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Local News Articles—Raymond Kestner
Raymond Kestner In December 2011, I received a note from Jessica Kestner McMahon. “I am the granddaughter of Pvt. Raymond Kestner who was interred in Camp 59, she wrote. “I am in the process of...
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Christmas in Captivity
This V-mail Christmas card, dated November 22, 1941, was sent by Matthew Brazil to his sweetheart (and later wife) Doris Greenquist of San Jose, California. On December 11, Matt’s plane was shot down...
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Red Cross Parcels
This list of contents for American Red Cross “Standard Package No. 8″ was sent to me by Matt Brazil. I am pleased to share it. The Red Cross document above reads: Form 1631-P Feb. 1942 American Red...
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Laurence Barker—Died for His Country
Sgt. Lawrence “Laurie” Sidney Barker, Royal Canadian Air Force I received a note from Michael Laurence Barker of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on December 24. He wrote, “I am the nephew of a Canadian POW...
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Family Parcels
This two-page memo from the U.S. War Department contains instructions for families on how to prepare packages to be sent to prisoners of war and civilian internees overseas. The memo is from Matt...
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Freedom for Matt Brazil
The Story of Sergeant Matt Brazil, Shot Down at Naples, A Prisoner, Then Freedom December 1943 By Laura Rawson Sergeant Matthew Brazil, son of Mrs. Jennie Brazil of Santa Cruz, an aerial gunner who...
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Matt Brazil Recuperating
The U.S. National Archives database of WW II POWs lists Matt Brazil as having been a prisoner, but the record doesn’t include a camp name. A couple of things mentioned in Laura Rawson’s article, “The...
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Ray Kestner—Letters and Postcards
Ray Kestner Jessica Kestner McMahon shared the following letters and postcards that her grandfather sent home while in the service. Ray Kestner was interned at Camp 59 in 1943 from March 1 to...
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Clifford Houben’s Address List
According to Wayne Houben (Clifford Houben’s son), Clifford escaped from Camp 59 and was given refuge by Italians; he was later recaptured and sent to Stalag 2B in Germany. While in the Italian and...
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Willman King’s Addresses
Above: American soldier Willman King superimposed against a page of his address list. Like Clifford Houben, Charles Simmons, and many other POWs, Willman King kept a list of men he met while a...
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Ray Kestner—Still Behind Enemy Lines
Raymond Kestner with family The letters in this post, saved by Ray Kestner’s sister, are posted here courtesy of Ray’s granddaughter Jessica Kestner McMahon. In one of his letters, Marshall Wells...
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Ray Kestner’s “Christmas Book”
Ray Kestner’s granddaughter, Jessica Kestner McMahon, calls the little book that Ray brought home from prison camp the “Christmas book.” Entitled Christmas 1942, the calendar booklets were a gift of...
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Thomas Ager—Escapee from Italian Camp 82
T. J. Ager, after war and imprisonment, looking “rather the worse for wear” On February 9, I received a note from Gillian Pink of Suffolk, England. Her father, Thomas John Ager, who served in the...
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Stanley Taylor in Switzerland
According to Stanley Taylor’s daughter, Barbara Chapman, after his escape from captivity, Stanley made his way to Switzerland. His records state he was there by November 2, 1944. Barbara writes:...
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Peter Grillo—Captive
I received a note this morning from Roy Grillo, who, in conducting online research about his father, Peter Grillo, discovered his name on Clifford Houben’s Address List of POWs. Peter’s name and...
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Stanley Taylor—A Photo Album
Stanley Ernest Taylor In June 2012, while my partner and I were traveling in England, I had the pleasure of meeting with Stanley Taylor’s daughter, Barbara Chapman. My first contact with her had been...
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Twenty-five Years After the Escape
Felice “Phil” Vacca escaped from PG 59 in September 1943, along with fellow American prisoners Peter Calvagno, Edmond Petrelli, Joe Mandese, and Tony Spicola. I have been in touch recently with Mario...
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Neil Torssell’s Prisoner List
The above list, typed for me by Camp 59 ex-prisoner Neil Torssell on an old manual typewriter, is a a record of men he knew in the camp. Thirteen of these men are new to my list of Camp 59 prisoners....
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B-24 Bomber Fyrtle Myrtle Discovered
Key fragment of the Fyrtle Myrtle recovered by the Salerno Air Finders. Last Flight of the Fyrtle Myrtle Research into the crash by the Salerno Air Finders The Salerno Air Finders is a group of...
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North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial
In a quiet 27-acre cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia, rest 2,841 individuals who gave their lives in military service. Their headstones, set in straight lines, are subdivided by wide paths into nine...
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