Sioux Cityan, German Prisoner for 45 Days, with Yanks Again
PVT. John D. Beavers Writes About Eating Cabbage Twice Daily
Pvt. John D. Beavers, reported missing in action in France June 19, figures “the Lord must have been with me that day,” he has written his family from a hospital cot in France where after he had been a German prisoner for 45 days, he was recaptured August 4 by American troops.
Five letters, four of them from France and one from England, have reassured Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Beavers, 2703 Home Street, of their son’s safety and well being, giving them hope as well that he will be home again when his battle injuries are healed.
Suffers Broken Leg
The letters, three of them V-mail and two airmail, relate again and again the Sioux City soldiers happiness at being in American hands and hint as well of hopeless days of imprisonment when, with his leg broken between the hip and the knee, he received as food only scant portions of cabbage twice daily and little care.
“I ate cabbage for 45 days and that’s all we had and just twice a day—but we’re making up for it now. Had meat loaf for dinner and chicken for supper, he wrote from France.
“The Germans took everything from us, including my good watch. I sure did hate that and miss it terribly,” he wrote later from England, adding, “Sure is a nice sunshiny day and it feels swell to let the sun hit your body.”
Buddies Were Killed
“It sure seems swell to be back in American hands and getting good treatment and some food and cigarets,” was comment in the sale letter.
“All my buddies got killed that day. You can’t realize how lucky I am,” he told in another letter.
In an English hospital where the broken limb was reset and the Sioux Cityan is convalescing against his return to America, he lies well content, according to the August 8 letter which said, “Dear Mom and Dad: Well, here I am again with not much to say but sure am a happy boy now, I feel like life is worth living now but when the Germans had me it didn’t make much difference.”
Pvt. Beavers went overseas in April from Camp Meade, Maryland. He took basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. He is a member of the Sacred Heart Church congregation at Riverside.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, August 24, 1944 (photo included)
