From Anzio to Stalag 7A Series: Episode V
TRENTON AND HIS FELLOW prisoners were hungry, but they chose to stay with the Russians for two weeks.
However, the Russians, short on rations, wouldn't share food with the liberated prisoners.
The Red Army was promised $50 per American prisoner repatriated, but apparently that wasn't sufficient reward for the Russians to take care of the liberated Americans.
Consequently, the former prisoners of war had to find their own food.
Trenton and his friends raided several abandoned markets for minimal sustenance, but one day they noticed a healthy looking cow in a nearby field.
The hungry Americans didn't hesitate; they slaughtered and butchered the cow.
They built a large fire and scavenged some tomato paste, pepper, beer, brown sugar, kettles, and paint brushes.
They made their own sauce, and the hungry young soldiers patiently waited for their barbequed beef - Texas style! As the Americans accompanied the Russian troops to the west, Trenton became suspicious of the their liberators' behavior.
He felt they were acting like anything but friendly allies.
They often pushed the Americans, and they were becoming belligerent.
Some of the Red Army troops pointed their rifles at the Americans, dry fired, and laughed uproariously.
When a Red soldier pointed his rifle at Trenton, he tore into the Russian.
A dozen other Red troopers beat and kicked Trenton, but he got loose and knocked several to the ground.
Trenton had enough of the haughty Russians.
He left them and commandeered a motorcycle.
The young soldier headed west, where he eventually spotted American G.
I.
s.
Finally, the young Washington state soldier was on his way back home to his beloved Thorn Creek.
Trenton discovered he hadn't lost his touch at poker, dice, and other games of chance; on the troop ship back to the states, he parlayed some more funds, mainly at the poker table.
Trenton, infused with cash, was transferred to Camp Beale, California.
When he arrived, he was hospitalized for a short time until he gained some of his healthy weight.
Then PFC Tonasket was able to go back to Thorn Creek on leave, where he met with his relieved mother and younger brother Bud.
However, he was shocked to discover that his older brother Delbert had died while under Japanese imprisonment.
When Trenton returned to Camp Beale, the happy, but humbled young man was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the well-deserved Purple Heart.
The second eldest of the Tonasket brothers was finally separated from service on October 20, 1945, and headed back to his hometown to finish his high school education.
After he had been in the fight of his life - for his life - Trenton had survived.
However, the Russians, short on rations, wouldn't share food with the liberated prisoners.
The Red Army was promised $50 per American prisoner repatriated, but apparently that wasn't sufficient reward for the Russians to take care of the liberated Americans.
Consequently, the former prisoners of war had to find their own food.
Trenton and his friends raided several abandoned markets for minimal sustenance, but one day they noticed a healthy looking cow in a nearby field.
The hungry Americans didn't hesitate; they slaughtered and butchered the cow.
They built a large fire and scavenged some tomato paste, pepper, beer, brown sugar, kettles, and paint brushes.
They made their own sauce, and the hungry young soldiers patiently waited for their barbequed beef - Texas style! As the Americans accompanied the Russian troops to the west, Trenton became suspicious of the their liberators' behavior.
He felt they were acting like anything but friendly allies.
They often pushed the Americans, and they were becoming belligerent.
Some of the Red Army troops pointed their rifles at the Americans, dry fired, and laughed uproariously.
When a Red soldier pointed his rifle at Trenton, he tore into the Russian.
A dozen other Red troopers beat and kicked Trenton, but he got loose and knocked several to the ground.
Trenton had enough of the haughty Russians.
He left them and commandeered a motorcycle.
The young soldier headed west, where he eventually spotted American G.
I.
s.
Finally, the young Washington state soldier was on his way back home to his beloved Thorn Creek.
Trenton discovered he hadn't lost his touch at poker, dice, and other games of chance; on the troop ship back to the states, he parlayed some more funds, mainly at the poker table.
Trenton, infused with cash, was transferred to Camp Beale, California.
When he arrived, he was hospitalized for a short time until he gained some of his healthy weight.
Then PFC Tonasket was able to go back to Thorn Creek on leave, where he met with his relieved mother and younger brother Bud.
However, he was shocked to discover that his older brother Delbert had died while under Japanese imprisonment.
When Trenton returned to Camp Beale, the happy, but humbled young man was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the well-deserved Purple Heart.
The second eldest of the Tonasket brothers was finally separated from service on October 20, 1945, and headed back to his hometown to finish his high school education.
After he had been in the fight of his life - for his life - Trenton had survived.