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Title
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Anxious Kin Told How To Ease Life of Relatives In Prison Camps of Nazis and Japanese
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Date Created
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1945-03-19
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Creator
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The Bethlehem globe-times. (Bethlehem, Pa.) 1925-1977
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Identifier
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ww2-10705
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Description
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Clipping extracted from The Bethlehem globe-times pertaining to WWII military personnel from the Lehigh Valley, part of the BAPL WWII Newspaper Clipping Collection.
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Digital Format
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application/pdf
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Clipping
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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Bethlehem Area Public Library
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Contributor
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Entries added in 2013 funded in part with Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.
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Date Submitted
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2013-04-01
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Type
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Text
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content
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Anxious Kin Told How To Ease Life of Relatives In Prison Camps of Nazis and Japanese
Tell Experiences in Jap, Nazi Prison Camps
[PHOTO]
[CAPTION] Speakers at a meeting for the kin and friends of prisoners of war held Sunday afternoon in the Bethlehem Catholic High School auditorium, are shown above left to right: Captain R. B. Sumner, stationed at Lehigh with the ROTC; First Lieutenant Adele Foreman, U. S. Army nurse, who was imprisoned by the Japs for nearly three years; Sergeant Roland D. Gangwer, U. S. Army Air Forces, who was prisoner of the Germans until his return to this country on the Gripsholm, and Mrs. Reeve Hoover, of the national staff of the American Red Cross Prisoners of War Service.
[ARTICLE] “Send a man in prison camp his old pipe instead of buying him a new one. Send him snapshots of his family so he can brag about how pretty his wife is, or how robust his children are. Make every parcel persona, as intimate as possible,” was the advice offered yesterday by Mrs. Reeve Hoover of the national staff of the American Red Cross, principal speaker at a “Prisoner of War” meeting sponsored by the Bethlehem chapter, American Red Cross.
Thronging the auditorium of Bethlehem Catholic High School yesterday were many Bethlehemites whose boys are being held prisoners of war and who received concrete, practical suggestions as to how they can bring closer to their boys the world they have temporarily lost. The speaker was introduced by Captain Richie B. Sumner, who is stationed at Lehigh University, and who presided at the meeting.
Stressing the vital importance of letters and parcels from home that revive memories and keep alive in boys the longing to return to this country, Mrs. Hoover stated that these tokens of constant thought on the part of loved ones may make or break a boy in a prison camp. She suggested that the colorful, decorative as well as the personal note in a parcel brings life to a dull prison camp.
Another point emphasized by the speaker was that the loss of a few packages from next-of-kin should not discourage the senders. Though Allied bombing in Germany has intensified the transportation crisis there, food, medicine and personal gifts are being received, she reassured listeners. At present, there is no way, even though the Red Cross, of sending family parcels to Jap-held prisoners.
Mrs. Hover [sic] said that no postage is required on any mail to prisoners of war. They are allowed to write home four times each month in German camps, but the Red Cross has not been very successful in its dealings with the Japanese government. Tribute to the TMCA and to the National Catholic Welfare conference for their work in furnishing sports equipment, training courses and religious help was paid by the speaker. Everything, she said, helps to counteract the horrible boredom of the camp. She foresees more difficult times for our prisoners of war as our military successes increase.
At the conclusion of the talk, Lieutenant Adele Foreman and Sergeant Roland D. Gangwer, both returned prisoners of war, answered audience questions, both describing the reception of parcels during their prison experiences.
Chapter Chairman Dr. Dudley P. Walker spoke briefly, thanking speakers. Rev. A. B. Caine, rector of Holy Infancy parish and director of Bethlehem Catholic High School, offered prayer.
