News-Info-Alerts

Re: Am Ex-POWs... Making A Difference

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: July 28, 2003

"American Ex-Prisoners of War group donates 23 air conditioners to Veterans on the Lake

by Nick Wognum July 28, 2003

A World War II prisoner of war spoke of two living conditions in his life at the Veterans on the Lake Resort last Thursday.

The first living condition was one he could not change, as a prisoner in Stalag 7B in Germany after parachuting into France on D-Day.

The second living condition was one he could, as a guest at Veterans on the Lake, sweltering in one of the cabins.

Bernie Krommendyk decided to do something when a friend of his fished on Fall Lake for the day and then decided to drive home instead of spending another hot night in a cabin.

Krommendyk bought 23 air conditioners for the cabins at Veterans on the Lake to solve the problem. That story alone was touching enough, but it goes further.

When the members of the group American Ex-Prisoners of War heard of Krommendyk's generosity, they decided they would like to help as well.

A fundraising campaign was started and on Thursday, Krommen-dyk was paid back, receiving a check for $3,279.79 at a ceremony held in the resort dining room. The air conditioners were purchased from Sears, and the company donated one as a contribution.

Veterans on the Lake board member Dick Zahn emceed the event with guests including state Representative David Dill, Minnesota House Assistant Minority Leader Nora Slawik, St. Louis County Commissioner Mike Forsman and Jack Maher, National Director with American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Zahn first pointed out the "Missing Man Table" to represent those Missing In Action.

"The table is round - to show our everlasting concern for our men still missing.

"The cloth is white - symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

"The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, awaiting answers.

"The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing.

"A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.

"A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers.

"The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.

"The glass is inverted - to symbolize their inability to share this evening's toast.

"The chairs are empty - they are missing," said Zahn.

Maher explained that the American Ex-Prisoners of War has a foundation to assist in fundraising in short order the monies were raised to repay Krommendyk.

Zahn read the list of donors, who were from across the Midwest.

Forsman thanked those who donated and said, "This resort is a mecca for disabled vets and these air conditioners are a terrific improvement."

Slawik said that although her district is in the Twin Cities area, she spends a week each year at Camp du Nord and was happy to be able to attend the dedication ceremony.

Dill pointed to the support Veterans on the Lake receives from donations.

"It just amazes me as a legislator that there isn't a penny of federal or state money that supports this resort," said Dill.

Veterans on the Lake board chair Gene Baland said the goal is to make the resort "a great place for veterans" and that donations were a key component in the resort's success.

Krommendyk was the last speaker and told of his experience in World War II.

"For 11 months as a prisoner of war, never did I once think my country wasn't coming back after me," he said.

Krommendyk said his group parachuted into France on D-Day, June 6, 1944 at two minutes after 1 a.m., with the troops scheduled to hit the beaches at 6 a.m.

"We were about five hours ahead of the main invasion. We had been given detailed maps with every building, every tree but when we got on the ground we couldn't recognize a thing," he said.

It wasn't until a French man was captured at 4:30 a.m. did the men find out they had landed 20 miles further inland than their scheduled drop point.

Working their way to the front line behind enemy lines, Krommen-dyk's group was surrounded in a hedgerow and captured.

"It took four months after that to get to Stalag 7B which was in south Germany in the foothills of the Alps," said Krommendyk.

He said he lost 50 pounds on the trip.

Once at the Stalag, Krommendyk's Dutch background helped him read the headlines in the newspapers and he remembered reading, "Roosevelt dead, Truman president."

"I brought that back to our group and they all said, 'Who in the world is Truman?'" said Krommendyk.

After seven months, the prisoners knew it was only a matter of time before the Allied Forces reached them.

"Then one morning we got up and the guards said they were going home to change clothes," said Krommen-dyk. "They said, 'You guys go wherever you want.'"

Krommendyk decided to stay in the compound and when the tanks rolled in, "They looked like they were 10 stories high."

He said the prisoners were rationed food since their stomachs wouldn't be able to handle the change right away.

"I always say my parents, my wife and my brothers and sisters suffered as much as I did because they didn't know where I was," he said.

Krommendyk's family was first told he was missing in action, then killed in action, then missing in action.

"They even published my obit which I still have at home behind glass," said Krommendyk. "It's a little outdated but time changes everything."

Time and the continued generosity of Ex-Prisoners of War like Krommendyk has changed Veterans on the Lake for the better.

©Ely Echo 2003"