US World War II POWs Tell Their Stories-- Part 2

All agree that their was never enough to eat and never feeling warm. Meals normally consisted of soup, black bread and potatoes. They did receive Red Cross parcels intended to feed one man for one week, but two to four men had to share it. They also were always conspiring about ways to escape.

GAYLE ALEXANDER-- was captured Nov. 2, 1944 on "one of the largest bomb raids in history" where 1,200 bombers and 800 fighters struck off for Germany. His boots fell off while parachuting from his burning plane and he had to march seven hours in his sock feet in temperatures near zero. When he would slow down, a German soldier would prod him with a bayonet.

However, brutality was rare. If you outranked a German soldier, you would receive a salute from him and vice versa.

After the war, COBERLY got a check for $300 from the government as compensation for his incarceration.

German POWs Had It Much better. --DaCoot