World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Fred Pilcher
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Ida Grove, Iowa
Honored By
Ida Grove American Legion
SERVED IN THE 8TH AIR FORCE. HE WAS COMPLETING HIS 25TH MISSION WHEN HE HAD TO 'HIT THE SILK' ON MAY 6, 1944. PRISONERS WERE MOVED FROM STALAG LUFT III ON JANUARY 1945 AND MARCHED 100 MILES TO MOOSBURG. ALSO IN STALAG IV. RODE IN BOXCARS IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER. RADIOMEN IN PRISONERS' CAMP OBTAINED PARTS AND PUT A RADIO TOGETHER THAT WORKED. ONE GUARD IN CAMP WAS AN AMERICAN WHO VISITED GERMANY AND COULDN'T GET BACK TO U.S. HE WAS USED AS AN INTERPRETER IN THE CAMP. PATTON'S ARMY RESCUED MOSSBURG PRISONERS APRIL 29, 1945. PRISONER OF WAR 18 MONTHS IN GERMANY.