Spencer -- Pvt. Oliver K. Wetzel, son of George L. Wetzel, reported missing in action in June, 1942, now prisoner of Japs.
Source: The Des Moines Register, May 4, 1943
Eight Iowans on List of Prisoners Held by Japanese
Washington D.C.—(AP)— Eight Iowans were included Thursday on a war department list of 789 U. S. soldiers who are held prisoners of war by Japan.
The prisoners and their next of kin:
Cpl. James J. Attey, jr., parents Mr. and Mrs. James J. Attey, Boone.
Pvt. Donald L. Evans, mother, Mrs. Maurine Evans, Marion.
Capt. Milton R. Morgan, father, O. L. Morgan, Logan.
Pvt. Lester Peterson, mother, Mrs. Mary Peterson, Modale.
Pfc. Frederick R. Podeyn, father, Fred Podeyn, Fort Madison.
Staff Sgt. Donald C. Regan, mother, Mrs. Genevieve Regan, Iowa City.
Pvt. George F. Van Houten, mother, Mrs. Cora Lambert, Sioux City.
Pvt. Oliver K. Wetzel, father, George Lewis Wetzel, Spencer.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, July 1, 1943
IOWANS SAVED.
Des Moines —(AP)— At least 14 Iowans have been identified as among the 513 American prisoners who were rescued from the Cabantuan prison camp on Luzon Tuesday night.
The Iowans reported rescued were: Capt. Ralphy Hibbs, Oskaloosa.
T-Sgt. George J. Gavin, Dubuque.
Pfc. John A Moores, Woodbine.
Cpl. Paul Gernandt, Davenport.
Sgt. Harold M. Amos, Afton.
Mason Blair, Onawa.
Pfc. Leser P. Vitek, Chelsea.
Cpl. Walter B. Lawrence, Sioux City.
Pfc. Charles C. Tupy, Waucoma.
Pvt. Oliver A. Wetzel, Spencer.
Water Tender Second Class Orvin G. W. Kringle, West Bend.
Joseph Edward Herron, USN, Preston.
Pvt. Eugene H. Evers, Dyersville.
Cpl. William L. Peterson, Lake Park.
Among others rescued was Dallas P. Vinett, listed as from Taos, N.M., whose wife lives at Davenport, Ia.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, February 2, 1945
Cpl. Oliver K. Wetzel, who was held prisoner by the Japs in the Philippines for three years, is now visiting with his father and other relatives at Spencer. He says that the Philippine guerrillas kept him and his comrades informed on American successes in the Pacific.
Source: The Ruthven Free Press, Wed. March 21, 1945
[Photo Caption] Enjoying Such American Luxuries as cigarets after three years in Cabanatuan Prison camp in the Philippines are Sgt. Paul Gernandt of Davenport, left. Sgt. William Peterson of Lake Park, and Cpl. Oliver Wetzel of Spencer, now united at Schick General hospital, Clinton. All were stationed on Corregidor with the coast artillery at the time of Pearl Harbor. Liberated last Jan. 30, they have all gained from 40 to 80 pounds since. Opinion is unanimous among them that “the United States is the only place to be” and they never realized before just how wonderful it is.
Source: The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Sunday, April 8, 1945 (photo included)
