PAGE 2 OCTOBER 1998 contd from President's Report. Chaplain Sez honor guard, etc. Based upon Jim's report to date, the dedi­ cation should bean inspiring event. Greetings, Contribution to The Heritage Museum Memorial Chapel I have an 8 day clock given to me for 9 years of perfect atten­ The Executive Committee voted to contribute $5,000 to The dance in the Kiwanis Club in Uptown, Seattle. I had it repaired Heritage Museum Chapel project on behalf of the 385th Bom­ just recently but it still has to be rewound every 8 days or it will bardment Group Memorial Association. The Chapel fund drive not tell the proper time of day. It is an expensive Swiza-Sheffield is approximately two-thirds of the way toward achieving its Swiss made clock but it still needs to be kept clean and wound goal. The Chapel will not be built by the time we have our every 8 days or it is of no value. Savannah meeting, but its plans should be finalized at that time. You surely must have figured out where I am going with this story. But if you have not I will continue making a point. Nominations Past President Robert C. Smith is Chairman of our Nominat­ It makes no difference what denomination, Protestant, Catho­ ing Committee. He and his Committee have been working lic, Hebrew, Baptist, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Moham­ diligently to put together a slate of candidates for submission medan , Buddist, or others, you need to renew your spirit regu­ to the Membership at our April Biennial reunion meeting. larly. Whether on Saturday, Sunday or another day your soul Those of you wishing to submit names of candidates should needs renewal to keep functional and your wealth makes no do so directly to Bob Smith (12019 N Anna J Drive, Spokane, difference. Washington 99218-2783; telephone (509) 466-7824). As you have been previously advised, Bob Smith's Committee will From where I am I would suggest you keep in touch with God have the slate of candidates which it proposes published in through Jesus Christ because that has proven the best way for the Hardlife Herald at least a month before our April meeting. me. God manifests love and hopefully we will show this toward The purpose of this early announcement is to give the Mem­ others regardless of their religious (or not) affiliation. bership an opportunity to reflect on the qualifications of the candidates proposed. Additional nominations may be made We can also keep our lives 'wound' up by remembering to pray from the floor at the Association business meeting. for one another. I covet your prayers, especially in preparation for our Reunion in Savannah, Georgia in 1999. The Association's Finances After deducting our $5,000 contribution for The Heritage Mu­ Sincerly in Love seum Chapel, there remains $10,127.44 in our general ac­ Jim count. Our Heritage Museum Memorial Fund account con­ tains $16,592.00 at the time of the preparation of this report. While we have met our Memorial fund account goal, contri­ butions from those who have not yet participated would help in the event there are some unanticipated expenses. Cost overruns unfortunately are usually par for the course. Fund overage, if any, would be turned over to the Association's general account. It is the general account which gives cause for concern. Pub­ lication for the Hardlife Herald costs as much as we currently have in our general account. In 1997, we received only $2,749 in dues and donations. We are solvent by virtue of the fact that $13,000 was transferred to our general account by the Tucson Reunion Committee. The Executive Committee is currently considering means to generate funds as to make our organization somewhat more comfortable financially. BULLETIN BOARD Your editor can be reached via EMAIL through his business "Website"—address www.fargoweb.com/straus" While you're at it pay attention to the Straus ad. Orders gratefully accepted, shipped promptly, satisifaction guaranteed. The Tulsa Convention & Tourist Bureau has called and given us a cordial invitation to come to Tulsa for the Reunion after Savannah. The decision will be made at the Savannah busines ATTENTION - ATTENTION meeting. Tom Turcotte, 101 Williams St, Petoskey, MI 49770 is trying to locate members of Bob Stilt's crew of the 549th. 385TH BGMA APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE PRINT LAST NAME, First, Ml. Spouse's Name (___ 1______ Street or P.O. Box # Telephone Number City, State, & Zip Squadron or Support Unit The annual dues are Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) POW Capture Life-time memberships are one payment of $100.00 Date Make Check out to ''385th BGMA" and mail to: Place Verne D. Phillips Stalag Unit PO Drawer 5970 Austin, TX 78763 Life-time memberships are used to perpetuate the memorial at All Saints Church in Great Ashfield, Suffolk County, England. PAGE 4 385TH BGMA NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 1998 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR and bandaids were found missing from packages. Personal clothing, candy, raisins, tea, soup, gum, handkies, pencils, paper, toothbrush, safety pins, razor blades, shaving cream, Lt. Col. Les Reichardt, pilot of the Flying Fortress a B-17, was comb, cards, toys and sewing kits were given to the owner, shot down by German fighters, Messerschmitts, over Frank­ however. You did not receive them as often as letters since furt, Germany August 17,1943. He was bussed and trained people needed permits to send them. The permits were only from Dulag to Dulag until he reached Stalug Luft III, which was given out every two months along with order blanks for ciga­ to be his home for 2 years. rettes. At Stalag Luft III you used cigarettes like money by trading with the Germans for other things. Only one person During 1943 through 1945 this is how prisoners or Kreigies died in those two years at Stalag Luft III and he died of pneu­ lived. The prisoners were assigned a compound and within the monia. If somebody got hurt a German doctor was always compound their barracks. They shared their living quarters available. Most of the time nobody got hurt since there weren't with the officers of their crew and other crews. The walls were many things to get hurt on. Hair cuts and cleaning for inspec­ lined with bunks, three high. In the center of the barracks was tion were weekly chores! Stalag Luft III was a part of many a table and a set of chairs. Other makeshift furniture was there Americans lives and a part of history of World War II. too. In Stalag Luft III there were five compounds. Two were British and three were American. Adjoining the compounds Although, life at Prisoner of War camps was tough it wasn't were volagers that were areas that the Germans used to con­ nearly as inhumane as the Concentration Camps of World trol and inspect incoming and outgoing people and materials. War II. A POW camp is a confined area where Allied prison­ In the Center Compound there were 12 barracks, 5 latrines, 1 ers taken until the war ended. Concentration Camps were wash house, and 2 cookhouses. Every day the Kreigies had confined areas where Jews were herded to be used as labor or to walk the perimeter about ten times. The perimeter is about killed, final solution. Prisoners of Stalag Luft III were expected two miles. They could join activities like Theater. Since there to take daily showers, change their clothes and cut their hair. was so much free reading time they could memorize scripts They were inspected and so were their barracks. Both Nazis easily. They could also belong to track, band, or go to school. and Allies wanted the individual and the vicinity to be clean They could also join a fraternal group like the Masons. During and healthy. At POW camps a doctor was always on hand. the summer they might play softball and in the winter play Prisoners at Concentration Camps were denied their rights of Bridge. Reading was "in" during all the seasons. They had no clothes, showers, healthcare, bathrooms and life. Concentra­ time limit on their daily showers, which were cold. Once a tion Camps were full of disease, malnutrition and infection. month they were all called for a short hot shower. At nine POW camp food wasn't exactly 4 star but at least it was o'clock the Nazis locked the doors and at 11 o'clock the lights sufficient. Prisoners at Concentration camps were lucky if they were turned out. Regular breakfasts consisted of coffee, tea had food to eat everyday. Former POW Lt. Col. Les Reichardt and toasted black bread. For lunch soup, coffee, teas and commented, "Being in a POW camp was nothing like being in water was offered. Dinner was made up of spam, potatoes, a Concentration camp. While we were behind barbed wire we bully beef, black bread, tea, coffee and water. On holidays were allowed to exist." This quote sums up the major differ­ special meals were served of which the highlight was dessert. ence in the treatment of Jews and Kreigies. The reason Jews Writing letters to family and friends was also a big part of the were in Concentration Camps was to be "put out of the way." Kreigies lives. To receive a letter was the best thing that could By placing the blame of the German depression on Jews, happen to you. Letters were a way of communicating with Hitler knew he could gain power in Germany. Therefore, the your loved ones at home.