The following is a collection of short biographies of members of the

West Virginia Ex-Prisoners of War who wished to share their stories………

Sadly, Harold passed away in 2000. He was an active member whose wife Georgia is now commander of the Chapter. Harold was a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army’s 15^th Air Force. He was captured on April 21, 1944 and was held as a prisoner of war until April 25, 1945. He was in Stalag 13D in Germany and Stalag Luft III in Poland. During that time he was involved in 3 forced marches.

Harold Baker

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From Morgantown, WV, Bill was a prisoner of war from September 5, 1944 to January 31, 1945. He was captured in Belgium, and taken to Stalag 3 C. He escaped to Poland, and traveled over 2000 miles – from Odessa, Russia to Naples, Italy before he found freedom.

 Bill Bonsall

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Brown, Charles

Charlie and his wife Betty are from Kingwood, WV.  Charlie was in Airgroup 12 - VB 12.  He was taken prisoner of war and spent time in camps Ofuna and Amori.

Charles Brown

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Al is from Fairmont, WV. He was a paratrooper in the "Battle of the Bridge too far" in Holland when he was captured on September 19, 1944. He spent nine months in forced labor camps at the hands of the Germans.

 Al Corbin

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Okey lives in Charleston, WV. He was shot down over Germany on December 30, 1943, and spent 16 ½ months as a Prisoner of War.

 Okey De Raimo

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From Bridgeport, WV, Robert was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. A member of the 110^th Infantry, he spent 5 months in POW camps around Emesh, Germany.

  Robert Ellis

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Cecil is from Huntington, WV. He was captured in Casino, Italy, and was an "MIA" for 6 months before his family knew he was a prisoner of war. He spent 16 months as a prisoner and spent time in Stalag 2A and 2B. He was forced from Italy across the Alps to Germany and the Baltic Sea in horrible weather conditions.

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Junior was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, and imprisoned for 6 months. He spent time in Stalag 13.

Junior Fullmer

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Russell is from Worthington, WV. A member of the Bombers Air Corps in the 15^th Air Force in Italy, he was captured in Gyor, Germany on July 8, 1944. He remained a prisoner of war until the Liberation in May, 1945.

Russell Gwinn

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From Belington, WV, Russell was a member of the 110^th Infantry – 28^th Division. He was taken prisoner of war in Bad Orb, Germany in December 1944. He was in Stalg 9B until April 1945.

  Edward Holbert

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Joseph was involved in the Korean War and was in the 1^st Platoon Company B, 32^nd Infantry, 7^th Division. He was captured December 1, 1950. He remained a prisoner of war for almost three years, and was released on September 20, 1953.

Paul is from Bridgeport, WV. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, and was taken prisoner December 31, 1944, spent time in Stalag 12A. He lost over 60 pounds during his imprisonment, citing the fact that the Germans starved the prisoners, and some of the men went down to 85 pounds. One loaf of bread was shared between ten men each day, and that was the entire day’s food ration. He was freed by the American army March 27, 1945, sent back home May 7, 1945 and was hospitalized until November.

                                                                                     Paul Lovell

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Jake lives in Dunbar, WV. He was taken prisoner in Italy, involved in the Angio Beach conflict. He was a "Ranger", and spent seventeen months in captivity. He was captured on January 30, 1944.

 Jake Lumadue

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Tom is from Grafton, WV. He was captured in France on September 12, 1944, spent time in Stalag 12A and Stalag 7A. He was on work detail in Lanshut, Germany. He remained a prisoner until the United States Army liberated him on April 29, 1945.

 Tom Mathews

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Angelo is from Fairmont, WV. He spent over two years in captivity, from February 1943 to May 1945. He was in the war in Africa, was captured and taken to Italy and then to Germany and Poland. He remained a POW until the Liberation.

 Angelo Meffe

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From Fairmont, WV, Frank owns the Supper Club where the POW chapter holds monthly meetings. He was taken prisoner in New Branenburg, Germany,

December 19, 1944 and was held at Stalag 2A. He remained a prisoner until he was liberated on April 13,1945. Frankie said he remembers sitting in boxcars where guys on both sides of him were killed.

 Frank Monell

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Patsy was a member of the 28^th Keystone Division of the Infantry and was involved in the conflict in Belgium when he was taken prisoner of war on December 16, 1944. He was in the Bad Orb and Zeigham Prison camps, and was liberated on April 1, 1945. Patsy commented that he was kept boxcars for long periods without food and warm clothing. He remembers feeling like his feet were frozen most of the time.

 Patsy Palmieri

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Patrick, Birchard Arnold

Birchard passed away in 2003.  He was from Wellsburg, WV.  Birchard was a PFC in the army with the 42nd Division, Co. B, 232 Infantry Regiment when he was captured by the Germans in December 1944.  He was in Stalag 11B, Fallingbostel until he was liberated by the British 8th Army in May 1945.     His wife Wanda remains an active member of the Ex-POW organization.                                                                                  

  Birchard Patrick

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Ben is a Clarksburg resident. He was in Patton’s army in the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner on January 3, 1945. His group of prisoners was forced to walk hundreds of miles through German towns that were destroyed by bombs and bury bodies. After spending 4 months in Stalag 12A, he was being marched to another camp when he escaped the Germans. He hid with other escapees for over a week until the Liberation in May 1945, and was rescued by the American army.

 Ben Portaro

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Glenn entered the service on November 18, 1941. He was taken prisoner in North Africa in January 1943. After being moved through Africa, Italy and Germany, he was interred at Camp 3-B in Furstenburg, Germany. During his imprisonment of 27 months, Glenn endured over 20 days locked in a boxcar, was forced to walk for 20 days, and went from 155 pounds to 98 pounds. He was liberated in April 1945.

 Glenn Sapp

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Lou is from Morgantown, WV.  He was a member of the 99th Infantry Division when he was captured by the Germans.  He was held in Stalag 13-D prison camp.  He said he remembers that the POW's were forced to keep moving from camp to camp. 

Bill is from Clarksburg, WV. He was taken prisoner of war in Korea on November 11, 1950, and spent 989 days in captivity. He got out of the prison on August 14, 1953 with the prisoner exchange program after the Korean War ended. Bill spent his 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd birthdays as a POW, and lost most of his toes as a result. He said the winters were the coldest in Korean history while he was there, and the soldiers did not have warm shoes or clothes. Bill attended the 50^th anniversary reunion of the Korean War in Lancaster, PA and Washington, DC. He was imprisoned longer than anyone else in the West Virginia POW group.

 Bill Skinner

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Stevens, Frank

            From Cassville, WV, Frank enlisted in the service on May 23, 1939.  He landed on Omaha Beach June 9, 1944.  He was a member of 417^th Infantry and was captured in Trier Germany.  After spending twelve days in the prison camp, he escaped to Manhiem Germany. 

 Frank Stevens

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Todesko, Angelo

            Angelo is from Morgantown, WV.  He entered the service October 23, 1942.  He took part in D-Day June 6, 1944 when he landed on Omaha Beach.  He was taken prisoner on July 4, 1944 in Normandy.  He was held in confinement in France, taken to Germany and then to Czechoslovakia.  He escaped enemy hands when the prisoners took over the camp where he was being held. 

  Angelo Todesko

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Trautman, Frank 

              Frank is from Parkersburg, and was in the Bad Orb prison camp in Germany.  He and Ed Young were in the camp together.  Frank was captured on December 19, 1944, suffered frostbite, and lost 73 pounds during his captivity.  He was released in April 1945 during the Liberation.  Frank remarked that he was just a boy when he entered the war, but had to grow up quickly.  He said it was a huge adjustment for all the servicemen, especially the prisoners of war. 

  Frank Trautman

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Waldman, Norman

            Norman and his wife Marie live in Waynesburg, PA.  Norman was in the airborne division and was captured in Normandy, after being injured by a grenade.  He was sent to Stalag 12A and Stalag 4B.  After spending 11 months and 2 weeks in captivity, he was freed by Russian troops in the Liberation of 1945.   

Young, Damon F.

            A Huntington resident, Damon spent 30 years in the United States Army.  He fought in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.  He was taken prisoner in St. Vith, Belgium December 18, 1944 and remained in captivity until the Liberation in May 1945. 

Damon Young

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Young, Edward

            Ed is a very active member of the Chapter, and spends many hours visiting schools and organizations speaking about his experiences as a POW.  He is from Clarksburg, WV.  Ed was captured in the Battle of the Bulge on December 19, 1944 and liberated by the United States Army on Easter Sunday 1945.  He spent time in Bad Orb and in Stalag 9B.  He commented that he considers every day a blessing, and is very proud to be an American.  He feels that being a POW and so close to death has been a “blessing in disguise” because he appreciates life more and knows how valuable his freedom really is.        

 Ed Young

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