"The whole thing there was to try to keep these men's minds occupied lest they go berserk with the monotony of the thing." (Audio Interview, 21:49)
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Eugene Lewis Daniel, Jr.
Eugene Daniel [1993]
War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Army Unit: 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division Service Location: Camp Polk, Louisiana; Africa; Italy; Germany; European Theater Rank: Major POW: Yes Place of Birth: GA
In two lectures, from 1980 (on audio) and 1993 (on video, with questions from his audience of students), Eugene Daniel tells the harrowing story of how he came to be captured in North Africa by German soldiers in February 1943. He spent the remainder of the war in several POW camps, one of which was the basis for Stalag 17 and another the basis for The Great Escape. In some ways, Daniel's life changed less than that of other men, as medical personnel and chaplains were the only captives allowed to exercise their duties.