German POW's at Camp
Upton
German POWs - Camp Upton - Circa 1945 Andeken Von Hans is visible in
the second row, third from the left Willi appears to be in the
first row, second from the left Hans Schesser appears to be the first
row, on the far left Note the "PW" markings on the uniforms, especially
on the right leg of the soldier in the second row, on the far left.
Andeken Von Hans
Hans Schesser
Below is the transaction of the letter
from Josef Kraft, a former German prisoner of war, to my grandfather,
Frederick Daniel Pearsall. Frederick worked as a civilian cook at Camp
Upton during WWII. He was a veteran of WWI. The letter was translated by
Christopher Wesselborg.
Information provide by
Jim Pearsall.
August, 2003
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kiedrich, July 12, 1946
Dear Mr. Pearsall:
Now the first greetings from my home country [1]. Have arrived here
safely
[2] on May 28, my family and I are still in good health. I hope the same
for
you. I am often thinking about the good times in the Besches Mess in
Camp
Upton. Here in Germany we have to do without quite a lot which wasn't
the
case over there [3]. Most often I am thinking of the good food and the
smoking, which we had when I was together with you in the dining hall
[4].
Dear Mr. Pearsall: Should you still be working in the dining hall,
please
give my best regards [5] to all who knew me, in particular to the German
woman who worked in the dining hall. And finally I wish you and your
family
all the best and ask you to write me soon [6].
I remain with my most sincere greetings and holding you in high esteem
[7]
Josef Kraft
Kiedrich
Hessen Nassau (16)
Kurhaus
Notes:
[1] Heimat: home, home country or region
[2] gut angekommen: arrived well, safely
[3] bei Ihnen: literally: with you; also: at your place
[4] Messe: military term for dining hall
[5] recht bald mal schreiben: a way of saying he'd be glad to receive a
few
lines soon
[6] viele Gruess: many regards
[7] literally: I remain with the dearest greetings in all [or high]
esteem