230294 PFC Arlen L. Ingram United States Army 354th Inf. M Coy 89th Div. My father Arlen L. Ingram escaped from a German POW camp in 1945 with a group of six others. The city of Susice, Czechoslovakia awarded these men a citation for their assistance with the liberation of their city. Does anyone have any information about this escape, what POW camp this was, and the whereabouts of any of these men on this citation? My father died in 1985 and was never one to discuss the war with anyone in the family. Now I would like to learn as much as I can to preserve it for my grandsons.
The following is a copy of the Certificate from the Czech Army:
"The Commandant of Czechoslovakian Army in Susice wishes to [illegible] his gratitude to the following [illegible] of the American and British Armies:
Joseph P Zutell, 2nd Lt, 05_7515, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Fred H. Jasper, S/Sgt, 37448400, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Leonard E. C__plin, Acting Sergeant, 2572226 Royal Corps of Signals, English
Worn E. Drew, PFC, 36067232, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Arlen Ingram, PFC, 38608593, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Byron S. Mooney, Pvt, 11131658, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
The above mentioned escaped from their Prisoner of War camp in Mokrosuky in the district of Susice on the night of 4 to 5 May 1945, and joined up with the Czech soldiers in Susice. On the following day, they disarmed the German garrison in the town, numbering 63 men. Then, accompanied by a Czech Army officer and members of the Czech National Freedom movement, set out for the tanks of the 4th Division of the 3rd American Army in order to connect up with them. After a journey through areas still partially occupied by the enemy, they reached the spearheads some 20 km away, and gave information about the strength of the enemy craft in the neighborhood and brought the tanks into Susice.
The area Commandant of the Czechoslovakian Army in Susice Susice, May 10, 1945".
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