The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-03
MAR PRISONER MEMOs

sWar Prisoners Aid of the Young Mems Christian Associations, 347 Madison Avenue, New York. Dear Nfr. Winchell: This is to express my deep thanks for the recent broadcast and column items Tn which you voiced Colonel Stark's tribute to the Red Cross and the Y. M, o. A. On the basis of the reports we have received. it must have been heard by everybody from here to Timbuctoo. It was greatly appreciated by us. T am enclosing a collection Of items which may be of interest to you. Most of them were recounted by ex-prisoners of war who recently returned home and dropped in on us to say hello. I hope you think some of them are good enough to use.
 Thanks again for the Colonel Stark plug. John R. Burkhart." Among brightest of newspapers published by American heroes held in Naz compounds was The Oflag 64 Item, a monthly tab complete with cartoon strips, pinup shots and sports department Page One news in almost every issue was re- ports telling who received the great est number of letters from home during the month Feature or number of the editions was a classified ad section, in which the boys yearned for home in gag ads. One three-liner was: Want ed-Vine covered cottage near liqour store. Anywhere in New Jersey. Will trade present residence, alarge, historic, air-cooled edifice. George Durgin" Another POW adver tised for a blonde secretary.
 Editorial observation in prison camp newspaper: "There are more than 70 trees, one half block of hedges, two fire plugs and innum- erable posts in this Oflag-and not single dog" ., One of the strang- est of barbed wire mascots was Roney-Dougla, pet crow of kriegie It. Anon Garter, son of the noted Texan. Carter since libarated, is now back in the States.
 The Bill Mauldin of the prison camps in Europe was It. Carl Henry Eolmstrom of Branford, Conn. Now home, Carl, who was captured early in l943, won wide fame among kriegies for his powerful sketches of prison life.
 Married men, especially those with kids, the "Y" workers say, suffer the most behind barbed wire Fellows getting the brushoff are the next EX-POWs now home said the victim at first kept the brushoff secret from his buddies, bu tusually after a time handed around the letter in which he learned he had bene given the air.
 Camp designations. Dulag: tram sient camp; Stalag: prison camp for enlisted men and non-com- miSsioned officers; Oflag: prison camp for ground officers; Stalag Luft: camp for members of air forces; Marlag: camp for seamen; flag: camp for civilian internees.
 When the Russians swept into Stalag Luft I (Nazi prison camp \ for American air officers) they drove in 150 head of cattle and 200 pigs so the famished pilots could dine The Russkis wanted to fete the birdmen with 1000 hogs but the flyers protested that they couldn't down that much pork German camp spies at Luft I and at the other compounds were known as Terrets. (Their assistants were called Weasels) Their speciality sWas crawling beneath the barracks and eavesdropping for military hush hush. The boys prepared for them by scattering rusty razor blades be- meath the buildings. When they heard the swearing from below they then poured boiling water down the broad cracks in the plank floor ing. The flyers said it was such fun.
 According to Bill Burghardt oi woodhaven, Queens, and Jim Ban sker, of Summit. N. J., returneo ex-POWs) the shibboleth which wor smiles from Soviets was not ''Roose- welt, Churchill, Stalin," but Ford Studebaker and Chevrolet" The ' two boys, following their escape from a prison camp in Poland, box rard'd through Russia to freedom The top bit of patois to find origir behind barber wire in the wore Bash. It is defined: ITO glut ones salf" Casually on chocolate bars): the best of anything, sucf as "That was bash meal; "Tha was bash!"
 One of the most amusing letter. received by American prisoners 1T Germany was one an officer got a Oflag GA. In the missive the wifi enclosed a sketch of the family! cars dashboard. This is the way tn,
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