Reeber, Charles

Title

Reeber, Charles

Performer

Charles Reeber

Interviewer

William Vollano

Description

Charles Reeber was drafted immediately after high school graduation. Although he was registered for the college program, he was rejected because of his eyesight. He was assigned to a mortar squad and carried the base plate. Charles was put on the line in Belgium. Things were quiet until the Germans attacked on December 16. His platoon leader was killed and left the group disorganized. His group was captured and after marching for several days they were put on trains. Eighty prisoners were stuffed into each train car and since there were no markings on the trains, Allied planes strafed them, killing several prisoners. The group was without food for several days. Charles became sick but his friends saved his life by giving him soup. Prisoners were stacked on shelves, 50 to a building. While marching to different camps, they saw stripped prisoners, Jews. One ran to them asking for help. The Brits gave him an extra uniform and he continued on with them. On April 19, 1945 the Brits liberated his camp. He was asked if he was "tortured, what was it like? "He responded, “no, however they didn't feed us for several weeks.” After being liberated, he was returned home in April of 1945 and discharged in November of 1945. He went to work at Ford where he retired after 35 years. He and his wife were married for 55 years (in 2005).

Date Span

1943-1945

Dates of Service

Subject

Drafted; United States Army; 106th Infantry Division, 433rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company D; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - European Theater; Corporal; Prisoner of War

Publisher

Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Collection Location

3/36

https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.53035

Spatial Coverage

Second World War - European Theater

Item