News-Info-Alerts

Re: Held by the Germans, Freed by the Russians

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: December 13, 2003

"Former soldier was held by Germans as POW until freed by Russian army.

By BILL BRAY - The Express-Times

WHITE TWP. -- Bernard Miller remembers his fondest birthday memory on April 21, 1945.

A prisoner of war in a German labor camp, it was on this birthday the Russian Red Army liberated Miller as it advanced toward Berlin.

"I took the flag down from the prison camp pole," Miller said.

On Friday, Miller unfolded that same Nazi flag before a group of fifth graders at White Township Elementary School as he talked about his 13 months as a POW during World War II.

Miller and four other veterans told their war stories to the group of 40 wide-eyed children.

Miller said he often fouled up his work only to befuddle his captors. During a bridge construction project, Miller found a funny way to dispose of wheel barrels used to carry mixed concrete.

Soon, the Germans began to wonder why they were missing so many wheel barrels, he said.

Fellow World War II veteran Henry Giazanella fought in Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd Army in the Battle of the Bulge.

"I'm still shaking when I even talk about it," Giazanella said of his war experiences. "I was scared stiff. War is not fun. Remember that."

He said it was only recently that he and other World War II veterans began to talk about what they went through.

"I never talked to my kids very much about it," Giazanella said.

Now, he and other vets hope their stories will live on as a reminder of the realities of war.

Miller and Giazanella, along with World War II veteran Leo Becker and Korean War veterans Robert Kavanaugh and Paul McPike, also showed off items they used or collected during their conflicts.

Giazanella said his most prized possession is a model of an American bomber made from melted down ration containers by a prisoner of war. He told students the prisoners in German camps were so familiar with the sight of American planes they were able to replicate them from memory.

At the end of the presentation, students were able to ask questions. The veterans in return asked if the students had family or friends serving in Iraq. Nearly half of the students said they did. The veterans urged all the students to write to the soldiers.

"There's nothing like getting a letter from home when you're over there," Giazanella said.

Reporter Bill Bray can be reached at 908-475-1596 or by e-mail at wbray@express-times.com.

©2003 The Express-Times"