News-Info-Alerts

Re: Long Forgotten POW Rememberd after 57 Years

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: July 08, 2002

"Long-forgotten POW parade grand marshal
By Holly Aarhus Staff Writer
By Sandy Schurte

It took 57 years, but George Fraley finally has the recognition he earned as an infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II.

When he was discharged in September 1945, Fraley didn't much miss the medals and honors he had earned. The former prisoner of war had more immediate needs: a shower, a clean pair of clothes and some good food.

The medals, including his Purple Heart, were secondary.

"I knew I had them coming, but then I was captured, and I lost track of everything," the 81-year-old veteran said. "Fifty-seven years it took for my medals to arrive."

Through the help of the Washington County Veterans Service Office, the medals arrived a few months ago.

Now Fraley has received another honor -- that of grand marshal of the Germantown Independence Day Parade.

Dave Wegener of the Germantown American Legion Post 1, said Fraley was chosen because he represents the theme of this year's parade, "Remembering our POWs and MIAs."

"We try to choose a different theme every year. The POWs and MIAs are a special interest of mine -- you should never forget them," said Wegener, chairman of this year's event for the Legion.

"I hear I get to ride in a convertible. That'll be nice," said Fraley, showing the red, white and blue shirt he'll wear as he waves to the thousands of people Thursday along the parade route.

Fraley, who lives in Colgate, still has the telegrams the government sent to his mother when he was wounded and later when he was taken prisoner by the Germans.

Yellowed and worn, the Western Union telegrams told his mother her son had been wounded in action May 13, 1944; another dated Oct. 31 that same year said he had been missing in action since Oct. 14.

There are others, including one saying her son was believed to be in a prisoner of war camp, and then, finally, one in June 8, 1945, announcing he had been released and would be coming home.

"My mother told all the relatives that she tried not to, but she couldn't help thinking the worst," Fraley said.

He grew up in the Cransdon-Laona area in northern Wisconsin, one of eight Fraley children. By the time he was 17, he was on his own, working on a farm for room and board and $9 a week.

When the war came along, he enlisted and was assigned to the 351st Infantry, 88th Division, of the U.S. Army.

He went to Africa, then Sicily and finally Italy, where his platoon was attacked by the Germans. Many soldiers from his platoon died -- Fraley doesn't like to think about that time -- and he and 14 others were captured.

"They kept us in Italy for a while -- I had no way of keeping track of time then -- and then they took us to a little town about 30 miles from Munich. It was a little place, sort of like Plat is today," Fraley said.

The prisoners were housed in old barns.

"It was terrible -- it was winter -- and it was cold," he said. "The bed bugs, the lice, no showers, the same clothes every day -- and we got just one bowl of rutabaga soup every day."

Christmas came and went, then his 24th birthday, before the prisoners were liberated on April 29, 1945. When the Germans surrendered May 8, he and others from the camp were flown to LeHarve, France.

"I remember I got cleaned up, had some new clothes and ate some good food -- the first time I'd been able to do that in a very long time," he said.

They left France May 19 and arrived in New York City June 4. By June 9, he was home in Wisconsin on a government-issued 60-day leave.

A few months later, he was discharged after serving his country for five years.

He said Independence Day is a time to remember why the country is free. It's an important day, he said, one that makes him proud of his past.

"You're always proud of that -- serving your country. And I enlisted," he said. "I don't regret one minute of my time in the Army -- not at all. I made it through all right."


"I don't regret one minute of my time in the Army -- not at all. I made it through all right." "