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| HIS STORY - POW | |||||||||
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The last word my Grandmother had received from her son said that "Nothing
new or startling has happened lately", even though he had just completed his
first combat mission, and a mission that was one the most daring bombing
missions in Europe to date. He could have bragged to her of his
accomplishment. He could have cried to her of the horrors he may have
witnessed. But he did not. Despite what he had just been
through, this eighteen year old had one thing in mind, trying his best to
ensure his mother did not worry about him.
Now, for the time being, there was nothing he
could do to reassure her. My Grandmother received this telegram
14 days after my father was shot down over Brunswick Germany, and now she
would certainly worry about her last born, her "baby". She
received a letter from the War Department Adjutant Generals Office
confirming his MIA status and attempting to reassure her: "The term 'missing in action' is used
only to indicate that the whereabouts or status of an individual is
not immediately known. It is not intended to convey the
impression that the case is closed. I wish to emphasize that
every effort is exerted continuously to clear up the status of our
personnel. Under war conditions this is a difficult task as you
must readily realize. Experience has shown that many persons
reported missing in action are subsequently reported as prisoners of
war, but as this information is furnished by countries with which we
are at war, the War Department is helpless to expedite such reports." My father's status was reported in the local
paper and kept by my Grandmother:
My Grandmother had already lived through waiting to hear the status of her
oldest son James, who was in the Navy and stationed at Pearl Harbor at the
time of the Japanese attack. It would be 64 long days from the day she
received the first telegram before my Grandmother heard any more news about
my father. That telegram came on June 25th, and was worth the wait:
"REPORT JUST RECEIVED THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
My father was German POW number 53116 as stamped on the POW bracelet given
to him by the Germans at Stalag IX C.
.
STALAG IX C
My father's dog tags. On
May 5th, my father wrote to his mother for the first time as a POW: "Dear Mother, Just a line to let you know alls well & that I’m
still kicking, well, with one foot anyway. I wounded slightly in the
left foot. Nothing serious just two cuts from flak so don’t worry
about it. I’m in a hospital and getting treated well. The food’s
good & we get lots of rest here. I can’t send any address now but when I get
to a permanent place I’ll have one & will send it. That won’t be
long. I guess you received quite a shock but you
ought to know I’d get out. I sure hope you received my flowers for
mothers day on time. It sure would be to bad to miss just because of
a war. Be sure not to worry for I’m o.k. & the Germans treat us well. Tell everyone I said hello and the kids my
love. Be sure and tell Mrs. Boyle when you get this & of course
Ag and Jim. You’ll still
get my allotment so that’s o.k…Tell Mick his son is doing o.k. and is
still a better man then his other son. Be sure and tell Jim that.
Well, so long & be patient till I get to write again. Love, Bill." Once again, all my father was concerned about
was putting his mother's mind at ease. After what he had just been
through, it is remarkable how well he was able to craft this note to seem as
nonchalant and carefree as if he had just been on vacation in Europe and had
a minor accident. Along the way my Grandmother
received a heart wrenching letter. It is with great sadness that I post this
letter.
Mrs. Euphria H. Somerville September 3, 1944 Dear Mrs. McMyne:- I have just learned that our son’s were on the
same ship, and I am wondering if you have heard anything from him, or
anything through any of his friends? If you have or receive any
information I would appreciate it so much. I haven’t heard anything except that my son is
missing. Very Truly, Euphria
Somerville Radio Operator David G. Somerville did not survive. Nor did Pilot Harry E. Sturdevant, Co-Pilot William E. Williams, Navigator Raymond Zielinski, Engineer Noble F. Garner, Left Waist Gunner, Harry R. Rohne, Right Waist Gunner Perry J. Snyder, or Tail Gunner Gene Gardner. All were lost. Only Bombardier Thomas M. Twisdale survived with my father.
I have transcribed all of my
father's correspondence home while he was a POW (click here to view them). They are a remarkable
record of a young man's courage and devotion, throughout which his main
concern is to reassure his mother and keep her from knowing how bad things
were. Although you can sense his growing frustration and concern near
the end of the war when conditions became even worse, he never let on how
bad they truly were. He began his stay in Lazarette IX C, a hospital
near Obermassfeld in central Germany. He was transferred to Luft III,
a camp for airmen on July 1 of 1944. His last note before being
liberated is addressed from Luft I, an airmen camp near Barth in the far
North of Germany: Stalag Luft - 1 Dear Mother;- Just a line to say alls well. I
hope to be seeing you before too long. As yet I’ve never received any
of the parcels you’ve sent. I guess they won’t never get here now. I
sure wish they would I could sure use them. Not starving but sure
could use more. Well, give my regards to all & tell Mick he’s going
to lose chickens when I get there. Love, William.
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