[Former Military Chick]

First I wanted to take time to thank StarCMC, my fellow Freeper was gracious enough to host the following photo's so that I may share them with the rest of you.

I have to say, Freepers are the best!

I had posted them a week ago, but, none of them came out unless perhaps you were able to go to the Kodak website and view my photo album.

I have enclosed a bit of info on the German POW grave marker's below the photo's of what I learned as it regarded who and what they did to be buried in the military cemetery.

If there is anything you would like to add, let me know.

[bad company]

Excellent job.

[Former Military Chick]

I had previously posted a thread about the demise of the USDB. There were several interesting comments, so I gathered the names to PING you to this thread.

[JohnD9207]

Thank you. I was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth from 1976-1981 and considered it the best stateside assignment I ever had in my 20 years. Your photo of the watch towers reminded me of several softball games in a field along that very wall. The guys were tough, but most of the time well disciplined.

The one post about the prisoners doing details outside of the prison walls was true. The LPU (local parolee unit) constituted most of the help maintaining the grounds and commissary help. The body shop did the best work in the area. It was tough to get your car in for work. They had so much business that jobs were placed in a lottery system.

Thanks. I spent time in the prison only when the weather was bad and everyone would go on sick call rather that shovel snow. Kansas winters were tough.

John

[Former Military Chick]

Might be of interest PING

[Former Military Chick]

Thought this thread might interest you. PING

[Former Military Chick]

The German POWs got me to searching the WWW.

I found 1 book on the subject, written by Richard Whittingham who evidently is huge football fan writing another book on the Washington Redskin's and has been on ESPN. Wow, what a tangled web this author has weaved. His bio is at the end of the email.

Having said that, here is my latest bit of info, the inmates were executed here at Ft. Leavenworth. BUT, are you ready for this BUT, USDB (Ft Leavenworth Prison) does not use the gallows. That is how these prisoners were to be executed. Why, maybe that is the method the German POWs were to be executed, indeed that is the form they had to be executed by and here is the well shocking update on my photo's, they were hung in the Ft Leavenworth elevator shaft. YES, you read that correctly, they had to be hung, there were no GALLOWS and they were executed through the hanging by the elevator shaft.

WOW, knock me over with a feather. I verified through the historian and I am still speechless. More so, because in all I have read, nothing gave this is the method.

Anyway, it is very fascinating and I plan to pick up the book. I plan to return and take a few better photo's and I do look forward to your thoughts on this bit of history.

[Lancey Howard]

THANK YOU!
Great photo essay!
Bookmarked.

[Eagles6]

Thanks. Historically neat stuff. I am very interested in the history of my country..

[JarheadFromFlorida]

This is where Hanoi John Kerry should be living right now for his traitorous anti-American activities when he came back from Viet Nam.

[exDBinmate]

Wow, really cool (and rare) pics that brought back alot of memories. I was a convict at the USDB from 91-94. I know alot of the answers to your questions and would be happy to help however I can.

[Hunble]

Outstanding information for those of us who love military history. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[1rudeboy]

bttt cool photos

[tutstar]

ping

[El Gato]

Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary

So that's where my cousin Jack spent his time a couple of decades ago. Just so happens we are Kunz's on our shared grandmother's side. Probably the same name as the "Kunze" who was killed by the other German POWs.

Can't say as I blame 'em much, looking at it from their point of view.

[Former Military Chick]

Hey friends, I imagine several of you have seen this thread, but I thought after reading your marks on Hasan Akbar - Update on animal who murdered fellow military members sentenced to death that you might be interested in the actual prison. I have taken photo's and a new Freeper has offered his insight into the institution starting at comment 100 by exDBinmate.

[359Henrie]

Where is Bill's room?

[bmwcyle]

ping

[Lurking Libertarian]

On August 25, 1945, seven U-boat POWs were executed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas for the beating and hanging of another U-boat man--Werner Drechsler--at Papago Park POW camp in Arizona in March 1944.

Wasn't this incident fictionalized in a made-for-TV movie with Walter Matthau?