49th Engineer Combat Battalion

[sf11dude]

I found some information on Major Cassidy and Lt Slomka - it seems to be easier to track POW Officers because they were located at specific areas.

 

Another link to search for Oflag64 POWs:

http://www.oflag64.us/Oflag64/POW_Database.html

 

This link is to the Oflag64 "ITEM" newspaper with Major Cassidy in it.

http://www.oflag64.us/Oflag64/ITEM_files/2...Fall%20ITEM.pdf

 

Cassidy, Ernest  M,  Major

Unit: 49 Eng Bn

Division: 1st Army

Captured: 17  September  1944

Date of Arrival:  

Where Captured: Germany

Departure: Hammelburg

Camp: Oflag 64

Comments:  

Status: RMC

 

The 4th Division raided the prisoner camp at Hammelburg and Major Cassidy escaped. I recently moved from Lexington KY and in the newletter photo it mentions him in association to Lexington, KY. Odd...

 

Slomka, Vincent  J,  1st Lt

Unit:  49 Eng Bn

Division:  

Captured: 17  September  1944

Date of Arrival:  

Where Captured: Germany

Departure: Odessa

Camp: Oflag 64

Comments:  

Status: RMC

 

(RMC - Return to Military Control) - this says he went through Odessa but supposedly he dies in the POW camp, maybe his remains were returned through Odessa?

 

I am attempting to attach the MS Word doc with the photo and text about Major Cassidy.

Major_Ernest_Cassidy.doc

[Janet Cowardin Williamson]

Thank you for all the 49th information. I have a new email address janet.williamson4@verizon.net and I am still looking for information regarding the liberation of a concentration camp. My father, PFC Olan Coy Cowardin told me he saw people who were walking skeletons and that the GI's rounded up some of the guards and gave the able liberated prisoners rifles and let them "guard" them. They of course retaliated against the guards and shot them. I am interested in any information and in particular which camp this was. (See my initial request.)

 

Janet Cowardin Williamson

[Walt's Daughter]

Janet, good to hear from you. Please make sure you update your email addy in your profile, but do remove it from your post. Members can reach you privately via personal messenger and vice-versa. This keeps you protected from spammers, etc. It's way too easy to get hacked now and I urge everyone to NEVER post your email address anywhere in public areas; dangerous!

 

Happy new year!