The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-05
Service Briefs

home from Europe. Friday morning
TO spend his 60 day furlough with
his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Albert
Ssnture. Pvt Santure, who has
been in service for IS months. "a
months OF which were overseas
was a prisoner In the Stalag prison
camp in southwest Germany for
one year. He was liberated May 1
He is to report at Miami, Fla. Aug
2 for reassignment
II was in Italy that Pvt Santure
was encircled by German troops
and taken prisoner. He and three
other soldiers had advanced deep
into a wooded area when orders
csrre 20 take cover from heavy ar
tAlery fire. Later an order was is
sued TO withdraw TO more secure
positions, but that order failed to
reach the four men out In the fore
ground and they fell into German
hands.
An interesting sidelight on the
mental attitude OF some German
troops was revealed by a white
flag which Pvt. Santure discovered
had been prepared by his captors
for use in the event that they could
get free OF Nazi officers in com.
mand OF their company. Explana-
ton was that machine guns would
be turned on them by German Off
GERS II they showed signs OF surren-
der. but since they were sure that
defeat was at hand they preferred
to surrender to Americans rather
than to the Russian troops who
were advancing at threatening
speed. They would have surren-
dered to the four Americans, they
said. II they could have reached a
point of safety from their NaEi Of
ficers. In view OF the situation.
however, they explained to their
American captives that they would
treat American prisoners as they
hoped soon to be treated as prison.
ers OF the American army. They
were glad TO see the war drawing
TO a close.
After a l00-mile march Pvt. San
ture with other prisoners arrived
at a German camp. He reported
that he was familiar with farm du-
ties and was assigned work accord
ingly outside the prison camp. This
was best OF luck. On the farm food
and sleeping quarters were much
better than In camp. Hours were
long. but as, he did the work as
signed him he suffered little OF the
abuse and hardship experienced by
s,srisoners in some OF the German
camps. - So
Pvt. Santure vas assigned TO
farm in southwestern Germany and
was freed when American troops
swept over that area. Many OF the
German farmers cheered as news
came OF American progress and
scores OF German soldiers in that
area watched their chance to sur
render Many had originally hailed
Hitler as a great leader, but In
creasing hardshlps had proven the
fallacy OF such belief and they de-
clared their relief at being freed
from Nazi tyranny.
Just where he will go after his
visit in Ypsilanti, Pvt. Santure is
uncertain. Meantime he will enjoy
rest and home life, he said, and
will be in best OF health and ready
to serve wherever he is needed.
First Lieutenant Max L. Wysong
has been promoted to the rank OF
captain. He is still stationed in
Italy and Is an assistant engineer.
He has 104 points for his discharg>
from the Army. He has five battle
stars and an air medal with five
clusters. He is with the Flying !
Skull division which is made up en-
tirely OF Thunderbolts.
Pvt. James NJ. Garfield son OF |
Mr.. and Mrs. Truman A. Garfield,
302 N. Adams St, was graduated |
from the Army Specialized Training |
Reserve program at the University |
OF wisconsin on June 2.
Sgt. Glenn r. Green, son OF Mrs. |
Clara Bradshaw, 20 s. Lincoln St,
who is with the 18th Air Force |
Service Command in Italy Joined |
his buddies in celebrating peace in
Europe. He entered the service In
April, 1912. and was sent overseas
in September, 1914.
Mr.. and Mrs. John wagner have
received word that their son, Pvt.
Russell Wagner, has been seriously |
wounded in the arm in his third act |
i've combat, the first in Belgium and
the others in Germany. The arm
seemed to have been made useless
and surgeons are trying to save 1t.
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Laurain,
412 e. Michigan Ave, left Sunday
to visit their son, Pvt. Clarence
Laurain, who is hospitalized in
Denver. Pvt. Laurain has been In
the service four years, three OF
have been overseas. While
in Germany he froze his feet, and
trench foot. He arrived
in the States May rs and was i'm
mediately sent to the Fitzsimons
H spital, In Denver. His parents
expect to stay with him for two
weeks.
Jack Mcleod Saunders. A.O.M.
1IC is spending his 80 day leave
with his parents Mr.. and Mrs. Err
win w. Saunders. He has been at
tached to the Navy patrol bombing
squadron number 104, operating In
the Philippines area. He entered
the Navy in 1912.
1t. Robert @. Hagen, son OF Mrs.
John F. Hagen, 206 Arnet St, re-