may 8, new Partners accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender, and you can 7

six billion troops began the brand new routine from demobilization. They took in the four days, and lots of GIs reported in regards to the sluggishness of your own procedure.

[Editor’s Note: William W. Williams III are sailing since the a member best hookup apps of the newest Navy Equipped Guard. Equipped Guard equipment have been created in the first times of World Combat II to try to bring protective firepower in order to vendor ships take a trip when you look at the convoy or by yourself. The latest vessels and you may people of the seller aquatic was indeed exactly what transferred the war materiel, provides, gizmos and even soldiers wanted to fight and profit the battle.

The merchant Marine suffered a good casualty rates more than any kind of part of your armed forces, dropping 9,300 guys. Every loss took place 1942. The us Navy Armed Shield (USNAG) was indeed You.S. Navy-enrolled firearm crews (Gunner’s Mates, Coxswains and you will Boatswains, Radiomen, Signalmen, Pharmacist’s Friends and you will, towards the the conclusion the war, radarmen serving at the water into the vendor boats.

I became certainly 24 “rescued” by the German seaplanes (the remainder team drifted, rowed and you will sailed for pretty much about three weeks, arrived inside the Norway, and you can registered all of us inside Milag-Marlag Nord far after

New convoy next shed twenty four of its 35 ships from inside the a beneficial week of sunlight symptoms of the Italian language You-ships and aircraft, together with Carlton is actually some of those shed.]

I who were found got in Kirknes, Norway, and you may was indeed incarcerated during the Stalag 322, an effective camp to possess dissident Norwegian schoolteachers. I became considering your dog level hammered out of good tin can be towards the matter: , my identification for the whole go out-We continue to have it!

With the an effective German freight motorboat i attained Oslo, Norway. Towards a bigger and you may quicker motorboat i came to Aarlborg, Denmark, and also by instruct so you can Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Because the we were the initial People in the us become seized, and there was no American camps during the time, we were taken to Milag-Marlag Nord, when you look at the Tarmstedt, a preliminary ways of Bremen, an excellent stalag to own Uk Navy prisoners.

The ships on the Carlton’s convoy are continuing under a near Uk and All of us naval escort but was leftover unprotected and scattered after layer cruiser pushes withdrew so you’re able to intercept a great German raiding flotilla

Non-accredited officers weren’t expected to work, and i also have stayed there throughout new conflict, however, I wished to escape. Therefore, I exchanged identity that have an united kingdom seaman who had been being forced to the office. In the April 1943, posing while the Henry Flower from England, We went by instruct to Charlottenhof, Obersilesia, to utilize a little number of inmates restoring a keen irrigation tunnel.

5 days later on, some other prisoner and that i walked off of the employment. We imagine we’d what you prepared, apart from we did not realize about the recording pets on next town. They soon receive all of us, therefore surrendered and you can have been sdorf.

A short time shortly after, I became titled to help you headquarters, presented with my amazing canine-mark (), and you can sentenced to help you 5 days solitary confinement into money and you can liquid having escaping and you may seeking to mistake my personal kind “rescuers.” I never ever learned how they receive the new key in the name.

At the time (erican Army sergeant and i also was indeed the sole People in america in 8B. As the we had been non-United kingdom, we were located from inside the compound 10 with prisoners away from India, Australian continent, The fresh new Zealand, North Ireland, Greece and you will Canada. The newest Canadians was in fact from the Black colored View Office and had been grabbed throughout the were not successful getting within Dieppe, France. On account of items encompassing the grab, these were obligated to wear handcuffs day and night.

[Editor’s mention: Just like the simply sailor inside camp Statement try affectionately considering the moniker “Seaweed,” and therefore existed which have your throughout his days and you will is inscribed to the his gravestone.]