European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 20, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday March 10, the stars and stripes Page 7nu i thousands pled at Camp 5 mind Luck he survived Tanau Germany special Clifford a. Simmons a platoon Egea. With v corps 814th end coff remembers All too clearly Noy 4, b it was not Only his wife s birth is it was the Day he began 33 months a activity during the korean he was captured by chinese com Monist troops at Anjo a Small town is Miles North of the North Korea capital of Pyongyang. Simmons was an 81mm mortar Man to a group of six soldiers from co d a inf div. They we reserving As rear guards to help the 1strepublic of Korea div 1st Rok re chinese who were entering the conflict in f o r c a just appeared every where. There was no place to go Sim Simmons Mons recalled. The captives were marched for 14 Day approximately 150 Miles northward to a site known among the prisoners As bean All we had to eat were soybeans Simmons route to the Camp the prisoners were marched at night to avoid sight ing by american aircraft. They carried their own sick and bean Valley Simmons and the other soldiers were crowded in groups of 12 in Small rooms. The Only heating came from vents in the floor carrying heated air from Wood burning cooking three months later at the end of january 1951, Simmons was move to a bigger Camp 18 Miles farther North at a Yoktone near the Yalu River bordering China. The new site was known As Camino. 5. Conditions became worse. There was almost constant interrogation. Twas cold and All the prisoners had left was the clothing on their backs. Sim Mons considers himself Lucky. During the first three to four months at Camino. 5, about 2,700 prisoners died from malnutrition dysentery and other ill first All we had to eat was Millet which looks like Birdseed the sergeant recalled. Finally in july of 1951, the prisoners at a Yoktone received Rice. The improvement in diet however did t help Simmons very much. Before hews captured he weighed 120 pounds. When he was released from Captivity he had dropped to 85.just As he does his capture Sim Mons vividly remembers his aug. 3, 1953, his birthday he was taken by train to the Village of Panmunjom near the 38th parallel the Demar cation line Between North and South Korea. And then on aug. 7, he was exchanged across the Freedom Bridge. We were exchanged at the rate of 76chinese and North koreans for one american Simmons following month he was discharged from the army but he joined again i february of 1954. He has remained in the army since and now has 20 years of Active was assigned to the 814th engr co in november of last year. Head just previously served a year in Vietnam where he was assigned to the554th float Bridge co at Chu Lai As operations 38-year-old sergeant hold the Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf first award was presented for his meritorious action prior to his capture in Korea and during the extent of his imprisonment. Simmons received the second Bronze Star for action in Viet Nam. He also has the combat infantry badge and the Good conduct medal with five Oak Leaf entering the army in 1948, Sim Mons was assigned to the 24th inf div when it was an occupation Force in Japan. The division went to Korea in july of 1950.Simmons has served two previous Tours in Germany. He was a squad Leader in the 237th engr in in Heilbronn from july 1958, to july 1961.the second tour from april 1963, to april 1965, found him As a squad Leader with the 82nd engr co in Bamberg and then in the same Job with the 55thpanel Bridge co in Karlsruhe. When he s not working the sergeant finds some time for his Hobby Box ing. In 1958-59 he was the Vii corp flyweight Champ. Sergeant retires army s loss is scouting9s gain by join Krueger staff writer Frankfurt is the army s loss will be scouting s gain. Sgt. . John r. Currie of . Army s Security Agency he to re is retiring after 20 years of Active duty but hell be carrying on i scouting activities. Long Active in the youth pro Gram with the military Currie from Youngstown Ohio now plans to enter the Field professionally. He and his wife Dorothy were both honoured Here in ceremonies marking the end of their efforts for the army on behalf of Bot the boy souls and girl scouts. Making the presentations Walt. Col. Lewis a. Civille Deputy commander of the Taurus District. The certificates of appreciation and achievement were signed Mycol. Lames j. Hatch District commander and scouting com Mittee chairman. Hatch expressed the army and scouting s gratitude and admiration the curries have four children who have been or Are in scout ing sons John 19 Douglas 17,and Jeffrey 15, and daughter Deborah 12. Thanks to. Col. Lewis a. Civilly Taurus District Deputy commander presents cart if eases of appreciation and achievement to sgt Jaq r Cumes shrines to hold ceremonial 1 Heidelberg is me Clinch shrine Temple of chicag will sponsor a Spring ceremonial in Campbell Barracks Casino Here april 27. Robert g. Mckenzie european shrine club president has announced. Heidelberg shrine Oasis has been appointed Host for the event with the Oasis president. Georgem Miner ceremonial master. The York and scottish rites Are expected to have reunions which will offer opportunities for an estimated 5.000 masons to participate in the concerning the York rite can be obtained fro Peter Rasmussen. Klinge Tiech Strasse 8, 69 Heidelberg scottish rite j. J. Mcculler Breslauer Strasse 61. May be made through shrine Oasis secretaries or by writing to George m. Miner vehicle registry. Ill us eur pm div Apo 09403. Supply officer cited . England Spe Ciau capt. James l. Mcalister Sculthorpe Materiel facilities officer was selected for the 1957outstanding Supply officer award. Carriers Battle time weather Frankfurt special neither Snow nor rain nor eat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the Swift completion of their appointed rounds is a saying that could be applied to the couriers fro the 32nd signal in s signal Mes Senger service Sim by rail and motor vehicle theme of this Section travel from v corps Headquarters to corp units and to Usak Kuk and seventh army Headquarters. Motor vehicles arc used Forl to corps units in the Frank furl area and to Usah Euh head Luai ters while the train is use for All other deliveries. During readiness tests and Fiel problems All deliveries Are made by vehicle. I he j2iuts Sims has three Difraia runs monday through by to v corps arty and 8th inf div to 3rd army a and to the Headquarters of. Mel i Aoa ills Bel Ann 1815 la site Al a bom Ria p,rt.3 18-Jo it a i tent m �3e- i i lao., ii06 19 --50 new 1w6 " pictures 1715 circus 1740 Apollo tests Isoo new Laig regional program _ 000 new uj1 m Nie Lix to Murkie � l a v s s Ramstein dissuade a rhe in main to 16jo net 1301 be 2001 wild not dec sons news 210, 17io Sli Tau slue cd a Bui Neu 20 1 on
