European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Is Kan Gorga Rudolph Betz looks Back on when he was the Center of his pow group in Santa Rosa Calif. The prisoner company said a that a it. You Are the first had not so Many problems after bet is Santa Rosa stories Are Many each with a punchline hidden in there somewhere. A Little to guns heroes ish. Once he was asked by an american Soldier to clean the americans room. Betz entered and saw ammunition strewn about and the soldiers weapon among other items Var botch for a prisoner. A i shined the soldiers boots very Nice. Made his bed even got together the ammunition and Laid it Down in a very straight line. I cleaned his weapon for him too. Quot then the Soldier ran Back into the room because head realized what head done a left his weapons with a prisoner of War. 1 told him a that is against regulations you know in any country a regulations a weapon is never to be left with a this Soldier was very embarrassed. But everything was in Santa Rosa Betz had his first Ever taste of ice Cream. He soon developed a rapport with the other prisoners and the americans. One Christmas Betz organized a festival. He prepared parcels for his German cohorts. A they got a Small cake two cigarettes and one bottle of gifts were also prepared for the americans. Another smile crossed Betzis face. Quot i saw american officers crying in front of the German soldiers they were so he even organized a birthday party for the Camp s american commander. Quot we found out in the morning that he was having a birthday so we prepared a Surprise for him. The prisoners baked him a cake that looked like a German postcard. It had his name rank on front in the Middle like a real postcard and listed As the sender Headquarters German a the cried. Never before could i believe Between former enemies w e could get Betz would stay in the Camp until his release in february 1946. He was shipped Back to England where he spent two years then returned to the ruins of Germany. Quot i came Back to Germany with 200 american dollars in my pocket a he said. A the German government Only paid me 66 when Hiller issued a warning that he would Start killing american pos near the wars end the United states rebutted by issuing a counter warning stating that for every american killed five germans would be executed. Betz was worried. A a the Camp commanders daughter gave me the address of their Home to come Over in Case anything happened. Quot to this Day in a still touched by Sas Kan Gorya Rudolph Betz and his wife Renee at their Home near Mainz 24. 1992 sunday a Page 7
