out of the house and hid something under the snow next to a chimney. When no one was looking, I slipped over and found a small piece of cake. I mention this to let everyone know that all Germans were not bad.

The best part of our work was near the end of our captivity when the P-38s would strafe the plant. We would get to go to the bomb shelter. A German civilian worker would occasionally hide a thin slice of bread in his hat band and give it to me in the darkness of the shelter.

Our walk to and from work was rather uneventful--except for the cold. I do remember one time a Russian, while walking in formation, (we marched everywhere--never walked) stepped out of line while urinating to keep from hitting the guy in front and the German guard shot him in the face, the bullet going through both cheeks. He walked on to camp without any help.

There was a place in camp where we could take a shower--like once a week. We were separated from the Russians, but they could cut the hot water off when were in the shower and had fun doing it.

About March of 1945 I began to run a temperature and get weaker and weaker. I no longer could eat and had to give my food away. I worked as long as I could because several of the Russians were shot in bed when they couldn't get up. I was lucky, for they put me in a horse-drawn, iron-wheeled wagon with the guard, and took me to the nearest railroad station. I had pleurisy and it hurt to even breathe. I was too weak to sit up, so laying on those hard boards in the wagon and going over those cobblestone roads was a real experience.

We boarded a train for a hospital in Lebenwerda, Germany. It was an old theatre building. Our beds were planks that used to have a little straw on them. The British doctor in charge brought a German colonel in to see us. He, with one hand, put his fingers completely around my leg--just about skin and bone. The doctor was bitterly complaining to the Colonel about our condition. The next day I was taken to a regular hospital for X-rays and some other tests, and then returned to our own "hospital." Soon afterwards, the British doctor received some medicine that broke my fever and I started to get a little better. The guy next to me in the hospital was from the same barracks in our work camp, in fact, slept next to me. He died with something similar. I knew I was in bad shape when they placed this other man and me in the only two beds in our theatre hospital. I weighed 88 lbs and probably lost a little more weight before I got better. I was soon returned to the work camp. It was a strange feeling to travel on a train with German civilians. They looked at me like I was from Mars.

By April the weather began to get a little warmer. Just before we were liberated, as previously mentioned, we received 1/6th of a Red Cross parcel for each man. Prior to this we had no contact with the Red Cross. They "lost" us. About this time we began to miss some of our bread rations and the rutabaga soup without the rutabaga was replaced with some sort of sugar beet soup that was hardly edible. I traded a pack of cigarettes out of the Red Cross parcel for a loaf of bread, but it was stolen before I could eat it. I now know how a person feels when they lose all their worldly possessions.

Sometime after the middle of April all of our guards suddenly disappeared. The exception was a French soldier in German uniform. He was the only decent guard we had. He stayed with us. We could hear firing by the Russians advancing towards us. We started walking towards the American lines to keep from being captured by the Russians and, according to local rumors, marched back into Russia.

We lived off the land--like digging up potato eyes planted in the ground. We found a little burned cheese from a train that had been bombed. Here we were looking into horse and cow manure or anywhere we could find something to eat.

Just before we met the Americans at the Elbe river I was resting by the side of the road when I looked out into a field where a pregnant woman was working. A German guard began stomping her as she lay helpless on the ground. About the same time a German officer sat down beside me and told me the Americans should join up with the Germans and whip Russia while we could. We had spent several days just ahead of the Russians--like getting up (out of a barn) and separating ourselves from the Russians.

In the late afternoon of April 24th we crossed a bombed-out bridge on what I think was the Elbe River and met the Americans--273rd Infantry of the 69th Division. As they marched us back from the river, one soldier was carrying an American flag. That flag was a beautiful sight. I wish that flag could have the same meaning to everyone in this country now. During this walk one of our guys took a bicycle away from a German civilian, but several of us made him give it back. I did get a German officers sabre, but it got bent in the celebration and I threw it away.

We were put in this German home for the night. The man's wife and daughter left to stay with the neighbors, but the husband stayed with us and tried to celebrate with us. He soon passed out on his bed. I went out and milked his cow and drank the milk immediately. This was better than cognac. Our stomachs couldn't take anything very strong. The Russians arrived at the Elbe river about an hour after we did, and they were not as nice to the German civilians as we were.

Before and after photos of Loy Lawler
Loy Dean Lawler as a new recruit in the Army Specialized Training Program (left),
and as a corporal after his return. He quipped that "any POW who survived
got an immediate promotion - some way to get a promotion, huh?"

I don't remember where (maybe Trebsen, Germany), but the 69th Division took us to some barracks where we were billeted for a few days. During the first night with this I&R platoon, 273rd Infantry, 69th Division, we broke into the mess hall and stole most of their food. We returned most of it later when we found out we couldn't eat as much as we thought we could.

We were next sent to Camp Lucky Strike in France. After about two weeks and what I then thought was good food, we were put on a Liberty ship on our way back to Newport News, Virginia. A friend of mine, B. J. Carmichael, and I stayed on deck all the time. We never saw our assigned bunks.

This coincidence is worth mentioning. B. J. Carmichael, from Dallas, Texas, and I took our basic training in Camp Wheeler, Georgia. From there we were sent to the University of Alabama under the ASTP. We were still put in the same unit. We were then sent to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, still together. We went overseas to England and France, still together. During the Battle of the Bulge, around St. Vith, we were separated. After we were captured, we were together again. When were put in the boxcars on the way to Stalag IVB, we were together. Out of the thousands at IVB, we were in the same barracks and we both were picked for a group of 100 Americans to go to work in a Russian work camp with 400 Russians. A day or two after I went to this German hospital, here came Carmichael.

We were together until liberated and sent to Camp Lucky Strike. Out of the thousands there, we were still on the same Liberty Ship back to the States. Finally, he was discharged from Ft. Ord, California, and I from Ft. Hood, Texas, but not before we spent a recuperation leave together in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

We haven't seen much of each other since. It is a shame we haven't, but I think both of us didn't care to dwell on the past all that much. He will always be special to me. While the bullets were flying around, I can still hear him hollering for me to "get down."

To regress a bit, back to the work camp, I twice was put on a detail of about 6 guys to clean out the furnaces at the factory (or plant) where we worked. The ovens looked like pictures I later saw of these ovens where bodies were cremated. This was on a Sunday, supposedly our only day off. The oven doors were just big enough to crawl in, one man to a furnace. While scraping the wall down good, we stood on some grates above a bed of coals that were still hot. We couldn't stay in the ovens very long at a time. There was enough room for us to fall through the grates, but this was one time everyone was real careful. The only air we got was from the open oven door.

I say all of the above to say this. This wasn't any worse than having to stand out in the cold snow and ice at the brickette factory 12 hours a day with just a pair of G.I. boots on your feet. G.I. boots are not warm and they are not waterproof. There ought to be a special place in hell for the person who sold the Army those boots. My feet are still cold.

I know I have rambled around a bit and hit a few highlights. After almost 50 years there is no way I can remember everything. To those of you who were there, you can understand.