VO~. 2, ---...NO. II WOUNDED AMERICANS IN HUNGARY AND YUGOSLAVL\. At the end of June, the lot national Red Cross reported t~r. t th~re were l~ ~ound~d Americ: A U "If r-c N ;C~~~o~c'~o:~::~:;~~ "~:t.!!~~~n: It ISO N E R S 0 F W R B L L It :J" Hunganan mIl1tary hospital ...... Budapest. A report on the v' ~t hed by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of Amencan Pnsoners of War and CIvIlian Internees 1S1t stated that the men ~ere being Well cared for by Hung~nan doctors, and r;, N O. 12 WASHINGTON, D. C. DECEMBER 1944 tha.t they were entIrely satisfied Witht "_'------­ theIr treatment. They were sChed' j uled to be transferred ·to camps in Germany as soon as they had reo covered from their wounds. Un. The 1944 Christmas Package wounded aviators bpought down Nuts, mixed ______· %, lb. over Hungary had been moved hristmas Package No. 2, packed are now held. The aim, of course, was Bouillon cubes ______12 promptly to German camps. women volunteers in the Phila· to avoid railroad transport in Ger­ Fruit bars-______· 2 A later report by cable stated hia Center during the hottest many as much as possible. Dates ______14 oz. that several Lazaretts in Hungary , of . the summ~r, r ~ ached G ~r­ Much thought was given to plan­ Cherries, canned______. 6 oz. containing in all about 60 wounded Y. VIa Sweden. m tlm~ for dlS­ ning the 1944 package-the basis of Playing cards-______. 1 pack it being "turkey and the 'fixins'." A Chewing gum ______4 pkgs, Americans, were visited on Au st utlOn t.o . .t?-m e ~lcan pnsoners of Butter ______3 %, oz, 'd d" k' 5 gu f and clvlhan mternees held by complete list of the contents follows: 17 . BeSI es me Icme Its, 00 cap, trm Games, assorted ______. I box Cigarettes ______. 3 pkgs, T~e neu: packaging (iente,' at B,"ooklyn, N. Y., which began operations on September 11. ture parcels and 2,~00 stan?ard food [ h :~~~ thousand Christmas pack­ Plum pudding------. 1 lb. Stnce thIS photograph was taken, the volunteers have obtained their regulation blue smocks. Turkey, boned meaL ______%, lb. Smoking tobacco ______1 pkg. packages for Am~ncan pnsoners of sent in 1943 for American pris­ Small sausages-______14 lb. Pipe ______I PACKAGING CENTERS "DOING WELL" war had been ~ehvered to Hungary rs of war and civilian internees in Strawberry jam ______6 oz. Tea ______1 % oz. by the InternatIonal Red Cross, the ope were hardly sufficient to go Candy, assorted ______%, lb. Honey ______6 oz. Since the opening of the new A recent report on a visit to the Washcloth ______. 1 report added. und, although at the time of or- Deviled h a m _~ ______· 3 oz. Brooklyn, N. Y:, plant on September Lager Lazarett at Stalag VI G, lo­ Cheddar cheese ______14 lb. Pictures (American scenes) ______2 11, the total weekly output of pris­ cated at Bonn-Duisdorf, gave a list Ip June, an International Com. ing, the number seemed exces­ The packages were oner of war food packages has aver­ of the British and American patients mittee Delegate also visited seven e. No chances were paid for by the United aged over 300,000. In the week ended undergoing treatment there. The re­ wounded American aviators hos. len this year. The States government, and October 14, Center No, 1 at Philadel­ port on a wounded sergeant stated: pitalized in the Zemun Lazarett near I shipped in Septem­ the contents in large phia produced 79,911 packages, New Here since November 1943. He had Belgrade. Each man received a Red was fully ~o perc~nt part w ere purchased York 83,871, St. Louis 79,524, and more or less eV3rything broken that food package week. In· e :eu:t:J through the Department Brooklyn 67,455. In the following was humanly possible, including frac­ Cr~ss ev~ ry e~~~~sri~a~s vah.d parcels and clothmg were also d by Germany ft that of Agriculture. week the record figure of 322,044 tures of the skull, basin, back, and Left unsaid, but im­ packages was reached, with Phila­ both legs. But they are all healed now, available. The D e legate'~ report e, and much more plicit in every . package, delphia produci,ng 86,640, New York and his only trouble at present is stated that the men would be trans- n sufficient to cover were the heartfelt wishes 84,158, St. Louis 77,756, and Brook­ an abscess on the right foot. Apart ferred to a "permanent" camp in Ger· se captured since Sep­ lyn 73,490. Up to the end of October, from that, he is doing well, but he many as soon as they had recovered. ber. of the American people for the safe and speedy a grand total of over 18,000,000 pack­ will have to stay here for some time Th~y had no complaints to make on ~ im ila rly , all pre para: return of their kinsfolk. ages had been filled. for further medical supervision. their treatment at Zemun. ns were made-inso- Unfortunately, it was as they could be by not possible to get a spe­ International Com­ ·paalue.renjj s! tp!l{M .r0J aJllllsod 'ttee of the R ed Cross cial Christmas package to American prisoners •Lt££ :u~o..rpa~~Ul~~Pu::q A~~~~p~UM;I~~3:~1I~=U Id the American Red held by Japan, but it is loss-to get the pack­ to be hoped · earnesdy 'es in time to all camps that the large shi pmen t d hospitals in Ger­ of relief supplies held in any housing American Vladivostok, which was s-axaJi Zt nsoners. They were U'nsnv picked up by the Japa­ ..l~tU'l S-ex"SJ. :JO ~ls..te.Alao etriL tpped, along with large nese steamer Hakusan anti ties of standard ttOl1-1 Sl't\bO~ s "[~ .las Maru early in Novem­ rI:Id packages and other ber, will reach the camps pplies, on Red Cross in time for distribution els from Philadel­ pa;nuc.nm~ a~clsod ulllla"lI at Christmas, just as the i . ia to Goteborg, Swe­ l. ~ Gripsholm sup P lie s ~n, and thence trans­ shipped to the Far East .:) ' 0 ' UOl:!U!l{SlIM on Swedish ves­ .::) 'U '~I UOl~U!qscM ~ip p ed in the fall of 1943 liS 'ON l!UU3d !Is to a north German SSOl::) pa"lI ICuopcN uC:J!lamv aq~ reached the men in I lilt[ fairly close to the UIVd t-q pn fsnqnd Contents of the 1944 Christmas package for A mel"ican prisoners of war most of the camps by ~nlps where the largest atld civilian inte"nees in Europe. More than 75,000 01 these packages were 3DV.LSOd 'S 'Il tt61 "M3HW3AON IU nlb ers of Americans . sMpped I,'ollt PMladelpMa. Christmas. '11 7fl ''1 'd <:9£ ':>3S Unan"g .111 A\ JO s.lauospd J 2 VOL. 2, !,-{O. 3 'ON ERS OF WAR BULLETIN _

R~ports on.,:German Camps to over 5,900, according .to dvices from Geneva. The In­ Stalag Luft I each man of e''';'ough to eat. No one quick, panca~e flour, etc. I WO uld ot prisoners in August and Sep­ Lt. Cecil B. Fisher,AAF, who was is suffering from lack of food. Cloth­ send meat since they receive I ef was so large that tents .had through the Red Cross. erected in all three Amencan repatriated from Germany on the ing and shoes are issued to each man P There is a stove in every room unds to house the new arrivals. latest exchange, wrote the following upon his arrival in camp_ Laundry is coal is issued by the German a recently received of. a letter in October from the Walter done by the prisoners themselves. ~epo rt thorities. Although it is cold du? the camp by a representative Reed General Hospital, Washing­ They are required to do no work by ~ the win~er, we suffere~ no ill eD;~ ;ar Prisoners Aid of the YMCA ton, D. C., to a number of relatives the Germans, and anything they do a nd friends of American prisoners There IS als? a hospztal in chat: e of the . . . is purely voluntary. of two Englzsh doctors, one an e onderful spirit of dzsczPI.zr: e and of war in Stalag Luft I: The YMCA made it possible for ~ellent . surgeon . .We were fortuna ~ tio na l order. All actlVltze~ .are Naturally, I am eager to communi­ us to obtain musical instruments, In haVing a dentzst, too. ated by 100 percent partlczpa- cate with the friends and relatives of sports equipment, and books. We had Stalag LUft I is without doubt , cleanliness is exemplary; and the American prisoners whom I knew two orchestras in camp, one sym­ ~f ,the ':est camps in G ermany ~ I co mradeship among the offi- while in Stalag Luft I. Many have phonic, the other for popular music. zs an AIr Force camp, and they a extraordinary. .. written me and before leaving Ger­ We also had equipment for baseball, acknowledged by all to be the bes \ the time of the V1S1t, there wer~ many, I received numbers of requests softball, basketball, tennis, soccer, There have been no atrocities co Protestant (British and Amen­ from the men to communicate with football, and badminton. The library mitted in this camp. T he treatme and two Roman Catholic chap­ their families. I have resorted to this is fairly large and contains varied ' b~ the Ge~man~ is good and fa ' . serving the six compC?~nds form letter in order to write all types of literature. At the chapel in Since the inVaSIOn, m orale in t e American and three BntIsh) F I It t ·tnt· Lt Thomas Mulligan, USAAF, American prisoners at Lult Ill .• rO,nt row e Maj~r Edward Wheeler, USAAF; of you promptly. I hope you will the camp, both Protestant and Cath­ camp is very high and you. may uft III. Religious interest am~ng ;;;N ' editor of "Kriegie g:J go;; L:::;b McK:sson USAAF, Foodacco chief (Food consider it as a personal letter, for olic services were held. During my assured that the boys are thmking prisoners was reported to l?e re­ TimeS~~~Jis, and Lt. John P;::;~ge B~re::J; a:d Lt. Ray Brunn, education officer. there is little more information that szx months' stay, I saw five plays pro­ home and you. The medical care ~kably strong," with about 20 per­ I could send you if I wrote an orig­ duced by the prisoners which proved been quite adequate, and the hea l~\ of the men attending servic~s, VI. Since the camp strength in the camp infirmary, but serious inal message in each case. th~n, highly entertaining. A long with of all the men was good when lief ',h were held in the th~ater In has been steadily increased by ar­ cases were evacuated to hospitals out­ side. Unlike the Lazaretts, camp in­ First, I shall tell you of camp con­ plays, concerts, group singing, and It would seem from the foregoi compound. The chaplams w~re rivals from Wetzlar (Dulag Luft) boxing, the prisoners have a full and letter that the men in Stalag Luft ided with private rooms for m­ firmaries and Reviers are not, as a ditions. The prisoners live in wooden and Budapest. . . . barracks-anywhere from 8 to 14 men varied program of recreation. who "briefed" Lt. Fisher on writ' 'ews and "fireside chats." Mass The transfer of BntIsh and Amen- rule, equipped with the neeessary appliances, X-ray, etc., for more se­ to a room. Sanitary conditions are Mail and packages arrived in good t~ their families want~ d him to D!-~the Catholics was celebrated each can prisoners fI:om .Luft VI to Luft favorable. Inmates of the barracks condition. Following are some sug­ h1S letters as comfortmg as poss1bl ing in alternate compounds. IV, according to the .Delegate's pre­ rious operations. Study courses were see to the cleanliness of the barracks gestions as to what to send in pack­ Stalag II A [essions were heard once a week. liminary report recelVed by cable, in process of organization, but the supply of textbooks, as well as of themselves, equipment being fur­ ages: powdered puddings, baking . . Stalag IV A was accomplished under very. bad sports equipment and musical in­ nished by the Germans. Each prison­ powder, chocolate, dehydrated fr:uits A cable rece1ved In October stated\ work detachment dependent on conditions. Many of the men, it. ap­ struments, was inadequate. There er receives one Red Cross food parcel and vegetables, safety pins, spices, that Stalag II A at Ne ubrandenbU~jag IV A was visited on Septem­ pears, lost their persona~ belongmgs were Protestant and Catholic chap­ per week. This is supplementary to prepared macaroni or spaghetti din­ in the wov.ince of Mecklenb J 11 by a Delegate of the Inter­ during an unnecessanly arduous lains at the camp, as well as medical the yerman issue of food and assures ners, prepared muffin mixes, Bis- (Army D1stnct II) had been 'onal Committee of the Red trip, and the Delegates reported tha,~ opened. On the date of cabling, th s The detachment, which p.ad they had made "energeuc protests and sanitary personnel, but not in camp held 65 American prisoneI1:n 'formed only a few days earlier, to the German authorities. . sufficient number. of war. S.gt. Harley Lucas was name4 mprised 50 American prisoners re­ Luft IV is situated about 12 m1les The Delegates, the cable stated, as Amencan spokesman. lily , captured in . Franc~. Pvt. from the town of Belgard (Pome­ "took immediate necessary action tjandro E. Broun was glVen as with the competent authorities on Stalag II B rania) in an isolated dearing. There , ~k esman. The men were engag~d are 40 barracks, each housing 200 all questions needing improvement." Sgt. Harry Galler has been re- barracks construction in the Clty men. Rooms planned for 16 men, Stalag VII B placed by M/ Sgt. John McMahon Dresden. occupying double-decke: bunks, held A brief report, received by cable as American camp spokesman at I\alag IV A can be added tc? , the 24 men, and the bunks In some cases in October, stated that Stalag VII B Stalag II B. The International Red ipof European camps (pubhshed had not been completed. In one sec­ was visited by an International Red Cross cabled that the American a June) in Square D7, between tion, where no bunks had been ye~ Cross Delegate on August ,21. At strength at II B had risen to Over uag IV B and Dresden. installed, 1,900 men were sleepmg on that time, out of a total camp 6,000 by the end of September. Stalag Luft IV floors, each man having two blank.e~s . strength of about 11,000, there were There were, at the time of the ~lSlt, Stalag Luft III . Delegates of the 513 American prisoners of war. About Internat.i~nal no heating facilities and the samtary re- Immittee of the, Red Cross VISited 400 Americans were already in work Gen.. Arthur W. Va~aman , a 'or l1ag Luft IV on October 5 and 6. installations were inadequate. Means detachments. The remainder were cent arnval at Luft III, 1S n.ow S:m_'ae camp strength at that time was for the preparation of food from Red housed in tents at the Stalag, where officer for all three A~encanermi*. ~en as 7,975 Americans and 886 Cross packages ;-ver: also. lacking. barracks were under construction. ~ounds. He has been given P. t4 itish, the latter including 147 Ca­ Some relief supphes, mcludmg doth­ The name of Francis Sporil was SlOn ,?y the German autho~lt!es tcI ~dian s, 37 Australians, 22 New Zea­ ing, shipped from Luft VI when given as American spokesman. A coord mate all matters pe :tal nl~ lnders, and 8 South Africans. that camp was closed, had not yet later cablegra.m stated that t?e the .three compounds. H1S qu he the first arrivals, numbering 64 reached Luft IV, with the resu\l~ that American strength at VII B had m­ ~re m t~e Center .c?mpound, :~d tirmen noncoms, reached Luft IV on some of the men were insuffiClently creased to 9Il at the end of Septem­ IS perm1tted to V1Slt the Sou llay 14 last. Several hundreds more clothed. The general state of health was re- ber. West compounds. tbe 'tached the camp between May 14 The camp storehouse had been de­ Christmas thoughts at Stalag Luft lIi. Another cartoon for Prisoners of War Bulletin from By . the en.d of September, ba4 lndJ ul 19. On the latter date, about ported to be good, but the infirmary, with 132 beds, was overcrowded. stroyed during a bombing raid, and Lt. Leonard E. Hamaker, South Compound. Amencan strength at Luft III :400 A~ ericans and 800 British ar­ 500 Red Cross packages lost. Air hVed at Luft IV from Stalag Luft Minor operations were performed 5 4 ~~O~ERS OF WAR BULLETIN ______V_O_L--.:.:..... 2, NO.Iy- raid shelters for the men were re­ with me, and give a recital after the they pe.rform for them. w~ German . CalPP Locations ported to be satisfactory. Mail to the service. The men are very friendly Red Cross and the YMCA, life ~he camp had "slowed down," and recre­ and appreciate my visits. They are PO W would be intolerable. Q Br Isabelle Lrnn ational activities had "not yet been all from Italy, and although, at first, identifying information follows the "Montana Bill" was a former...... planation has yet been given why a organized." Hygiene and medical disappointed at being transferred to coach at the University of M skj'errnany IS dIvIded Illt? 22 mIlI­ province. service were reported to be good, Germany, are now settling dpwn. We and professional of the Ida~ntan districts, or Wehrkrezse. Stalags few Stalags (for example, 344 and Most of the foregoing camps an? but there were complaints about the are entirely surrounded by moun­ Club. ORa~ 64 is in a distric: wSkt1desi g':la~ed b~ the number of th: 357) are designated by Arabic nu­ hospitals contain only a few. Amen­ quality of German food issued to the tains, and must be close to 2,000 feet suited to wIllter sports. eU rkrezs III whIch they are loc~ted, merals. can prisoners of war, but In some men. above sea level .. One camj) I visit is When visited on October II example, Stalag III ~ IS at Following is a list of camps in camps (notably II B, III B, IV B, Stalag VII B is located at Memmin­ between 8,000 and 9,000 feet above a Delegate of the International Rb tenburg ~r: the Westertimke-Tar m s ted t-Ost, at Stalag XVII B about mail. Next­ and Clara Van Srckle, of Warren' l B_Hammerstein, Pomerania, near Hanover, near Bremervorde visiting Komandos and conducting New Jersey, was thIrd. Their pictures,stettin nau of-kin parcels, a recent report stated, services in' the Lager. Mar I a g Westertimke-Tarmstedt-Ost, were taking from three to five :-vere on the cover C?f the October~ 1 A_Luckenwalde, Brandenburg, 30 XVIII C (317)-Markt Pongau. Austria, Hanover, near Bremervorde months, after dispatch from home, to ORag 64 Issue of Item, accordlllg to a report ~s S of Berlin Salzburg ORags reach the men, and incoming letter from War Prisoners Aid of the II B_FUrstenburg/Oder, Brandenburg WK 8 BAB21-Blechhammer, Silesia, IV C-Colditz, Saxony mail was said' to be slow and erratic. First Lt. William C. ("Montana YMCA. I C_Altdrewitz, Brandenburg, near near Heydebreck Bill") Burghardt, winter sports offi­ The report further stated tha ttin 357-Kopernikus-T6run (Thorn), Poland VII B-Eichstatt, Bavaria Outgoing mail was also restricted IX A/H-Spangenburg, Hesse-Nassau because of the inability of the camp cer at ORag 64, wrote 'to his father there had been ~uch sports activity f A-H~hnstein, Saxony, near ~re~den XX A-T6run (Thorn), Poland at the camp dunng the summer, and B-Muhlberg, Saxony, E of :elpz1g IX A/Z--Rotenburg, Hesse-Nassau authorities to furnish sufficient let­ in N ew York: XX B-Marienburg, East Prussia, near I should be very happy if you that the supply of materials was lV C-Wistritz, Czechoslovakia, near Danzig X B-Nienburg, Westphalia ter-forms to the men. Shortage of XI (79)-Braunschweig, Braunschweig letter-forms is probably responsible would express publicly the deep good. "Bob Ranking's orchestra" had ll itz- Schonau . Luft Camps been enlarged, and the camp the. IVD- Torgau, Saxony, on the Elbe Rlv~r (Brunswick) in part for the complaints now com­ gratitude of all officers at Oflag 64 for the skates and numerous other ater was busy with new productions. IV D/ Z--Annaburg, Saxony, S of Berlin Luft I-Barth, Pomerania, on the Baltic XXI (64)-Altburgund, Schubin, Po­ ing in about delays in receipt of mail land, near Bydgoszcz (Bromberg) sports gear (including sportswear), Richard Van Syckle and John Glen. IV .F_Hartmannsdorf, Saxony, near Luft III-Sagan, Silesia from German camps and hospitals, Luft IV-Grosstychow, Pomerania, near Lazaretts musical instruments, books, the­ dinning had s.uggested a~ ORag 64·lmmtz . WUrttember , SW but military operations have also Belgard IV A-Elsterhorst, Hohnstein, Saxony, atrical materials, etc., presented to theater tour III the Ulllted States V A-Ludwlgsburg, g affected the mail service to and from Luft VII-Bank au, Upper Silesia, near near Dresden Germany. them by YMCA War Prisoners Aid, after the war for the benefit of the ; ;an~. \I' B d n in Black Forest Kreuzburg and which have brought thE: m en so IV G-Leipzig, Saxony Reports recently received also in­ YMCA. VI ~~ol::e~hinael:nd, S of Cologne on V B-RottenmUnster, W Ur t t em be r g, much happiness. I also hope the Red I dicated that bathing, washing, and The camp had four Protestant and Rhi ne River . near Rottweil toilet facilities at Stalag XVII B were Cross will take a deep bow for the !WO Catholic chaplains, and religious VII A-Moosburg, Bavaria ~(A'R~ST~)i\ f1 $ tJE~V'~i\R VI C-Res. Laz. Lingen, Hanover, on the still seriously inadequate for the more tremendous and wonderful job they Illter e ~t was reported to be great. VII B-Memmingen, Bavaria Ems River than 4,000 American prisoners. The are doing for our men in keeping The lI?rary had ~ , OOO v?lumes, and I44-Lamsdorf, Silesia, SE of Breslau !(,k ~~TjNOS VI G-Res. Laz. Gerresheim, Rhineland, authorities have several times been them supplied with food; clothing, two skIlled boo~blllders III Lts. Don· VIII B-Teschen, Czechoslovakia, SE of 'l'a ili~ near DUsseldorf urged to improve conditions at this comforts, and the 101 other tasks aid and HauschIld. . 'Ill au VII A-Freising, Bavaria, near Munich camp. There is, unfortunately, a VIII C-Sagan, Silesia, on the Bober AMEfFrankfurt Meiningen satisfactory .camp conditions, and this IX C-Bad Sulza, ThUringia, near Kassel IX C-Meiningen, ThUringia applies not alone to Stalag XVII B. XB-Bremervorde, Hanover, near Bre­ IX C-Hildburghausen, ThUringia Stalag 317 In X A-Res. Laz. II Schleswig, Schleswig­ XC- Nienburg, Westphalia, SE of Bre­ Holstein At the end of August, 35 American In, on the Weser River X B-Sandbostel, Hanover, near Bremer­ prisoners of war were reported at XI A-Altengrabow, Saxony, near Mag­ yarde Stalag 317. This camp, formerly \bu rg XIII D-NUrnberg Langwasser, Ba­ designated as Stalag XVIII C, is lo­ XI B-Fallingbostel, Hanover varia cated at Markt Pongau, in 'Austria. ,XII A-Limburg, Hesse-Nassau, on the 'fK tH\1 '1' fi E XVIII A/Z--Spittal/Drau, southern Aus- The camp is mainly for British pris­ .ahn River tria oners.F. E. S. Long, of the New Zea­ XIII D-FormerIy at Trier; moved to J\ ~ E'R'iett ~ Marinelazarett' Cuxhaven, Han 0 v e r, land YMCA, who is a prisoner at ~ahbreitbach Bavaria, near Neuweid on mouth of the Elbe River l~ I?h ine Ri~er 'M~aeifA N'f~ g~AjfgN Luftwaffenlazarett 4/ 11 Wismar, Meck- Stalag 317, wrote a few months ago: XII l<--Formerly at Forbach ; moved tq The authorities have given me t1F lenburg, E of LUbeck on Baltic r r~insh eim , ~avaria, near Bad DUrkheim Res. Laz. II, Vienna, Austria every assistance in visiting the men XIII C-Hamroelburg, Bava,ria . in work camps, of which there are XIII D-Nurnberl; Langwasser, Bavana f'Yrf.>1fl oLuftwaffe camps, including Stalag Chief, Casualty Branch thumbprint to be of the left camps in Germany for American airmen. Luft III, reaches the American govern­ Reference is made in particular to Stalag ment through official channels from the !lib of a soldier missing in action Luft I, Stalag Luft IV, and Stalag Swiss government, which is charged with When army personnel are re­ the United States) who has already territory, the receipt or disclosure Tunisia whose initials matched XVII B. Some relatives of me.n in Luft­ the protection of American interests in ported to the War Department · as been notified by The Adjutant Gen­ delayed death reports, discoveries Ie on the la~n~ry. mark. Ap­ waffe camps other than Stalag L1,Ift III, Germany. If the confidential character missing, whether during routine air­ eral that the soldier is missing in ac­ marked graves or other reliable ev ntl y the soldIer s rIght thumb unfortunately, seem to have the im­ of these reports were not properly safe­ craft practice flights, from transcon­ tion. pression that the latter is a "country guarded, their value would be seriously dence -of death, the exchange 0 been placed ~m. the s~ot marked club in the pines," and that the prisoners impaired. It is on the basis of these tinental air lanes, or in action, there liberation of prisoners of war, an the left on hIS mductIOn record. Reporting Casualties there have a sort of' privileged status reports (as well as on the reports of begin a series of actions that do not finally, the cessation of hostil' . any rate, .the ~asu~lty Branch ac- compared with the men in other camps. camp visits made by Delegates of the cease until each man's fate is known In the Ground..Forces, it is another Itles. ted the IdentIficatIOn after con- The one and only reason why the International Committee of the Red or determined. The work involved story. Names of men missing in ac­ Identification Difficulties ~ n p with fingerprint experts in BULLETIN has published more about Cross, which, however, may be pub­ in the War Department and its tion are turned up by daily roll calls Stalag Luft III than about any other lished) that the State Department is able ~ , hJll g ton. . German camp is because there has been to take action for the prop,er observance armies and_air forces by a report of which form the basis of the morning These factors sound broa~ inlnother example is one in which more to publish. The same 'applies to by the Detaining Power of the Geneva missing follows the same pattern reports kept by each company or scope, but each and every case IS e ~' -fi . bl' h d f 11 photographs. About nine out of every ten Prisoners of War Convention. The safe­ tremely p ersonalized. Til ,:tl catIOn wa~ esta IS e 0 ow- that have so far reached the Red Cross guarding of the rights of prisoners of whether it concerns Private John J. similar organization. Delays in re­ l h yp ~a ex 1 report receIved from Germany Doe, his commanding officer, a colo­ porting casual ties vary according to amp es are t ose cases where al~plan u h the International Red Cross have been from the relatives of men in war under the Geneva Convention is nel, or a general. The object of this Stalag Luft III. It is the oldest and primarily a governmental, and not a Red the battle conditions existing in the cras~es have made the t~sk of Identl Ul! effect that a member of the probably the best organized camp for Cross, function. activity is simply to "get all the facts particular theater of operations. In ficatlOn extreme!y dIfficult, an Corps had died of wounds and Americans in Germany. The other Luft­ No doubt as the newer camps for available and get them straight," as any front-line area, military opera­ where fragmentatIOn bombs or shel b . d . 'll . F waffe camps, and several of the Stalags Americans get better organized, and quickly as · possible. tions come first, and even reports cause the same difficulty in Groun lffilrIe , m a v~ ~g~ In ra~lc~ for enlisted men, are comparatively new are more frequently reported on by the Even though there is heartfelt sym­ of such great importance as those on Force identifications. One such ca e0 ce~ s . nam~ a bl een g;r e camps so far as Americans are con­ International Committee of the Red ca cerned. Very little is known yet about Cross and other welfare organizatio!1s pathy ~m the part of General .James casualties must wait for a lull in the which was reported from the Sou lralnSmchissIOkn fYW eD' an even P 'fi f . un a ec 0 ar epartment some of these camps, but whenever like War Prisoners Aid of the YMCA, A. UlIo, Adjutant General of the fighting. Oftentimes such a delay in west aCl c Area ollows: A natIv "d d' I d ffi . h information on them that may be pub­ more information on them will be avail­ found the wreckage of a Unite r s ISC ose an 0 cer wit . a Army, and his staff of Casualty the first stages of casualty Teports is as lished reaches the Red Cross, readers able for publication in the BULLETIN. Branch workers, as they discharge the a protection against inaccuracy. A States Army plane near the banks 0 dar name W~? -:r reported mlss- can rest assured that, whether this infor­ But, in the meantime, relatives who have a small t Th ffi h' over that vlcmlty on a date that mation is favorable or unfavorable, it men in camps about which little is known responsibility of notifying the next man may be reported missing from . s ream. e 0 cer w 0 m· cided with the report received will be given in the BULLETIN. at present can gather much general of kin of casualties, there is no sug­ his own small detachment and yet vestlgated the wreck.age could su~ u h the International Red It is quite understandable that the information by reading the camp re­ gestion of finality in the report "miss­ show up elsewhere in the regiment ply only a few detaIls-a neckband g .. relatives of a prisoner-say, in Stalag ports which are published. Conditions of a shirt with several initials, Air 5S, there was .n:>t ~uffic~ent .evI­ Luft IV-are disappointed when prac­ which affect one camp are likely to affect, ing in action." The Casualty Branch or division. The correction of his Corps ' . . . . . f k' ce to make positive IdentificatIon. knows that more than 50 percent missing status will thus be made be­ tically no direct mention of that camp in greater or lesser degree, all other ressio~~s~n~a, I~:I~~~a l~w~~nd~;m- e two months late~, the Allied appears in an issue of the BULLETIN, but camps in Germany. of the missing men will be accounted fore the consolidated casualty reports p pp . . ces overran that terrItory and en­ for within a few weeks or months. are sent to Washington through the­ structure, a certau: ~h~e sI~e, an d the village in which the officer Whe~ members of the Army Air ater h eadquarters. the co~or of the victim s. h~lr. The , buried. The War Department in the area where the deceased sol­ in these words: Forces fail to return from a mission The determination in Washing­ only AIr Corps officer of SimIlar rank . . -. . and initials listed in the files of the edlately WIred the Commandmg dier was found, and a message was We, the officers and civilian em­ and are reported missing in action, ton of what has happened to a miss­ C lB" . eral of the European Theater of sent there giving the serial number ployees of the Casualty Branch, are a report containing all known facts ing soldier is by no means a hasty . asu~ ty ranch as mlssmg In ac- rations and gave him all details of the rifle, asking to whom it had dealing with the distressing results is rendered the Commanding Gen­ operation. It frequently involves con­ tIOn m the same area had the same 'I bl . h' d' . d 1 been assigned, and that individual's of war. Our problems are those of eral, Army Air Forces, Washington, sultation with other government de­ color hair, and the dental chart made I a e c~n~ernmg t e m IVI ua upon his induction coincided with ,was mlssmg, quoted the r~port present status. The reply received life and death. As such they are as D. C., by othe~s who participated partments and agencies to develop stated the rifle had been assigned widespread as the borqers of our in the same fligr-t. This report must facts which may aid in determina­ the impressions taken by the report- Ived through the. InternatIonal ing officer, exce t for one or two td Cross, and asked If the two were to a soldier then carried as missing country and reach out to all our peo­ meet the requirement of -"getting tion. Hydrographic authorities are fillings. p and t~e same man. The reply was in action. The check made in the ple regardless of creed) race) or sta­ all the facts available and getting consulted as to tides and currents in . .. th n received. The grave had been Casualty Branch revealed that this tion. They concern the wounded) the them straight." If it was observed an effort to establish beyond reason­ . On. the .baSIS of thiS eVIdence, ted and the officer buried there person had been reported to the War missing) and those who have given that the plane concerned was dam­ able doubt whether a body washed Id~n~lficatlOn , was accepted and th been identified positively as the Department as missing in action and their very lives that the institutions aged by enemy anti-aircraft fire, the ashore might · be a casualty from a mlssmg man s status changed carried as missing in action by the report had been forwarded to the of our country, of which we are all report will so state. If a certain num­ ship sunk some two hundred miles "killed in acti~n .." Three weeks lat War Department. family, that his height was identical 'so proud) might live. It is necessary ber of parachutes were seen to open, or more away. The United States a sergeant mlssmg from the same ~ . .. .. with that of the deceased soldier; therefore, that all of us realize that flight which took the officer's life ' ,fourth IS. SimIlar CO?­ thi? will ~lso be reported. The lo­ Weather Bureau is sometimes con­ msta~ce ~n and in this way, another identifica­ this is not just another assignment calIty over which the accident oc­ s~te~ as td the dir~ction and velocity wandered back to his base. He COil': Sion but agam different m Clr­ tion was established. firmed the crash near the stream an There was a report re­ or just another job but rather a sin­ curred is · extremely important, for of wmds on specific dates and in ~s tan ce s. gular opportunity to render a service, the death of the ilot already identi· ved from th ~ North African The- -These are examples of only one by that cal} be judged each man's specified areas to ascertain what role type of solutions made through the excelling all others, to distraught and chances of capture by the enemy, fied p r ~f OperatIOns of the death of th~y. may ~ave played in bringing a '. . a r un identified soldier of the Ground vast network maintained for the grief-stricken relatives. The privilege being in friendly hands, or rejoining mlssmg aViator and his rubber raft Another Instance was that of orces, It gave his height and the purpose of determining the fate of of rendering this service is our re­ his organization as soon as -he can ashore, or of driving him further port rec~ived in t~e C~sualty B::tio ial number of his rifle. The Cas- army personnel missing or missing ward: There is none greater. be rescued. The information con­ to sea. concernmg a soldier killed In Ity Branch checked with the Office in action. By results such as these The activities of the Casualty tained in this report is forwarded Other factors which necessarily -' -- I the Chief , of Ordnance, getting can be judged the degree to which Branch will, of course, be continued y the Army Air Forces immediately must be considered include the lapse t e~~~ 7;;~~:c~[o~ho~~~~~,r ~:"ba;:6t ~e name of the division which had the 75 officers and 2,000 employees of after the termination of hostilities On receipt in Washington to the tn of time of absence, the change of lu the Casualty Branch of The Adjutant until the possibilities of determining e~gency' addressee (named by the ~~~~!~u!~~~~ft~:ig;ngoA1t~~~n:nigt':,.: aSsigned . t~e blo~k of .serial enemy practices in reporting prison­ erations, have ~o <;loubt aff'!cted the! fJ1/II IIlbers contaInIng thiS partIcular . General's Office live up to their creed, the fate of every missing soldier have s dler prIor to his departure from ers,"" the recapture or occupation of ::Ed. reporti"" serv.ce on pnsoners 0 _ ntJ lIlber. The division was stationed ever before them, which is set forth been exhausted. . 9 8____ -,-- ______---.:.V-= O:.::L::.~2,~N'lO. SONERS OF WAR BULLETIN

and the shorts are very comfortable. Next Things in the east are certainly looking -- week it will be my turn to cook again, so up this month. I'm getting rather eager Far Eastern Receipt Cards I will have a busy time for a few days. to get a crack out there myself. Here's hop­ However, that helps make the time pass ing you are well and happy and that it won't be many months before we are to­ I ... ____ European more quickly. One of the fellows bought a portable phonograph (with cigarettes), so gether again. As for myself, I'm happy and • , ... lID now we have music in our room. We have in good health. .... r • ..., ~~ :".~,:::... '" Stalag Luft I AMII ICAN+ liD C IO ~ S r AMIIICAN lED ClOSS May 27 about a dozen records to it. I hope you l \ - RECEIPT FOR Pl!JS9NER OF WAR. PACKAGE I RECEIPT FOR PRISONER OF WAR. PACKAGE '1 (Received at Alhambra, have been receiving my letter each week. Stalag IV B C /" - rp Calif., October 17) August 16 fI Stalag XVII B (Received October 6, in -IId1fi'~ .. -~~.ctiza.t:~_~s}i_ ...... 0. W... ..·.. ~:(.lJ"'1..tu.E.S~- .. . .N T: I ~10ther and Dad: April 1944 _ I T. ,.... ,,,...... ,, .... N._I ' .... 1 Ive decided it is high time that I write Petersburg, Va.) ~ Dear Mother and Dad: --.... ./..{;Lj' .. ----...l .. ~£;.~c11L~ .. ~. h:.... P_Jl.2 1 .:3 29. . - .A. ~ Ii n before the month runs out. As yet I Dearest Mother and Dad: . . ~ .- ...... ·.. · .. · .. cH.j·...... -·------··.. · \w!;;c;.;./UWllt(n ...... :: ....., £PfJ1. .. _ had no news from home or otherwise. I am in good health, not injured a t all. They are treating us all right. I get a Red I hope that By now yo u have heard from me and know that I am a P. O. W. in Ger­ I hove received ~y one food poek;'ge from THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED it is still too soon to be expecting any. Cross package once a week. CROSS through the International Red c..,... Committee. ~~~~S~~:':h t::yln~:"m!~r~!~9~~~;CTHomEmA,.tteM:.RICAN NATIONAL RED al camp have decided to make pledges many-the one thing I least expected to . . ~ .J~ e American Red Cross to show our ap- L " Stalag Luft III happen to me. Three boys from my com­ (S i9Mft.~~~~.-.-.. -.... (Signed) (!,~ 71.( ~~ ~tio n to them. This of course. is done June 30 pany are with me. Capt. Kolman also a (Received October 9 at P. O. W. Being a medico, I am not allowed No tional ity. ;YH1e.r.l.C Ii .~ ..... _...... O'te./Yil.¥. ..L '-' ...l .9..y.J/..,.:...... NOtiOn~I~A ·M i:l.. ic .. .8. N·.... ~...... "~~~.::i4iv..:::::Ti=Ti~;.. -..'~.'.' .' . 't~ ~~ ~o;~~ ~~:'e~d~h~~~e~~t Ig~~~h:o s~~~ Philadelphia, Pa.) to do any work outside camp . I was cap­ ~ ______I ___ ... _~_ ...... ~ _ _ __~ _.;... _ _ ___t'- .. _~'=::;.,..::·-!::·,.. ··:..JIICross (recently), to take two hundre ~1 tured June 7. Men of all nationalities here _ .00) dollars of mine and make a do- Dear Dad: Well, maybe everyone isn't feeling 100 in camp. Receive Red Cross food box every 1 .' o. T hey have really been . life savers Monday. Lots oE sports here and classes :".}-=:I:: ..... ~~~ the food and clothing they have fur- percent brighter than at this time last . Nl#t month. We've been waiting a long time for on aH subjects. Have not heard from any of + j . AMIIICAN lED ClOSS 'I +" . Prisonnit" • •a e-, for us. Just recently our band (01'- the invasion and feel a lot closer to getting you since June 3. Pray that all of you are • RECeiPT FoR PRISONER' OF WAR. PAC!CA6E \. SE: R~ I CE: DE S·· a) and choir gave a concert which well. The Lord bless you and keep you. n D n. ~ really very good. But outside of that home 'now that it has come. The camp was I just wild with excitement the day it came. ---'t:!..~¥;~i.. -... ~~.~gL~.-.--.. -_ .. f~-§.~~.!.... ~:N:;:~A N ERE~R:O SS , j_~ I ~:~~n~:n!~~~~~s~ kS , liEe here remains The first news we had of it was someone Stalag VII A I b9..3RJ) · 'IT 'any donations from the families of catching a snatch of it over the German June 30 ra~io loudspeaker which is installed in the Dear Dad: .. ·--.... ·...... i·H~j·' .... ~·--·: .... · .. ·-.. ·~.. i,;~l:lN .... ____ ....,- .. !1~'?N.. _...... Was ~i ngton, D. c. .,! ~~gg:riffJI~,21;.Jri~J~::sJ:~gtc~¥~~ camp. We immediately got the newsroom I am eating fairly well as, in addition translators together and callght the 3 p. m . I hove rec~'ved 'todoy one food pod Og8 from THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED United States of America ' . ~ t months-usually with a statement to the Red Cross food packages, the Ger­ CROSS through the ...... tionol Red Cross Committee. .:tift . the prisoner had requested that the broadcast. Sure enough, it was true. For mans give us sausage, stew, cereal, cheese, ':1'l"- ~ J" lion be made. As the Bulletin has many the next three days we had a' translator ... ~ 2J:z 9.2::~ 6.biihrenfrel 1 pointed out, and as the men them- ersatz coffee, tea, bread. So far have only on the radio each hour to get the news. worked two afternoons shovelling gravel. The minute he got it he brought it 'into I have been about thirty days in Stalag ~:::l i~"~.I+I±:_~H .. l...... R.&,.;;(i1.N.~. ~.·.-.- ...... --. ~::!~~:.-~. I_.~=:K8.: :y...... j9.-;:;...... :~._-- _. :_.. . . ;::?ju::: ui ~g ;I .J.t ._- suppliesi~£it:~tf~\~:~ro~~~~~s?£~~~~nJ~)~ furnished by the American Red the office, .translated it, and I typed it and VII A. I attend church services each Sun­ rushed it out to the waiting mobs. We put ..----- _____~---;..-_..;._ .... ~..... ---- __-_-.:;.------_- __S! are paid for in large part by the day. It is an easy liEe in many ways 'and • dd!tg-A~;,l~~err:~~n;;erican Red Cross a big bulIetin out with a map and kept a much pleasanter than in the prison camps running accomH by the loudspeaker as in Italy. I've seen four amateur stage shows These are the first receipt cards for R e.d C ross food packages received from American prisoners of war held r,c~~~, eoa!~g~~;~ f';:;eri~on;ri~o~erw~f well as in the newsroom. The German au­ and two movies. Hope to see you soon. by JaPan. T he cards came In Novem ber, and others have arrived since that time. :r~el?~; f~:ir~~~ifi~~~Stod~~~;,S t~~~ thorities have been very cooperative. They got the newspapers to us soon after they ~itl~~g~ t~~~trf~~ti~mteo~a~dsopris~~~~ came out, and each morning we issued a Stalag Luft m a n oppor tunity to send similar form Relief Supplies Reach ~r relief.) ___ new set of 'articles on the progress of the June 6 Philippines' Message messages to their families in the invasion, details and all. It was really a Dear Folks: Stalag Luft I Today started like any other day behind United States. As in the case of out­ April 21 great day and since then I have been con­ Service siderably busier as the local papers are barbed wire. In the gloomy lii(ht of 8 g o ing messages, the Army Postal Japan (Received at Jacksonville, o'clock German time, which is 9' o'clock A ll Red Cross chapters in the Oregon, Oct. 2) carrying a lot on ' the subject, and we are Service will handle the transmission able to post a pretty detailed account of prisoner of war time, the hundreds of United States were authorized to ac­ The Japanese steamer Ha kusan r Folks: as expeditiously as possible. . the progress. American\; in this camp crawled from hard cept messages; up to D ecember 15, Maru early in November picked u ime to ~"rite anothe~ letter. The other Whether or not they have availed ). ' I acqUIred some pIeces of cloth and for d elivery to liberated American themselves of the special message at the SOVIet port of Nakhodka over e myself a cap with a visor on it to prisoners of war and civilian in­ service, families are urged to con­ ternees in the Philippines. The an­ 2,000 tons of. relief supplies shipped h~e~n ~u~ri~~~ ~a~rJ ~r~!. nIo:S:~a~a~~~ tinue writing at regular intervals by nouncement of this service reached from the Umted States and Canada rd from a Red Cross food box to stiffen prisoner of war mail. This mail now the BULLETIN too late for inclusion to Vladivostok late in 1943. visor, and it made a very satisfactory goes by two routes-by air to Tehran, • . It looks like a regular baseball cap. in the November issue, but notice of th e capital of Iran, and on Russian The Hakusan Maru made Its ~ fellow paid me a chocolate bar, and it app eared in newspapers through­ steamers sailing from a west coast call at a Korean port a nd unloadecPnished ~he materi ~ 1 an~ thread,. for me out the country. L ad make h Im a cap like mllle. I thlllk that port. No postage is necessary. This service was designed to b r ing about 150 tons of Red Cross 10 Id you cigarettes are the medium of packages, medicines, clothing, and ange here .. For example, a razor blade to any reported prisoner liberated by CABLE MESSAGES FROM . 11 l ' f . neI'S lorth one CIgarette and a chocolate bar United States Forces news of home m lsce an eo us su pp les or prISO . Worth fiEty cigarettes. as soon as possible after release. PHILIPP INES of war held in Korea and Manchuneda. We got some paint and decorated our One message could be filed by any \'Seventy-two cable messages were The Hakusan Maru t h e n proceed Ill. T he ceiling is now white and the to Kobe where the rest of the yellow. It is much cleaner and also person in this country for a prisoner received on October 18 from civil­ SlIP' I~ p lies were unlo d d e che.erful this way. Since. ~ am rather of war or civilian internee known to ian internees in the Philippines. A l­ a e . . aL I pamted most of the cetlll1g. Then I be interned in the Philippines, the though undated, the messages were The Delegate of the InternatlOn de some charcoal sticks and sketched a length of the message being re­ apparently dispatched in August Committee of the Red CroSS, VI e pair of pilot's wings and a B-17 on prior to the inauguration of the col­ was charged with supervising the I . WaiL I made a small ?rush with some stricted only b y the space on the Red d' . . beev. · ties from an old shavlllg brush and a Cross message form (No. 1616). lect message service. war mg of the supphes, h~s . . ~ and we p\linted .pennants from all Arrangements are also being made One internee reported the receipt quested to arrange for th e Ir dIstr~ ~ Colleges w.e have attended on the' wall . . so that, promptly upon liberation, of 43 letters during 1944. Another tion to all American a nd United .~ ~ OUr room looks quite gay. I have also tions prisoners of war a nd civiliab ~ s~d seamstress and made myself a pair prisoners of war and civilian in­ acknowledged a cable sent from the · ! 'at arts for warm weather. I cut some American prisoners at Statag II B. Sent by Pvt. Mitchell Lysak. No other names given. ternees in the Philippines will have U. S. in March 1944. ternees h e Id b y J apan. erial from my shirttails to make them, 11 ISON ERS OF WAR BULLETIN } 10______V~0~L~.~2 ~, NO .IIJ_------______~ are published in the newspapers? A. No. All casualty lists are prepared for the press by the War Depart­ bunks, took turns at icy water in the prison humility, and service. Rare virtues ' in such age ~o get in an hour's play before QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS block washrooms, and munched breakfast an individualistic world. Would like a let­ ment Bureau of Public Relations evenmgthe help meal.of the I Redcan Crossassure andyou ththat lVi~~hl: ______--I of Reich bread and Red Cross jam and ter or so from mother in with yours. on the basis of reports from the coffee. Because of gray drizzle outside I am feeling very fit, and hope th~ t t~n . been told that all letter mail for Casualty Branch of The Ad­ "Appell" (roll call) was counted indoor~ Philippine Military Prison Camp No.1 man~~e to stay like this until the end of Can photographs be sent with air jutant General's Office, War De­ by blocks. American "Kriegies" opened (Undated. Received at Bristol, Conn.) captivity. The camp livestock, which l' s 0 'l f . f' airborne troops should be ad­ books, broke out decks of cards, and pre· Health good. Take good care of yourself. der my charge, is coming along ve n. U rn a! orms to pnsoners 0 war. dressed to Stalag Luft Ill, fol­ partment, Washington, D. C., pared to while away another of the mo· Please don't worry about me. Think very we have had a cow added to our;'a I~ly Yes, but the photograph should lowed by the proper camp ad­ which also notifies the emer­ notonous days of prison life. ' much ?f yo~ and the gang. Hope it has no centl~. Althou~h she is in calf, we ge ta~ be stitched to the letter form. dress in brackets. Should I so gency addressee (next of kin) be­ Your permanently assigned correspondent casualties. Give my regards to all. Radiogram 4-5 pmts of milk a, day, half of which OUDO not write underneath the pic­ fore the lists are released. ferreted some paper from the old locker best communication. Suggest you try it. All to the camp hospital. One of the gthe March, ~O. ~aIl" n~ws, and looking forward base camp. There is no objection he sees fit. I am enclosing my Christmas to dockmg m Fnsco constitute the daily cans held by Germany, the Ger­ presents, three photos of myself. Do not bread ?f our existence- literally as well as mans eligible for repatriation to adding the prisoner's Kdo. worry about me, just think of that grand figuratively. Please explain to all that I am number to the camp address. reunion we are going to have on the Old restricted in letters and must depend on you must naturally exceed the num­ Rancho upon my return. We will kill the ber of Americans. Q. If a boy was with the French un­ to. conduct my correspondence. Promise to derground, and the territory is best fat yearling on the ranch and have make up for it on return. Lots of work for ,Ma ny of th~ families of prisoners all that goes with it." you, old man, and I deeply appreciate it. of war in the Far East, unfor- now in possession of the Allies, Hope you may. fi?d some recompense in how soon may we expect to hear A recent shortwave broadcast from an tunately, cannot afford the $6.60 American sergeant at Camp Hoten: Man- ~hought t~at maillS one of the major events which it costs to send the one from him? m our eXistence. Am devoting one of my A. A number of Allied airmen who . churia: ; 'Hello folks, may next Christmas few letters to acknowledging receipt of a cab legram a year now permitted. find us . all united for a big dinner. My few, but can't afford another. In future Cannot this charge be waived, in had been reported missing in ac­ health is good and I have been receiving count. on more letters reaching me, and tion have recently reestablished good treatment. The Vatican donated a cases ot real emergency? fund which was used for the purchase of even, If no general news, "homey" details \ In such cases, the American Red contact with their armies as they such as a trip to market, a walk around the advanced through France and musical instruments and recreational equip· lake, are the stuff upon which imagination ~ross is prepared to pay the en­ ment. I wrote a postcard, but 10 far there feeds. In ..good health, weight 160, and have lire cost of the cable. The cir­ Belgium. In such cases, the men has been no reply." added Spanish,< Japanese, and history to CUmstances should be explained, invariably get word by cable to studies. Also give a psych. course and do their families at the earliest pos­ "Just received your box sent August 22, by a member of the family, to the 1943. Am happy as a kid at Christmas. n:uch re~ding . Change requisition to fleece­ sible opportunity. lIned slIppers instead of moccasins, and ) local chapter of the Red Cross. 'Vords can't express my feelings or thanks. Q. Does the Red Cross supply the No letters yet, but waiting patiently." From chees: and chocolate for some tobacco. \' My brother, a paratrooper, was MentIOn photos to everyone. Don't ever captured by the Germans. I have lists of prisoners of war which (Continued on page 12) worry about me. These last few years have had ~ome salutary effect. One must develop Prisoners of war at Zentsuji; Top .row: KIi!wer, Mellon, Wood, Marks. Botlo'" roll: a philosophy em1:Jodying patience, tolerance, Webb, Marl,n, Heln. Photo taken December 15, 1943.

______L-..,~_ 12 v ------~.------______~ ~_V~O~L.2, NO

(Continued from page 11) ~ "I have received 12 cartons of cigarettes 'Zentsuji dated January 26, 1944, and re­ and one other parcel so far, and am look­ PARCELS FOR GERMAN\' ceived at Minneapolis. Minn., on August·4. in!? for the other food parcels soon." a Prohibited Items pnvate at Stalag II B wrote his family in A letter received in Memphis, Tenn., in Wooster, Ohio, on May 28. August from Zentsuji, said, in part: "Still . C:erman. postal regulations well and in good spirits, so don't worry. hI bIt the Inclusion of the foll ~ Hope you are all well at home. By I the A letter received in the latter part of items. in individual parcels add~WI T way, D~d , I've learned to appreciate your August by ~he .brother of a prisoner at to prIsoners of war: es Luft III saId, m part: "Life still drags ~~?OI:~~~OW ,' Here's to bigger and bet- + on here. Our mail and parcels are about the only interruption to the monotony. We in;:o~n:Je~~.~:;: :~;;td~~~~~i~~ ~o RISO N E R S 0 F WAR B U I; LET I N "I ~m in fair health. I am still working have camp entertainment in the form of shows and . music, enacted by all of us. I over znto cIVllzan cloth in ( ae here m Osaka along with some of my ship­ work clothinO' sweaten a gd spec lished by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees mates. Please do not worry. I do hope to even sang m one show; sang in a quartet. . b' , n ath[ hear. from you," wrote a prisoner at Osaka The YMCA and the Red Cross have sent suzts are . permitted): weafJons e'L______in athletic equipmerrt and musical instru­ to hIS mother in Geraldine, Montana. The w eapon-lz~~ e tools, zncluding la~ 3 N 1 WASHINGTON D. C. JANUARY 1945 card was received in August. ments. We also received one Red Cross food parcel per man per week. Aside from the pochet-/m~v es and s~1 ears; munitio L., o. , and blastzng malenals; tools whi i-" "I find my stay here very interesting and good work.. thank my friends for writing, and explam to them why I can't answer. the ~ime passes quickly. I hope all of you could be used. for escape pur/JOS Every little article and letter has infinite or sabotage; apparat1f:s, cha • are 111 the best of health and prosperity. value, since they are all we have to look pr~ntzng Say hello to everyone for me and be sure forward to," coal, and traczng fJaper; compass Moving Supplies to Prison Camps to include my new nephews and nieces­ maps,. knapsacks,. cameras and lensel I should have some," wrote a marine cor­ A' By Henry Wasmer poral from Umeda Bunsho to his family An Australian prisoner of war in Ger­ electnc lamps, lIghters of any m Wyatt, Indiana. Received in August. many wrote on March 31 last to an official an,d can,dles; alcoholic drinks, e::; of the British Red Cross in London: "The wznes; znfiammable liquids, match . ~~r:~a:to;~fe{;g!n~~tt~:I~1 Ph~tIt~a maintaining the fundamental prin­ The Committee, therefore, has At; ensign he~d at Zentsuji wrote in April Amer!can Red Cros~ has got magnificently ciples of the Red Cross by being the two main centers of activity: the orgamzed, and provIdes each new prisoner and fire hazards; telef!hones, raai s,i ~:dl71~t~b;;::.aa~ ~;~~eeJ l~/tJ~il~~ to hIS mother m Washington, D. C.: "Just or pG;r~s thereof; chemIcals, acids, a s in November, on the maiden voyage guardian of the Geneva Convention Central Agency, on the one hand, yesterday I received a telegram from you, as he goes through the transit camp with a complet~ new set of clothes, and, in fact, medlczr:es; books, maps, newspa l~~~~~thh oS;I/J.a~a~fot~~ ~~:;;~as;tPl;~ and of the emblem of the Red Cross. which collects and passes on all in­ Mother, and also have received at least almost everything." one letter dated every month from you. and pnnted matter; cigarette hold s. On December 11 he addressed a rel- In wartime, however, the Committee formation concerning the where­ They are most enjoyable. Sorry to see that and papers,' f)lain paper, noteboo s'e;~~t'E'~r~;;e 'ia~~~i7i?t~r:e ~(Jn~ii. 'Wt~ begins at once to function actively abouts of prisoners of war, civilian you have to print. Perhaps you could get A sergeant at Stalag XVII B wrote to his and postcards; potatoes. was most ttmely and useful.-Ed. by organizing the Central Agency for internees, and their families; and, your letters typed at the office. Still well and fa~ilr. at Lewiston, Maine, on June 12 . I.f any parcels contain prohibite{De s pit e increasing ~ifficti~ties prisoners of war and civilian in­ on the other, the relief activity which ~~o~~?d spirits, and still hoping to see you last. We hav~ volley~all and bridge to keep us occupIed beSIdes school subjects artIcles, the regulations state th ed by the greatly IntensIfied ternees, and by immediately offering consists in distributing Red Cross and baseball. Except for the fence and wi.!l be .confisca.ted, and only the p ?ing of Germ.any and the heavy its good offices and services to all relief in various forms to prisoners . European the .guards, one might think it was an ex­ mItted Items wIll be delivered to tmg now takIng place on that national Red Cross societies and of war and civilian internees. The clUSIve r.esort. Boys are all sunning them­ A 'pfls.one.r at MarIag Milag Nord wrote prisoner. ntry's borders, I can assure the other welfare organizations, for the Committee's services are available for s~lves WIth few exceptions. There are all .~o, hiS· WIfe m New Britain, Conn., in June: kmdll of boys here, musicians, cooks, and -----______...... : ~ tives and friends of American transport, distribution, and control prisoners of war and civilian inter­ I ve been getting quite a lot of letters lately. they are old but that doesn't make many others who flew for Uncle Sam. Here, "I have been recalled to tl St I ,.Iooners of war that the food pack­ of relief goods to war victims, and nees of all the belligerent nations, any difference. I've had about five hun­ they al~ rever.t to their old professions to sume that my 'Med.' proor ha: ~.;.fvJs and other relief items sent by particularly to prisoners of war. regardless of nationality, race, color, make lIfe a lIttle more pleasant and time wrote a prisoner at n BAmerican Red Cross are actually dred or more from you . I'm here sitting pass a little faster. There are a swell bunch from.Washi~gt~n , " listening to some new records: they sure of boys here, and all seem to have the co­ ~,o hIS famIly. m New Jersey. He added:Jching the men in the camps. Only make me homesick. W<; 're still baving bad After spendmg seven months on Kom. I I ' 0 b I operative spirit. We chat and reminisce of mando, it sure is good to have a rest. Tim re~ e nt y ~s ~SL cto er, saw weather here, but nothmg bothers me since good times in the past and ones to come the 6thl I hope it won't be much longer." soon we hope." passes much slower when you're not work. plIes mOVIng Into German camps, ing, but time won't stop, 'thank God·... since then I have received re------______J t ts b y cable from Red Cross head- rters in Switzerland that relief ds are still moving regularly into rmany. Certain difficulties, how­ r, are only to be expected in a ntry under continuous bombing m the air, and when primary tar- are railroad junctions, bridges, shaling yards, and rolling stock. , ·p;)d)UeIlm.8 sr lprqA\ IOJ ;llIE)so L.f% W~O.o{ uo I;lpU;JS ,(mou 'Ui\\ou)J S! SS;l e International Committee of the M.dU pue PdAOlli;)I seq ddSSdIppe JI-.I;1)SlllUlSOd Red Cross Before I go into further detail, I $'eXGiL en u'nsnv uld like to explain why it is really .l.re.lttt-y S13X9Jj JO A\~ s.zaA1UQ GqtL cessary to make Geneva, Switzer­ uot n s1-i\I:)~ v sTt?! .zes .d, the clearing house and distrib­ pa;nUu.Ilm~ a~clsod U.Inla}l ng center for prisoners of war re- f. Although the name Interna­ L ~ nal Committee of the Red Cross ':J 'U 'H UOl~U!qscM .lIy implies an international in­ tUlion , the Committee as such is 1'8 -ON l!lU.I"d sSO.I:J pa}l ICuoPCN UE:>!.Iamy aq~ iss. Its 20 to 25 members must he -::> -u 'UOl~U!qsu.M. f:.q P3lfs?zq na ~ . SWiss nationality, but the Com­ activities are exclusively in­ UIVd ~lttee's Mr. Henry Wasmer, of the International Committee of the Red Cross, speaking in 3~V .LSOd 'S 'Il fot61 1I3JIW3:J3U ~tna ti onal. In peacetime, it per­ Washington, D. C., before 500 relatives of American prisoners of war. The meeting was -R '1'jJ -'1 -d 699 O;)"S ~lIns the rather formal function of arranged by the District of Columbia Chapter of the American Red Cross. unanng .IU & }O S.Iauosp