Wisconsin and Truax-Longmire Mourn the Loss of a True American Hero
Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 09:41 PM
by JC Unger
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart the Comander of VFW Post 8483 announces the passing of WW II and Korean comrade, former POW and Life Member Fred Wald of Madison. Fred remained active right up until the Good Lord called him home while resting at the William S Middleton VA Medical Center. One of Fred's proudest and recent achievements was religiously participating in the Calvary Gospel Church's Veterans Day ceremonies. "I do it so that America's future will understand the true cost of freedom" Fred told post members in 2005. Fred felt that former POW's never got their due recognition and respect over the years. Calvary Gospel Church and approximately 1,300 Americans changed that when they called him to the stage and read his biography of service and extraordinary sacrifice.
Dateline: December 30, 1943. Altitude 22,000 feet over enemy territory aboard a B-24D. Five minutes before the bomb run was to execute over a chemical factory near Ludwigshaven, Germany. Suddenly BANG - a flak burst below the #4 engine sends the crew into in-flight emergency procedures. The world goes black. 3-4 Hours later he wakes up back on earth, severely wounded but alive in a French farm house with no memory of how he got there. Two weeks later on Janaury 12, 1944 a massive Nazi SS search resulted in his capture. For the next 837 days he was shuffled from jail to jail, crammed into box cars, standing 24/7 for 6-7 day stretches without sitting, and stuffed into a wooden coal boat hold and sent to sea for three days at a time to avoid repatriation attempts. Interrogated, tortured and repeatedly placed into solitary confinement, a 4 foot by 8 foot box, prisoner of war #1305 perseverred. Never losing faith in his God, his country and his flag on April 29th, 1945 a desperate American tank commander from General Patton's 14th Armored Division smashed his tank through the gates of International POW Camp Stalig #7A in an attempt to liberate his own biological brother. In effect he liberated more than 150,000 prisoners of war from many nations including our comrade Fred Wald.
America's former Prisoners of War are national heroes whose service to our country will never be forgotten. These brave men and women who fought for America and endured severe cruelties and deprivation as prisoners helped to protect our Nation, liberated millions of people from the threats of tyranny and terror and advanced the cause of freedom worldwide. Fred, we owe an incalculable debt of gratitude to you, You have been a quiet hero who displayed great honor and indomitable will and sacrificed so much for our Nation. Because we are able, we save a place for you inside of us. Your legacy will forever march on in the breath of every American who lives in freedom. God Bless, Thank You and Farewell comrade.
Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, 2008 from 1-2 PM at Ryan's Funeral home on North Sherman Avenue in Madison. Following the visitation at 2 PM VFW 8483 will perform a Truax-Longmire Pass in Review. All veterans are welcome and encouraged to participate. Following the Pass in Review a Chapel service is being conducted. Burial is scheduled for the following day at Forest Home Cemetery in Marinette, Wisconsin Fred's home town.
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