Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Hank Freedman

WWII | Headquarters Company, 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division

The day after he was captured, the Germans put Hank Freedman and the others on the road. They were eventually put in rail cars that were filthy and began a trek to prison camps, always a target for Allied planes seeking out German trains. He survived the friendly fire, though all were not so fortunate. (6:14)
The prison camp at Bad Orb was at the top of a small mountain, overlooking the town. When POW Hank Freedman arrived, the guards said for all the Jewish prisoners to step forward. What followed was a moment worthy of Spartacus. Then they wanted the POW's to fill out extensive forms with all kinds of information. No way. (4:38)
As a non-commissioned officer, POW Hank Freedman was not required to work. The privates and PFC's were not so lucky. Many died laboring for the Germans. He never received the Red Cross packages he was due, though they did visit the camp. Those were good days. Extra rations. (8:25)
For some reason, the German guard in the the prison camp tower started shooting at an American fighter crossing overhead. Hank Freedman was a prisoner at that camp and when he saw the pilot bank and turn, he headed for the barracks. No way that guard was going to get away with that. It was a nice diversion for a lot of men with no hope of escape. (4:50)
The POW's saw the town below the camp getting shelled, so they started thinking about liberation. The Germans started to move them out on the road, but a planned subterfuge thwarted them and the GI's were still there when an American tank crashed through the gate. Hank Freedman describes that joyous day, marred only by overindulgence in C-rations. (6:57)
Hank Freedman chose a hospital stay over an immediate return after he was liberated from a German prison camp. He was malnourished and weak and it took him a month to regain his strength. When he stepped off the plane and called home, there was much happiness and a little fainting. (6:01)
When he got into combat, Hank Freedman thought about being killed or wounded, never about being taken prisoner. When that happened to him, he had to adjust. It was a long, tough struggle with weather, hunger and boredom, but he made it through. His struggle wasn't over, though. He had to contend with the US government to get his health care. (4:40)
Did he take it personally since he was Jewish? No, says Hank Freedman, he was just there to serve his country. The former POW reflects on his upbringing and the legacy of World War II veterans. (3:07)
Hank Sawicki

WWII | U.S.S. Kalinin

Hank Sawicki remembers growing up as the son of Polish immigrants in America. After joining the service in high school, he remembers starting training and deploying onto the U.S.S. Kalinin in the Pacific Ocean. (6:10)
Hank Sawicki remembers some of the elements of his time on the U.S.S. Kalinin that stick out to him over time. Having to deal with enemy forces was part of being out on the Pacific but luckily they managed to handle these threats successfully. (5:27)