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Can you believe this topic is 13 pages long! Wowzeeee!

Last night I went to bed after seeing Christoph's great Blessing/Greetings! I was so happy to receive that from him!

And Marion, thank you for your greeting too!

Now 13 pages will be nothing if Christoph and I continue to be so lucky .... Is it too big for the site?

The family of the deceased gentleman is going to send me a copy of my Dad's letter! The nephew loved his Uncle, Robert, and he and his wife have made sure that everyone in the family has copies of everything they have about him. Robert's Dad went to Europe to bring his son back home and he is buried near where they live. I will one day go out there and go to the Cemetery and also look at the memorabilia/photos that they have of Robert.

I still do not know the Unit that Robert was in but eventually I am sure I can figure that out if I can confirm the place he was wounded and the exact date. I am so curious about how far away he was when he was wounded. It may have been on Oct. 29, 1944. And his POW number makes sense with my Dad at 13012 and Robert at 13022. Looks like the numbers got assigned there at the Abbey.

I am trying to do a little more War work before must head out to Mom's.

Jean J

Does appear Documentary on Liberation of Paris will go ahead in NY with brief interview of a 4th Div. Vet who was there on Aug. 25th, 1944. They want to show that the Americans were in Paris too. It will be shown on French TV, yes in French.

JJ

Hi Guys!

Got sick after trip, and still not up to par.

I have the rest of the letter that I referred to above. Hard to believe Dad was not yet 26 years old at the time he wrote the letter. When he was 20 years old he probably could never of imagined that there could even be a War. And then that it would so alter his life and millions of so many others around the world.

The letter goes like this:

Dear Sir Jan. 15, 1945

This is one of those letters we must

write and yet Sir it is very hard indeed.

Your son was a hero till the very end -

He was severely wounded and it was just

the element of time for no amount of medical

science could have possibly changed the course

of events. We have buried your son here

at Siegburg in the American Section

of a German Cemetery with some other American

boys who have found a greater peace than

seems to exist on earth. Some day when

this all is just a bitter memory I hope to talk

this over with you - and divulge the whole story.

We here at Lazarett Siegburg have grown very

fond of your son - and he was a son to be proud

of - every inch a man and plenty of guts, we

share with you your deep sorrow and pray

that God may be with you at this time.

Dad signs the letter Sincerely and under that his name. Then under that he writes Man of Confidence. And under that he writes Lazarett Siegburg.

The family sent me photos of the man that Dad buried. He is "movie star" gorgeous and apparently his character matched that as well.

Bye for the moment,

Jean J

I don't know whether "Man of Confidence" is an english expression or only a translation of the german word Vertrauensmann which is quiet common not only for POW camps. The MOC was elected by his comrades to represent them to the camp commandant. I found some children of MOC in the Internet looking for information:

http://forum.weihenstephan.org/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=161

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/prisoners-war/42705-stalag-iva-man-confidence.html

and a book "Man of Confidence : The Story of an American Ex-Prisoner of World War II":

http://www.amazon.ca/Vertrauensmann-Confidence-Story-American-Ex-Prisoner/dp/0944957471

Christoph

Hello Christoph!

Hooray! You are here and me too!

I really appreciate your analysis of the expression "Man Of Confidence." I assumed it was kind of a title that was used and I did google it. In Dad's case, because it was not a real POW camp, and people got lucky to stay there until they were well enough to be moved along, someone maybe told Dad to use that title at some point. He clearily was not elected to the position. And maybe there were other American prisoners there that used the title and helped in the way Dad did. He never mentioned them to me but by the way we are getting this figured out maybe we will get that figured out too

It was not an expression that my Dad ever used after the War, not that I can ever recall. He had some real weird ramblings that he would do, but I stupidly never specifically asked him about each one of them. It was kind of like rolling your eyes, but only to myself, and then moving on. There were always a few in the morning - like A ttention, and this is you friendly platoon leader, and so many more... There were some things that I realize now he said and did to help himself handle what he had experienced.

I went to Amazon and found the book. It is pricey but then somehow I found a "alibris" site and that may be the best place for me to get it. Also there is a book by a French prisoner with a chapter in it with that Vert. name. Much less expensive on Alibris site so I will think about it.

I will look at the other 2 references after sending this - because I know I will probably lose this otherwise.

More to follow, and Thank You,

Jean J

Christoph,

Interesting sites. I signed up at the 2nd one and will hopefully get to read the other 9 posts on Man of Confidence.

I believe in the files of 2 other men, I saw that expression Man of Confidence and Dad's name. But no letters or anything. I will at some point get back to those files.

Now the latest news is that Sister Edeltrud is not well. The other Sister that we met wrote back a little note after they received my Christmas card. I will stay on top of the situation, and once I get my voice back, I will call over to them. This time I will arrange everything around your schedule once you know it.

I have alerted Nina the lady who went out of her way to help me, and who was with kind of like the German Embassy in NY, and who has now moved back to Germany about the Sister's health. I sent her your Theo article and the article by Sister Edeltrud. Not only would she like to read them, but she can. She like you was so smart - to learn German and English; unlike me.

Jean J

Stranger than fiction, someone had a book from someone and she wanted to review it before giving it to me. Well yesterday I got it and believe it or not it was YES, the book by Helion. First, second and third printing are from 1943. Its Chapter 13 is 'The Vertrauensmann.'

Christoph, Until you wrote in prior post the other day word 'vertrauensmann' I would never of known what it meant.

My voice is returning so can maybe work on tracking down some things.

Jean J

Well Christoph, I found another one! You say another What?

Yes a POW that was in Siegburg fairly early on and for a short period of time

His number was 13086. I now think there is a good chance that those near 500 men did go to Siegburg. And lots of people had to be pitching in to handle them ---

More to follow, discovery was made late last night.

I still need to call Sister E's Abbey to see her status and then know your schedule.

Bye,

JJ

Christoph,

Guess what? I have located and spoken with another prisoner. Yes! And this gentleman has a great memory for the parts he experienced while there. This was quite a huge operation. He is now No.4 of the living prisoners and both he and No. 1 remembered my Dad. He used the name Moose and that was all it took.... It was pretty incredible.

He mentioned a Dr. Anton Kaiser that was at the Abbey and the Dr. put a spiker cast on this gentleman. Dr. Kaiser wore dark horned rim glasses, black boots, and was very handsome. When his son was in Germany he looked up Dr. Kaiser and found that his son was studying to be a Dr. or was a Dr. The Drs. son actually met this gentleman's son. I think at that time the Drs. son was in Siegburg.

You are such a sleuth - I wonder if you can locate him. Maybe we could meet him together on a trip we would take. Also, remember that man that wanted to retire from his work on the Abbey, I wonder if he is available for all of us to meet. I have not called Sister Johanna about Sister Edeltrud because maybe April will be a better time to see her when it is warmer.

I want to type up my notes and try to digest what I heard, Definitely the Russian Dr. and red pills are in the picture.

Bye,

JJ

Guess What! Yep, Found another EX POW who had been at Lazarett Siegburg. He was only there for 4 or 5 days - a temporary stop.. Stalag 6G in Bonn was bombed by Allieds and on fire and they were walked to Siegburg. From there went to next Camp. He has a great memory and brought up a French Priest that came in a couple of times while they were there. I was able to tell him more about the Priest.

This gentleman started the War at 195 lbs - he was 6Ft 1/2/ inch and at liberation he was 98 lbs. He is 89 years old.

I have pages of notes from the conversation and feel so privileged to know all of these men! What a blessing!

My life is very complex right now and regret not being able to write more often. I am sure everyone else has lots going on too.

Bye for now,

Jean J

Quick note, The POW I referred to above is not on the list of Siegburg prisoners. I have failed to ask the others when they got their POW #. Remember Norton had no clue that he had a POW number. I will eventually ask the other Siegburg POW's if they remember the sequence.

Jean J

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPH!!!

You are such a wonderful young man!!!

Thank you for all of your help and discoveries as we sift through the Siegburg maze! We are making progress Thanks To You!

Jean J

I have been reading through here occasionally. This is very fascinating stuff!

Sorry I have been off line a bit. Thank you so much for your comments '24th Armored Engineer Site' - I am eager to get back on your site!

I continue my research, and today is POW Recognition Day so I will contact the wonderful POW's that I have met over the years in my research.

I have recently received from POW #!, Norton, his photos from his 1985 journey to Siegburg. They are in the queue to get scanned.

Also received War Memories from POW #4, and his memories of Siegburg, which was relatively brief, and then the rest of his time in other POW Camps.

And yesterday, received a picture from a wonderful Veteran who was a Replacement in the Medical Battalion of the 22nd, some time after Dad had been captured. His photo showed the front of a 2 1/2 ton truck which is was the same truck that my Dad would have been using.

Lots of things bubbling along..... will share when time permits.

Hello Marion and Christoph!

Jean J