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Email sent:
Thu 1/20/2005 2:56 PM |
Message:
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Some Camp Forrest information
Camp Forrest was called a POW camp in 1942, however it was in fact
initially an internment camp for German, Japanese, and Italian
civilian aliens. My German grandfather arrived there by prisoner
train from Fort Meade in 1942 and stayed until late 1943 when real
captured POWs began arriving. He was turned over to an INS
internment camp in North Dakota where he spent the rest of the
war. The Army called civilian internees, "POW's" and made them wear
POW uniforms even though they were in fact civilian internees.
On a visit to Tullahoma, my son and I met several people who were
surprised to hear this having assumed that all prisoners were
captured soldiers. They had hidden in the bushes when the first
trainloads arrived and said they were told that dangerous prisoners
would be marched through town. My 57 year old artist grandfather was
one of them. I have several Camp Forrest drawings he made. If you
would like more details let me know.
Charleston SC
843-412-0376
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