Air Force Museum (part 6)

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My great-uncle was a POW after the Battle of the Bulge in WW II. While captured, he was moved to different locations via unmarked rail car. At one point, the car he was in was strafed – by Allied planes. He still had shrapnel from that event embedded in him when he died a few years ago. He was eventually freed (I think there was a prisoner trade…or something like that). He and his companions were flown back to the States and given a heroes’ welcome. They were even featured in a national magazine (Life? I don’t remember the name, although I’ve seen the article). His days as a POW saw very little food. When he got back to the States, he was given a steak dinner. He ate it.

And then he threw up.

I’ve known this story for a while. I think the first time I heard it was when my great-grandma died (nearly 20 years ago) when I saw the medals he had been awarded. And I’ve never forgotten about it. When I saw the rail car from WW II at the Museum, I couldn’t help but think of my great-uncle and the ordeal he went through.

According to another part of the exhibit, this particular rail car was not only used to transport POWs, but it was also used to transport Jews during the Holocaust.  

It was…sobering.

Here’s a plaque from the exhibit.

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Matt Todd

Howdy. I'm Matt. My wife, Christy, and I have four kids and two dogs, I'm passionate about orphan care. I'm a die-hard fan of the Evansville Aces, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Star Wars. I'm trying to live life by the Todd family motto: "It behooves us to live!"
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