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Jackson County and this immediate area’s lone Communist prisoner of war, Pfc. Willie C. Green, was scheduled to arrive at his home in Edna late this afternoon or early tonight after flying into San Antonio from California. William and Fairene Green, well known negro citizens of Edna, went to San Antonio Wednesday to meet their son, but he failed to arrive on the plane, and they were late advised that he would depart from California at 6 p. m. Wednesday, arriving in San Antonio this afternoon. The father returned to San Antonio today to greet the returning war prisoner who spent more than two years as a prisoner of the Reds. Accompanying the parents to San Antonio was another soldier son, Pfc. Woodrow Green, who has been in training at Fort Bliss and who is home on leave before departing for overseas duty himself Monday. Thus the reunion between brothers will be short. Willie, who was captured by the Reds on April 24, 1951, while fighting in North Korea, returned to the United States Sunday aboard the Navy troopship Gen. Nelson M. Walker landing at San Francisco. He telephoned his parents Sunday night, saying that he was well and in good spirits and extremely anxious to get home, where a big celebration awaits. A barbecue for all of the family and close friends already has been lined up for Sunday. Present to greet their brother upon his arrival besides the parents and Woodrow will be other brothers, Herbert Green of Edna, Rufus Green of San Antonio and I. G. Green of Teas City, who has been here on a visit, and three sisters from Corpus Christi, Pearl Sanford, Esta Lee Moore and Elouise. Willie is reported to have been delayed en route to Edna by a visit to a fourth sister, Bernice Harris, in California. She is also expected to come here for the family reunion. The William Green home on First Street was certain to be the happiest home in Edna today and this weekend. The Herald will have Photographer Gordon Nelson on the job taking pictures of the happy reunion and will publish them in its next issue. The Herald staff also hopes to interview the prisoner of war and next wek will present his story for its readers. Willie was one of the first negro captives to be freed by the North Koreans.
Edna Herald,
August 27, 1953 |
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Willie Green Returns Home The happiest home in Jackson County last Thursday night was that of Mr. and Mrs. William Green. The occasion was the return home from over two years in a prisoner of war camp in North Korea of Cpl. Willie C. Green (flashing the smile at the right). In the happy family circle are, left to right: Pvt. Woodrow Green, brother; Howard Rhoder Jr., aged 3 (sitting in his grandmother’s lap): Herbert Green, brother; Fairene Green, mother; William Green, father and Cpl. Green. (Photo by Nelson) Edna POW to Reenlist; Tells Story of Capture Cpl. Willie C. Green, the first man to return from a prisoner of war camp in North Korea from this entire area, likes the Army so well he will reenlist when his present enlistment runs out in three months. Without batting an eye, the 26-year-old Edna negro told a Herald reporter that during an hour long interview at the home on First Street in Edna Tuesday despite the fact he has been home only five days after two years, three months and 13 days in a Red Chinese prisoner of war camp near the Yalu River in North Korea. His father and mother, William and Fairene Green, and other members of the family, including a brother, Pvt. Woodrow Green, who himself departed Monday for overseas, were on hand late Thursday to welcome him. Also present to greet him and give him the hero’s welcome he so richly deserves were a number of friends. Willie was due in San Antonio on a flight from San Francisco last Wednesday, but he was delayed until last Thursday night. His father met him at the airport to bring him home to the arms of his family and friends. Apparently in good health today, Willie said he lost 16 pounds while a captive, entering the prison camp at 156 and stepping off the Russian-made truck at Freedom Village weighing 140 pounds. Now he is back to 150 pounds, thanks to good American chow and plenty of it, he said. Chow, or the lack of it, and its bad taste and effects was the No. 1 problem of the prisoners of war, the Jackson County-born soldier, said. “I was not beaten like some of my buddies,” he confided. “But I got down one time for about a week, and they gave me a pill that did no good,” he said. “One night one of my buddies stole a couple of eggs and cooked them for me and after that I felt better.” He said another time he had a fainting spell, probably from the lack of proper food and the fact he became chilled when he loaned a sick buddy his fatigue jacket to ward off the terrific cold, which at times was as low as 40 degrees below zero. The hard work on wood details and labor crews, coupled with the cold weather and poor food proved to be hardships he thought at times would make him too weak to ever be returned alive, Willie said. Cpl. Green said the prisoners were lectured three hours twice a day for four days a week by English speaking Chinese instructors who tried to drill in them the ways of Communism as against the false economy and the capitalism of America. “I went through the motion, but it meant nothing to me,” he said. He said men who refused to attend the lectures were marched to reactionary camps. “And that was not good,” he said. Born in this county on Jan. 4, 1927, Green entered World War II in October of 1945 and served nine months in Japan in the Army of Occupation. He was discharged Jan. 20, 1947. He reenlisted Jan, 11, 1951, and after a refresher course at Fort Riley, Kan., was shipped overseas to Korea immediately landing there on March 25 as a member of the 24th Division, 19th Regiment, Infantry. About a month later, after seeing combat action many times, he said he was serving as a radio operator at a forward observation post when things began to happen. Now let’s let Willie tell of his capture in his own words: “On the night of April 23 (1951) the Communists hit us, yelling and screaming and moving down on us in big waves. Our line weakened and broke and we had to draw back. As we pulled out, Cpl. Alfred Barnash of Plymouth, Pa., and I were cut off from our outfit. While trying to work our way out, a small enemy force attacked us. We finally managed to beat them off and got away. “Later in the night we ran into five other Americans and we all tried to escape. Both legs of one of our men were broken when he was shot. We couldn’t leave him and we were out of ammunition, so we destroyed our radio, threw our rifles into a cave and just as dawn was breaking on April 24 surrendered.” Willie said he and two white boys were together at the time, but that he lost track of them when he was transferred from one camp to another later. Continuing his story, Willie said he and the prisoners, guarded by Red Chinese, marched around almost in circles picking up other groups of prisoners, finally arriving at Camp No. 1 after many nights of marching that proved nightmares. “We were given a barley flour that we had to eat uncooked. It was all we had. As the Red Chinese marched us back toward the Yalu River and Manchurian border, the North Korean soldiers were moving up to the front lines. We passed them many times. “A few of the men became sick and died on the march, but I made it all right, having the one fainting spell. My buddies helped me along until I felt well enough to walk again. Willie said he stayed at Camp 1 for 15 months—a period that seemed like 15 years. Chow was a little better, with the barley being cooked and some rice, cucumbers, soy beans and dried (rotten) fish thrown in at times. “But most of the time the stuff just laid on your stomach and bloated you. Some of the men had their legs swell up and break out. “At times they would let chickens run around the yard to torture us, but we never did get to see any chicken meat in the chow. Some said they would put one chicken in a pot of broth for 160 men, but I never did see any cooked chicken meat. “We had to steal whenever possible to keep us alive or from becoming ill due to starvation. The boys stole some eggs for me the time I was sick a week, and at times I saw men throw a whole chicken, feathers and all, on a fireplace and eat it as soon as it was half cooked. “I didn’t see it, but our buddies who escaped the stockades and later were recaptured told us they even ate dogs owned by North Korean farmers living nearby. At least I know no dog was safe near a prison camp.’ “I was put on wood detail at this camp and almost every day had to go out and cut wood. We had no axes or saws and had to make our own or pick up loose wood. We were allowed three sticks each night and each fireplace (outside with pipes running under the floors of the mud to warm them had to take care of three huts The first hut got warm, but you would freeze in the other two. The weather in the winter always was around 15 below freezing arid some times 40.”
"Food at this camp was about the same, maybe a little better," Willie said. 'Sometimes some of the hoys got an ounce or two of coffee in their mail from home and just before the armistice some of the letters came with chewing gum. It was taken out before, I am sure.
Several of the men revolted on the study lectures at this camp They
would be taken up the camp to a large building and when they came
back later in the week their wrists would be hurt where they had
been hanged to the wall by the wrists and they' frequently had,
frozen feet. Then the men would be "I was not beaten, but I came close to it several times, I think. "One of our happiest times was when they told us the Armistice had been signed and that in about three days some of us would go back to South Korea. Since Camp 5 was the oldest camp the sick and wounded there and the minorities (Canadians, British and other United Nations men) were to go first. “We stood put in the rain as the loudspeaker blared out the names one after another of those who were to get ready to go. But I didn’t even know it was raining. After several hundred had been called that day my name was called that night.
"The next day we crossed the Yalu River by boat and then got into
Russian-made trucks and rode to Shanju, then went by train to
Kaesong, where we waited for our time to come up.
Willie says he must report to Fort Sam Houston Sept, 25 and that he gets out of the Army Jan. 11. 1954. "I expect to reenlist., and make the Army my career," he said. "But I sure don't want any more of the Far Fast. I don't like it out there.” Cpl. Green wears the prized Combat Infantryman's Badge among his many ribbons. Here to greet him at a big barbecue last Sunday were the entire family, except for his sister in California. They were his five brothers. Pvt. Woodrow Green and Herbert Green of Edna, Rufus Green and Howard Rhoder of San Antonio and I. G. Green of Texas City, and three sisters, Mrs. Pearl Sanford, Mrs. Ester Lee Moore and Mrs. Eloise Griffin of Corpus Christi. CpI. Green was reported freed several months ago by a radio report heard here, but Willie said that apparently was caused by one of his wounded buddies giving his name and saying that he was well when the injured man was returned. But i made it this lime and I'm plenty glad," Willie said.
Edna Herald,
September 3, 1953 |
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Sunday was a great day for the William Green family of Edna. A big reunion honoring their son, Cpl. Willie C Green, Edna negro prisoner of war, was held at the Green home In northeast Edna. Another honoree was another son, Pvt. Woodrow Green, who was leaving for overseas. Numerous friends from out of town and from Edna were present for the big barbecue and hand-shaking. Barbecue and all the trimmings were served, with the meat being donated by Ollie Holloway
Hostesses were Mrs. A L.
Green, Mrs. William Green and Mrs. Dixie Lewis Mrs. Estelle Williams, Mrs. Elouise Griffin, Mrs. London Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Leander Booker, Seymour Gipson and son, Mr. and Mars Frank N. Ceasar, Mrs. Ella Daniel and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sanford, all of Corpus Christi.
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Green,
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rhoder, Mrs. Nancy Brooks, Christopher and Ruth
all of San Antonio.
Edna Herald,
September 3, 1953 |
