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WCU - World War II in Southern Appalachia

Summary of prisoner-of-war experiences of Robert Venoy Reed

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Item 1 - Summary of prisoner-of-war experiences of Robert Venoy Reed
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Summary of prisoner-of-war experiences of Robert Venoy Reed

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Item 2 - Summary of prisoner-of-war experiences of Robert Venoy Reed
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Summary of prisoner-of-war experiences of Robert Venoy Reed

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wcu_ww2-385.jp2

Summary of prisoner-of-war experiences of Robert Venoy Reed

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  • We were liberated by American and Russian troops. The rumor was that the Russians were paid $400.00 for each American soldier liberated. Big Allied planes flew over that day, buzzing us in salute. It was a thrilling day. As soon as possible I was flown to Inglestadt Air Base and then to Rheims, France. Camp Luck Strike was frustrating; we had been processed, issued new clothes and then we could not leave the compound even to mail a letter. We were told to help police up the area, and we grumbled about this; The captain heard us and ordered us to his office. We told him that we thought the German POWs in the camp could police up the area. We did not know it at the time, but General Eisenhower was due to arrive soon with a party of officers and congressmen. Being so recently liberated, we still showed signs of our imprisonment and the members of the party were anxious to talk to us. We told an admiral that we wanted to go to Paris but were restricted to quarters; he suggested that we talk to General Eisenhower about this, and he saw to it that we got a 5 f2z day leave to go to Paris and we rode the Red Ball Express there and back. We later learned that we were detained at Camp Lucky Strike until we could be assigned to a Liberty ship. I was the only medical staff on board; I had medical supplies, but no major medical emergency arose. I had enough points for discharge when I got back to the US, but after leave and R&R, I was assigned to the psychiatric ward of all places at La Guarde General Hospital. I could not stand the work there and was transferred to a surgical ward. I was anxious to get home, but a doctor told me not to be in too big a hurry — that I was suffering from combat fatigue and in 20 or 30 years it would be a lot worse. How true that was!
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World War II in Southern Appalachia

World War II affected the residents of WNC both home and abroad. This collection highlights some of these experiences, including Carr and Ruth Hooper who were interred at the Sant...

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