MRS. WINKER GETS LETTERS FROM SON IN GERMAN PRISON
Mrs. Kate Winker, who lives west of Milford, has had three letters from her son, Edwin, in a German prisoner-of-war camp and an official government telegram announcing that he is a prisoner, within the last week.
Mrs. Winker had received a message in November that her son was missing, and about the same time the newspapers were praising the unit to which her son was attached in the battle of Metz, for its splendid work there.
About two weeks ago she had a postal card from a German prison camp, signed by her son to let her know where he was. Since then three letters, written Dec. 14, 17, and 25 have arrived to further reassure her of his safety and well-being.
Prior to his induction, the Winker youth aided his mother with operation of their farm west of town. He went overseas in the summer after considerable training and service in this country.
The Mail chose his letter of Christmas Day from the three Mrs. Winker offered for use, inasmuch as it seems to contain the most of public interest.
The letter followed by his address, is below:
Dec. 25, 1944
Dear Mother, It is Christmas Day, so will write a few lines to let you know I am fine and hope you are the same. Hope you got the card that I am safe by now. Was hoping you would by Christmas. I just got through with dinner. We had midnight mass last night and it sure was nice. We got our Red Cross Christmas box and it sure is good. We sure are thankful for them. The canned turkey sure looks good. I will eat it this evening. Wish I had the packages you and the rest had sent me. I miss your letters most of all, as you always wrote me all the news and what you were doing. Suppose you have been missing mine, too. But now you will be getting them again. Hope you haven’t been worrying too much. Tell all the rest hello. Will close for now. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from Ed.
Pfc. Edwin Winker
079427, XII-A
M. Stammlager 11A
Neubrandenburg I Meckl.
Deutschland.
The Mail understands prisoners of war in Germany are allowed to receive letters from friends, but packages are restricted to relatives.
Source: The Milford Mail, Thursday, March 15, 1945
WINKER LIBERATED BY RUSSIANS
FROM NAZI PRISON CAMP
Mrs. Kate Winker received a letter from her son, Edwin, late last week, stating that he was liberated from a German prison camp May 1. Hers was the first letter to reach Milford with the news of a local man having been liberated from a prison camp.
Winker wrote that he was liberated by the Russians, had been traveling by bicycle with several friends, and expected to reach England after he left Germany. His letter, written May 6, is most interesting, and is printed below.
The Winker youth had farmed for his mother west of Milford before he went into service in July, 1942. He went to Europe by way of Liverpool, England, last August, and was listed as missing as of Nov. 13. His mother had a letter from him, written from a German prison camp on Christmas day.
He was with the 95th division of the Third army and his last letter before his capture told of the fighting around Metz. He wrote that Red Cross packages kept him alive during the period of imprisonment.
This is the letter:
May 6, 1945.
Dear Mother: Well, here I am, a free man again. I was freed on May 1 by the Russians. I have been traveling a little since by bicycle and got to the British this afternoon, May 6. I have been having the time of my life the last few days. I am still with some of my old pals from back in the States. We got captured north of Rostock along the Baltic Sea. I am still in Germany and will be in England in a day or two, they say. We sure had it tough here as prisoners – seven men on a loaf of bread and one soup a day. If it hadn’t been for the Red Cross packages, I don’t know how we would have made it, as we worked every day except Sunday.
Lots of us had frozen feet last winter. I didn’t get a letter from you since I was captured; a few came in that [were?] wrote when I did but transportation got pretty bad. I will write again, as soon as possible. By the way, the German guards took off when the Russians came so the 14 of us that were together were on our own. It was pretty exciting for a while and all came through O. K. We were in a small town when captured. I sure hope everyone there is O. K. I am fine and in good health. I could write for hours but will close for now. An English soldier here is telling us a bit of news. From Ed.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, May 24, 1945, Page 1
IOWANS FREED.
News has been received of the following Iowans who have been liberated from German prison camps:
AMES—Mr. and Mrs. Ray Cook have been informed that their son, Second Lt. Ray Cook jr., has been freed from a German prison camp. He was a co-pilot on a B-17 bomber and was shot down over Berlin last Dec. 5.
MILFORD—Edwin Winker, son of Mrs. Kate Winker, has wired from New York that he will be home soon. He had been a prisoner of the Germans since the battle for Metz last fall.
OKOBOJI—Merwin Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Thompson, arrived home Wednesday. He had been a German prisoner since his capture in the African campaign.
Source: Des Moines Tribune, June 15, 1945
***Further Research:
Edwin Bernard Winker was born Nov. 30, 1909 to Emil and Katharina Schroeder Winker. He died Feb. 20, 1989 and is buried in Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery, Arcadia, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
