Staff Sgt. Walker Tells of Liberation in Letter Home
from the Daily
Huronite (Huron, South Dakota), May 29, 1945
transcribed by Karen
Seeman
HIGHMORE, May 29--A letter to Mrs. Harold Renner from her
son, S-Sgt. Gordon Walker, tells of his liberation from a German
prison camp. Sgt. Walker, a ball turret gunner and assistant
engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress, was first reported missing
over Germany June 20, 1944. He was later listed as a prisoner of
war. His wife, the former Audrey Sutfin of Highmore, resides at
Wichita, Kans. His letter, dated May 9, coming from a hospital
in England, tells the story of liberation.
"At last I can write to you again. I hope you haven't been
too worried this last couple of months. We had to evacuate from
our camp February 6 and have been on the march up until the time
we were liberated May 2.
"The Jerrys treated us pretty well all the way along, only
didn't quite feed us enough. That is why we are in a hospital
now, just getting our strength back. Will be here two weeks and
will be on my way home for a 60 day furlough, I hope. Got a new
issue of clothing yesterday. I'm safe, unhurt, and feeling fine,
just waiting to start home.
This last week and a half there has been so much doing for me
that I'm still in a whirl. Everybody treats us like kings and
this hospital is a paradise. Yesterday morning, our first day
here, breakfast was brought to us in bed. Everybody's happy and
I'm the happiest in the bunch. When I get back, I plan on
picking up Audrey at Wichita and coming directly home. Take it
easy and will see you soon."
A letter to Mr. and Mrs. Renner dated May 18 from Sgt. Walker
says his return may be delayed a little longer as they expect to
be held there for awhile because there are so many wounded men
and prisoners of war waiting to go ahead of them.
