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Show FDGDCSIjD PWa C. Jensen by Ralph ALC Ogden IT, Public Affairs Office were different then. The world was at war and captured soldiers were displaced in a variety of prisoner of war camps throughout the world. For soldiers from Hitler's Nazi Germany, being taken prisoner meant work at hard labor and probably unfavorable living conditions if troops from New Zealand or Australia were the overseers. But, if the United States were the controlling interest, it meant they would be taken care of better. Two former German prisoners of war returned to the United States Oct. 25 for the first time since World War II. Herbert Barkhoff, 68, and Karl 75, returned to Utah to participate in the rededication of the German War Memorial Monument at Fort Douglas, Utah, during the upcoming German Day of National Mourning. Both visited the German air force liaison office at Hill AFB Nov. 2. The monument will be rededicated Sunday at the post cemetery, honoring German warriors who were interned at Fort Douglas during World War I. Today, the restored monument stands in memory of the victims of both wars who are buried there. The monument was designed and constructed by Arno Steinecke and was dedicated Memorial Day 1933. Fifty-fiv- e years later, the monument was restored by Hans Huettlinger. Eight of the soldiers buried at the cemetery were POWs with Messrs. Barkhoff and Altkruger in Utah. They were killed when a guard went berserk, firing a .30 caliber machine gun into a tent village during the cool midnight hours July 8, 1945. Alt-kruge- r, ' MIIIM 111! II I.M1 . Ml8 FTT fc llHll l" ill l"i II' Mil Ml U.S. Air Force Photo by Ralph C. Jensen Former POWs Herbert Barkhoff (left) and Karl Altkruger (right) pose with their wives, Herta Barkhoff and Gertrude Altkruger, at the Hill AFB German air force liaison office. and knew of the 'luxury' the Germans would receive beers in town. He chatted with some Salina girls, in the United States." stopped off at a cafe for coffee, strolled out to the feela Mr. Barkhoff, then sergeant, had similar temporary camp at Main Street's east end, where 250 German prisoners of war slept. ings, but his were well founded based on experiences A cool breeze rustled through the tents and the his father had during World War I while being inforces. terned by the British dusty town. At midnight, Private Bertucci climbed "I knew if I were taken prisoner by the British the guard tower to take over duties for the reor the Americans I would be treated fairly," said Mr. mainder of the summer night. Below his sentry post Barkhoff. "The one thing I couldn't believe were the lay the sleeping occupants, who would be thinning beets in the morning hours. American supplies. I was a supply helper in Northern Africa with Gen. Erwin Rommel and I had never seen anything like the American supplies. There For some, those moments would never come were so many and well organized. "I also had an advantage of staying in the hospi- again. The private carefully threaded a belt of cartridges in tal longer than I should. Before any surgery, the docnight I the gun, which pointed into the sky. Although into if was could the remove he Mr. Altkruger, a senior master sergeant with the tor asked shrapnel. had he never fired a gun in combat, he lowered the Luftwaffe during World War II, remembers that surprised they asked permission. and was very muzzle and, aiming carefully, pressed the trigger. "He (the doctor) carried me to night and the following treatment well. He was kind. not very experienced, however, be- Methodically he swept the 43 tents from left to right "I was injured, shot in the right leg and left foot. back again. It was confusing, being shot at during our sleeping cause I have a bigger scar than I should, but that andScreams of pain filtered out of the tents. Above hours," said Mr. Altkruger. "However, I received is why I could stay in the hospital 14 days longer," Private Bertucci heard an officer shout special treatment. I had 330 penicillin shots and con- he said. Today, Mr. Barkhoff and his wife Herta live the shriek, a at him, corporal panted up the ladder to take him in Gottingen, West Germany. sequently have become allergic to the drug. off the tower. While time has partially healed the physical "When I returned to Germany after the war, Eight prisoners were buried, one died later. however, a doctor looked at my leg and foot and said wounds, memories still linger of lost comrades, who Twenty more were treated for wounds at Bushnell the surgery and recovery was amazing. He would died needlessly at the Salina camp. General Hospital in Brigham City, Utah. Hospital It was a midnight massacre. have had to amputate the leg and foot. Home on furlough, slightly built Pvt. Clarence V. psychiatrists examined Private Bertucci, who al"The treatment I received was excellent," Mr. Alton his record. His own his family in New Orleans. ready had two courts-martikruger, who today lives in Hannover, West Germa- Bertucci relaxed with too simple: he hata seemed little calm he seen had never in explanation Although assigned England, ny, said. killed he Germans. so had ed Germans, Married at the time of his capture, his wife, Ger- war action. a few moments this Sunday, Messrs. BarkFor he when states account in An 1945, Time, 23, was taken prisoner July trude, was happy to see that he left his family, he mystified his kinsfolk with a hoff and Altkruger will be joined by members of the by the United States. & let live." German air force liaison office at the Fort Douglas "I received the information late, that he was a legend he penciled on the doorsill: "Livenext He abandoned his motto during his cemetery where eight of their comrades are buried. assignprisoner of war, but I was happy that he was in They'll pause in remembrance of the victims of America," Mrs. Altkruger said. "I was working as ment, in Salina. During the evening hours of July 8, he had a few war. a Red Cross nurse and had seen the opposite side Sa-lin- a, Shots Changed forever the X-ra- y al Din)dh7odlusil by Janet Casteel CFC publicity chairperson contrilbirtiions moke CFG successful Utah, which she toured with other key workers. During the tour, she became so enWhen Sharon McKinlay was asked grossed in mingling with the elderly to help with the Combined Federal members of the center, and dancing to lunchtime band, that she Campaign in 1982, she not only said their lively completely forgot about lunch. no, but didn't even participate. "I soon realized the companionship, At the time, she was struggling to and sustenance that the no abilities She figured support her children. center provided to these people," she one else really needed her help more said. "I was delighted at the needs than she did. we are But when she was asked to become that I provided that day. When will a CFC key worker the next year, young, we tend to forget we too unfulfilled have and old though she still didn't care very much grow .. .which centers like this about the cause, she consented to help. needs "I joined CFC with reservations provide." Tour after tour, Ms. McKinlay beabout the real need of the recipients the and whether any services were actual- gan to realize the importance of She each CFC agency provided. ly provided," Ms. McKinlay, a date en- needs of soon had a new outlook toward gineering clerk in the Directorate Materiel Management, said. She espe- charitable organizations. "On the way back to the base, I cially didn't understand the need for the Golden Hours Center in Ogden, reflected on how fortunate I was to individual contributions are appreciated and that our dollars really are used 7 to provide help," she said. x i, Now in her fourth year as a volunKey worker "' 1 teer, she says she truly believes in the Sharon McKingiving process, but her only problem lay saw how now is deciding which organizations to CFC works progive to. "The agencies are all worthy viding essential and have so many needs, I just let services to CFC divide it up," Ms. McKinlay said. needy people. As a project officer, she expresses assurance toward CFC have my job, my health, my family her heart-fel- t and the good it serves to those in need and my own problems," Ms. McKinenlay said. "I realized that I blew some to her key workers. She also a of them to join tour money every pay period and that I courages each a them to more than that even could give proper outlook on local give charitable amount to help others less fortunate." agencies. "It may even give them a new perThis year, during the CFC project officer's tour, she said the tremendous spective on giving, like it did for me," amount of money required to fund Ms. McKinlay said. "I'm just glad I these humanitarian services boggles was jerked out of my selfish little world into the reality of being able to her mind even more than before. "It's amazing to see how much our help those who really need help." 4- x |