In the midst of the horrors, he found a silver lining in his stories of Loretta. It was the memory of her that kept his war-torn eyes the brightest blue.
Letters to Loretta: Harold and Loretta finally reunite
FeaturedHarold felt unable to breathe as the train drew closer to Jamaica Station. His insides jumped around, his heart raced — his eyes began to well up.
Letters to Loretta: The Germans surrender and Harold is free again
FeaturedVictory Day. May 9th marked the official surrender of the Germans. The Allies had won. Harold was free again.
Letters to Loretta: The American POWs are finally saved from the Nazis
FeaturedSomething was different this time, though, Harold soon realized. The yelling was in English and then he heard the sounds of engines.
Letters to Loretta: Scavenging for food along the Nazi march
FeaturedThe men were thin and weak, but knew if they stopped they would be hit, or have a dog sent on them, or maybe even be shot by an SS.
Letters to Loretta: The American prisoners are marched out of the Nazi POW camp as Soviets approach
FeaturedThe guards used the dogs to put the prisoners in line, left those who were too weak or ill behind, and they filed out of Stalag 17B for the last time.
Letters to Loretta: The American POWs are not broken despite their losses
FeaturedA prisoner died in his sleep that night. Whether he was taken due to starvation, or cold, or if he just gave up it didn’t matter.
Letters to Loretta: The American prisoners are nearing their end
FeaturedThe German guards seemed more on edge. Maybe Allied troops were somewhere beyond his line of vision, coming closer.
Letters to Loretta: Battling with sickness at a World War II POW camp
FeaturedEditor’s Note: Sandboxx News presents a World War II series by Kaitlin Oster on the power of hope, letters, and love in seeing us through the terrors and agony of war. You can read the other installments here, listen to Kaitlin’s radio interview about the series here, or visit her website here. From the combined […]
Letters to Loretta: Playing bloody baseball in the WWII POW camp
FeaturedHarold now knelt in the dirt next to the prisoner. He lay on his side, breathing, thankfully; there had already been enough death earlier in the year.