A World War II Short Story

By Anthony Giger

I was stationed in Algiers Naval Base, New Orleans, Louisiana in 1944. I was a 3rd Class Signalman Petty Officer. I was there to be assigned to the Patrol Frigate USS Uniontown (formerly named USS Chattanooga).

There were a few thousand men and women waiting for assignment. There were Waves, Spars, Sailors, Amphibious forces, etc. To utilize my talents they sent me to Panama City, Florida to shakedown LST 205. They needed a signalman. I also did tower watches for SOPA (Senior Officer Present Ashore) and gave berths to allied ships seeking berths. I made the friendship of signalman by the name of Diamond Blakely. Diamond was a dapper signalman in his tailor made outfit.

This particular day he told me he was going to visit a prison of war camp in Mississippi. He said he had a twin brother who was a sergeant at the camp. I agreed to go with him. We were picked up by an Army jeep and driven to camp. I didn’t notice any activities. I expected to see prisoners. I inquired and was told they were playing soccer.

I was surprised and voiced my feelings. He said the prisoners also had their own barracks and their own cooks. In fact our lunch was going to be prepared by their German cooks. I thought to myself the prisoners were so happy they had no thoughts of escaping. In fact they were allowed to have pinups on their lockers and to write to their loved ones.  I thought to myself I hope American prisoners received the same treatment.

Memorial Day stories caught my attention. One American prisoner of war said he received good treatment as a prisoner of war in Germany in World War II.

When I read that I remembered my buddy Diamond Blakely and decided I had to write this short story about my experiences in 1944 at the prisoner of war camp.