Young Men Are Held In Enemy Prison Camps
Source: Muscatine Journal & News-Tribune, December 30, 1943 (photos of POWs are published in this issue)
Prisoner Ranks Expand As War Grows Intense In France and Germany
Hopes for an eventual happy reunion at the conclusion of hostilities with father, brother, son or husband, initially reported as “missing in action” has been spurred in a number of homes in Muscatine and nearby communities in southeastern Iowa and western Illinois by later information, advising that the missing service man was listed as a prisoner of war.
Anxious hours of hopeful waiting after official information listing men as “missing in action” has been followed in repeated instances by such data during the past year, as it was in former years of World War No. 2, as the number of men who have become members of the “Barbed Wire Legion”—prisoners of war—has increased.
Then, for families and for the members of the Barbed Wire Legion, as well, has followed a second interval of waiting—until through the channels of the International Red Cross, letters and communications have been re-established.
This, in turn, is followed by further waiting—waiting for that day when peace will return and the guns of war are silenced—when long days of confinement in distant camps and restriction of privileges will come to an end and families and friends may be reunited.
As the period of America’s participation in the war has lengthened, so has the number of men listed from this community as prisoners of war.
For some, stationed in the Pacific theater of action, three years have passed in prison camps. For others, captured in other fields of action, one year in a prisoner of war camp is stretching to a second. Others, participating in more recent actions, have spent lesser periods in prison camps.
From some of these men, relatives have received fairly regular, although restricted letters, advising of their treatment, the receipt of certain items of clothing, food and for recreational purposes through the Red Cross. From others only scratches of information have been received.
From official sources and from members of their families, brief sketches of the following men reported as prisoners, have been obtained:
TECH. SGT. HOWARD ADAMS—Reported missing in action over Holland since July 28, 1943. Tech. Sgt. Howard Adams, serving in the United States Army air corps, was later listed as being a prisoner of war of Germany. He reached England on June 1, 1943, and was serving as crew chief and top turret gunner on a Flying Fortress when the ship was forced down in enemy territory.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Friday, December 29, 1944
T-Sgt Adams Is Liberated From Austria Prison
Wilton—Tech. Sgt. Howard Adams, who has been held a prisoner of war by Germany for the past 22 months, has been liberated by the Russian army from Stalag 17-B in Austria, according to a cablegram which he sent to his wife, Mrs. Norma Adams, received late Tuesday.
Sgt. Adams, who has been awarded the Air Medal, was serving as crew chief and top turret gunner of a Flying Fortress, attached to the Eighth Air Force, when he was shot down over Holland on July 28, 1943.
The Wilton airman entered the service in December, 1941, received his wings at Las Vegas, N. Mex., on Nov. 19, 1942, and went overseas in May, 1943. He had been on active duty two months when the ship on which he was serving was shot down.
Mrs. Adams and son, Bobby, are making their home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Kretschmar for the duration.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, May 23, 1945 (photo included)
Howard Johnson Adams was born June 22, 1920 to Richard and Amanda Adams. He died Aug. 31, 2012 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilton, IA.
MSgt. Adams served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps, 8th Air Force as a crew chief and top turret gunner on a Flying Fortress. He became a POW for 22 months when his plane was forced down in enemy territory. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
