[World War II Memories: August W. Benner] Page: 4
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4-- A POW'S STORY
stretchers and those in charge decided to make us carry them to the
rear area aid station. After a short distance it was decided that
we were too rough and were not helping the wounded. We had about
four or five guards when we came to another C.P. and our guards
were changed. This new group of guards ordered some Germans to
get digging tools and we were lined up in a wooded area and given
picks and shovels. We noticed some Germans had burp guns and they
were on us. We were told to start digging a trench. Most of us
felt that we would end up in that trench. About this time a German
officer drove up and started a conversation with our non-com in
charge. After this the picks and shovels were taken away and we
were moved on. At the next Hfl.). we were lined up again and our com-
bat inner liners were taken away Frotm is leaving just the thin
combat jacket for warmth. AL vry sLtopping point German officers
wanted to know why we did n,,t :vu ;as mk:u:l:. (I had riot seen one
for months). After walkltru :i ar~i ! , iles to the rear and all day with
no food we arrived at what I ,ouilid guess was a Division H.Q.in one
of the large under groun d carter of an old iFrench fortification.
Here we were moved down a tunnel to an area with many other POW'S
just captured. We were placed in some rooms with nothing in them.
We were then told to undress and leave our clothes and go to the
next room. We knew that we were going to be searched so we wanted
to get rid of anything that the Germans might use, such as letters,
pictures, etc. Those who still had some tore them up in small pieces.
After getting our clothes back we were individually questioned. We
were ask many questions which we told the Germans that we could not
answer. They then said we know all the answers that they just wanted
to see if the American soldier 1i true to his oath. None of our men
were detained. The officer said "Why did you tear up your letters
and pictures? They could not tave helped us. About this time a silk
map of Germany was found, I thlo)ugmtt it was well hidden. We were at
this H.Q. for a day and night and had only black bread to eat.
We were placed on two trucks and started to the rear. We went through
the German Seigfred Line which was not being used and moved into the
Saarland. The trucks did riot have covers and we could lootaround .
After a few miles we saw some planes coming toward us they had
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Benner, August W. [World War II Memories: August W. Benner], text, 1983; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth379791/m1/7/: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Arlington Historical Society’s Fielder House Museum.