REUNION WWII POW”s

June 7-8-9, 2007

Embassy Suites, Kansas City, MO.

 

30 WWII POW’s, 20 spouses and friends, and 24 family members attended the 2007 reunion of the those serving in Stalags 9A, 9B, 9C and Am Elster when taken Prisoners of War in the Battle of the Bulge in Germany, December 16, 1944.

Jake Underwood, an Ex-POW from Btry A, of the 590^th FA, 106 Division, assisted by daughters Susan Karleskint and Mary Gregory were hosts for the 07 event.

Tour buses were provided for members to partake in events on both days. On Friday the group toured Fort Leavenworth and were provided with tour guides to give events of history of the Fort. Much emphasis was placed on Patton and Eisenhower who were graduates of the Command and General Staff School in their earlier years.

On Friday evening El Creel gave a slide presentation of his trip to Greece, Jerusalem and the Holy Land in 1959. After eating a buffet dinner at the Embassy, Capt. Gerald Brown from the Staff at Fort Leavenworth gave a very detailed history of Eisenhower when taking training at the Fort. A special event in his life was being promoted to Major three times. This came about by involements of our military forces, and promotion in rank, to then resort to reduction in staff when military budgets were reduced. Rather than resign from the military, he took a lower rank, and as we became engaged in military conflicts, he again became promoted.

On Friday the group toured the Truman Library and ate lunch at the Union Station. Some did shopping at Crown center, while other returned to the Embassy on Bus No. 2.

A buffet dinner was served the group on Saturday evening by the Embassy.

At the business meeting Evelyn Cerna and Margaret Large, daughters of El Creel will were approved to host the 2008 event. It will be held in Austin, TX in mid June.

Mort Cooper gave a report on special work in the training of seeing-eye-dogs for blind veterans.

A printed copy of those in attendance and a financial statement were handed to the attendees.

The group authorized Jake Underwood to establish a web-site for the our organization and to pay for such costs from the cash account. The cost is estimated at $100.00.