POWs and the Economy
aynsley andras staff writer Faced with a wartime labor shortage that threatened Louisiana’s sugarcane industry, they turned to prisoners of war to keep the crops, and the economy, growing. World War II led about 280,000 young men and women from Louisiana to help in the war, leaving a shortage of workers in local industries, says Glenn Falgoust, who researched the Donaldsonville POW camp. “They [U.S. Military] just left the territory for four years, so these sugarcane plantations were in trouble,” Falgoust says. “No labor. No labor, you can’t produce a crop.” “They [U.S. Military] just left the territory for four years, so these sugarcane plantations were in trouble. No labor. No labor, you can’t produce a crop.” Glenn Falgoust With that labor shortage, sugar prices rose. Eventually, the Office of Price Administration set a price ceiling on sugar and implemented rationing, according to Prisoner of War Labor in the Sugar Cane Fields of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana: 1943-1944 by Joseph T. Butler Jr. With labor in demand, the state decided to employ prisoners in the sugarcane fields. Prisoners worked six days a week starting their day at 4 a.m., says Falgoust. Prisoners who completed their assigned tasks ahead of time were allowed to return to their respective camps before the end of the work-day, while repeated failure to finish assignments resulted in disciplinary action according to Prisoner of War Labor in the Sugar Cane Fields of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana: 1943-1944. While the POWs worked in the sugarcane field, they were paid for their labor. The Sugar Act of 1937 established minimum wages for cane workers providing benefit payments to sugar planters and extended through the end of 1944, according to Prisoner of War Labor in the Sugar Cane Fields of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana: 1943-1944. The War Manpower Commission set the average daily wage for inexperienced free labor at 80 cents, while the maximum a prisoner could earn was $1.20. The prisoners were paid in canteen scripts, which the prisoners could use to buy items. “One of the things I found was a copy of a canteen script, which was the money you would use at the canteen paying for things,” says Brian Davis, executive director for the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation. Falgoust says the prisoners could buy paper, pencils, razor blades, soap, and non-alcoholic lotion with the canteen scripts. They were allowed to bring these things back into the camps. By placing POWs in Louisiana’s sugarcane fields under regulated conditions, the state was able to maintain a vital industry during a time of global conflict. German POW working in sugarcane fields at Camp Allen, Livingston, LA. Photo Credit: Joseph T. Butler Jr. German POWs in a cane field. Photo Credit: Everet Halbach POWs in front of a transportation vehicle. Photo Credit: Everet Halbach German POW loading into a transportation vehicle going back to camps. Photo Credit: Everet Halbach German POWs working in a cane field. Photo Credit: Evert Halbach Prisoners of war on work detail at local timber farms. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection.
Guards & Camp Workers
aynsley andras staff writer Inside the prisoner of war camps, a team of guards, workers, and overseers ensured the prisoners were supervised and cared for, with many duties extending beyond maintaining order. The camps employed staff in the kitchen, dining hall, and medical services. A certain number of guards, sometimes as many as 10, were required for each prisoner to ensure supervision, says Glen Falgoust, a journalist who researched the Donaldsonville POW camp. “When he didn’t have anything to repair, he would take them and put the POWs in the flatbed truck,” says Everet Hallback, whose father worked as a mechanic at one of the prisoner of war camps. “Then transport them and kind of watch and see what would make sure they all wouldn’t run away and stuff like that, and he just brings them back.” Linda Theriot, secretary at the Houma Military Regional Museum, says, “Not only the guards but the property owners, treated them good. Some did not want to go back home.” Inside the prisoner of war camps, a team of guards, workers, and overseers ensured the prisoners were supervised and cared for, with many duties extending beyond maintaining order. The camps employed staff in the kitchen, dining hall, and medical services. A certain number of guards, sometimes as many as 10, were required for each prisoner to ensure supervision, says Glen Falgoust, a journalist who researched the Donaldsonville POW camp. The work continued for the guards when the prisoners were sent to work in the fields. “When he didn’t have anything to repair, he would take them and put the POWs in the flatbed truck,” says Everet Hallback, whose father worked as a mechanic at one of the prisoner of war camps. “Then transport them and kind of watch and see what would make sure they all wouldn’t run away and stuff like that, and he just brings them back.” Linda Theriot, secretary at the Houma Military Regional Museum, says, “Prisoners here were well taken care of and the guards, not only the guards but the property owners, treated them good. Some did not want to go back home.” Even though the prisoners were treated well, there were always consequences for the prisoners’ actions when things went wrong. Falgoust says in 1944 a mild revolt occurred after some prisoners escaped and were recaptured. It ended with the prisoners being placed on bread and water while in confinement. This caused almost the entire camp to refuse to work, and prisoners asked for a truce and more food. Laton Tudor, John Kalinoski, Barnes, Johnny Andrews, Charles Torrey, “Pop” Alvin Clary, and John Hoffman in front of Camp Ruston barracks. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Military employees John Hoffman, Mike Harris, Mary Snelling, and Charles Torrey in front of Camp Ruston Headquarters. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Portrait of seven female camp workers on the Camp Ruston grounds. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Torrey, Andrews, Tuminello, Farmer, and Kalinoski standing in uniform at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Six mess hall employees sitting on the mess hall steps at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Portrait of Bill Sherer and Nancy Colvin standing in front of Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Orderly room for the US Army guards at the prisoner of war camp at Camp Polk, La. Photo Credit: Rickey Robertson Collection Mess Hall at Camp Polk German POW Camp with 2 German POWs pictured. Photo Credit: Rickey Robertson Collection
Camp Activities
aynsley andras staff writer Prisoners of war engaged in a variety of recreational and creative activities during their time in captivity. From playing soccer and card games to painting and woodworking, these activities offered the prisoners both physical and mental respite. For most of the day, the prisoners of war worked in fields and were occasionally allowed to enjoy recreational activities. Everet Hallback, whose father worked as a mechanic while the POW camps were in South Louisiana, says the prisoners enjoyed playing with the stray dogs while waiting for transportation back to the camps. And some liked to play various card games once they got back to the camps. Glenn Falgoust, a journalist who researched the Donaldsonville POW camps, says, “They played soccer, had a little sports field, and a dance hall.” “They played soccer, had a little sports field, and a dance hall.” Glenn falgoust In addition, some prisoners painted. Linda Theriot, an executive at The Houma Regional Military Museum, says a Houma camp prisoner, Otto Webber, painted multiple paintings, including a self portrait with his son. Some prisoners were interested in woodworking and masonry. “Sometimes there were training walls, like along a ditch or steps up to a house or up a hill,” says Brian Davis, executive director for the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, about the Ruston camp. “Some of them were laid out by prisoners who would do work details out in the community at the time as well.” However, not all activities were physical like playing sports. Some of the activities were there to help the prisoners spiritually or mentally. A few camps allowed Catholic Mass for prisoners. In addition, Theriot says some prisoners may have been taught by teachers employed by their employer’s families — like the Matherne family who employed POWs from one of the Houma camps. The Thibodaux camp’s POW soccer team. Photo Credit: Nicholls Archives Italian POWs attending mass in New Orleans. Alvin Pop Clary and William Bill Bernsten, in a Camp Ruston baseball uniform, at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: Louisiana Tech University Camp Ruston Collection Art at the Camps A drawing of German P.O.W. Camp Como done by Puelli at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection A drawing of a race car by a prisoner of war interned at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. A model with “Gott Mit Uns” on it, made by German prisoners of war at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. Drawing made by Prisoners of war interned at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. Drawing of a destroyer done by a prisoner of war interned at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. Drawing of a horse and sleigh done by a prisoner of war interned at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. Drawing of a Mercedes Benz done by a prisoner of war interned at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection Drawing of a ship at sea by a prisoner of war interned at WWII P.O.W. Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. German P.O.W. constructed replica of the Rhine Castle. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. Model castle made by the P.O.W.s at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection. Photograph of an Amphitheater constructed by German prisoners of war at Camp Ruston. Photo Credit: LDL/Louisiana Tech University/Camp Ruston Collection.
Eating at Camp
kade bergeron features editor During World War II, over 2,000 prisoners of war were confined in Louisiana’s Bayou Region, where they faced unfamiliar climates, terrain, and conditions. Yet, one aspect of normalcy remained — their food. Camps had dining halls, sometimes called “mess halls,” that were primarily used for dining and communicating. These spaces served as a common area for all residents of the camps to gather, according to an article in the Mississippi History Now. “Food was not a complaint for the prisoners. In fact, most of the food was prepared by German cooks with ingredients furnished by the U.S. Army.” The U.S. government provided ingredients that aligned with the typical nutritional standards of the 1940s era. Protein, grains, and vegetables were staples of the diet, as were some occasional forms of dairy, such as milk for coffee and butter for bread, according to Mississippi History Now. Although these rations were supplied throughout the camps in the Bayou Region, they also were able to get local food from the locals. “[Plantation owners] would take [prisoners] to their houses and feed them and treat them with some sweets, which was a rarity back in those days as it was rationed,” says Linda Theriot, secretary at the Houma Regional Military Museum. “[Plantation owners] would take [prisoners] to their houses and feed them and treat them with some sweets, which was a rarity back in those days as it was rationed.” Linda Theriot Due to the war efforts, supplies were limited, so the government provided nutritional rations based on availability. The meals were of the same variety that the military received, according to Mississippi History Now. Depending on the camp location and the amenities associated with that camp, some prisoners of war received higher-quality ingredients compared to prisoners at other local camps. The late Dr. Guy R. Jones was the primary physician who was responsible for monitoring the health of German prisoners of war at the Lockport/Valentine POW Camp. Jones said the prisoners received meals that were much better quality than those of the local Lockport residents, according to an article published by the Louisiana Historical Association. The war efforts put a strain on residents obtaining goods, but for the POW camp residents, the supplies administered by the U.S. government eased this burden. Some say that the prisoners were better off in terms of food quality (and quantity) than citizens who were rationing to support the American troops, according to the Louisiana Historical Association. In addition, the prisoners’ contact and work for local industries gave them access to other foods. “Working the farmland probably gave prisoners [the ability] to earn food on top of [the] wages set by the U.S. government,” says April Cortez, North Thibodaux resident, and native of the POW camp area. “The food supplied to the camps was just the beginning… The prisoners got additional food from the locals and the landowners for their work.” Daily German P.O.W.s breakfasts consisted of cereal (corn flakes), toast with jam, eggs, and coffee. Photo Credit: Garrett Weisiger Daily German P.O.W. lunches consisted of pork roast, carrots, and potato salad. Photo Credit: Garrett Weisiger Daily German P.O.W. dinners consisted of meatloaf, bread, and milk. Photo Credit: Garrett Weisiger
Louisiana Camps
other coverage Camp Ruston by Louisiana Public Broadcasting https://youtu.be/EjcbeKd4Y2s?si=zd_1HD2O4bP70Slu Most Endangered Places: Camp Ruston by Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation https://youtu.be/vyS2VH9LoUw?si=2-0xu0Bo1ul2QBdR Thousands of German POWs in Acadiana During WWII The German P.O.W Camp at Camp Polk, Louisiana jacob levron staff videographer The Place Bar served as the dining hall for the POW Camp in North Thibodaux. Photo Credit: Jacob Levron, staff photographer The POW camp in Valentine, Louisiana, in 1943. Photo Credit: Nicholls Archive The Thibodaux camp’s POW soccer team. Photo Credit: Nicholls Archives Tents at the North Thibodaux POW camp. Photo Credit: Nicholls State Archives, Litt Martin Collection Scrip, a form of currency valid only within the camp, paid to German POWs at the camp in Ruston, Louisiana. The Shreveport Journal March 16, 1979 other coverage Camp Ruston by Louisiana Public Broadcasting https://youtu.be/EjcbeKd4Y2s?si=zd_1HD2O4bP70Slu Most Endangered Places: Camp Ruston by Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation https://youtu.be/vyS2VH9LoUw?si=2-0xu0Bo1ul2QBdR Thousands of German POWs in Acadiana During WWII The German P.O.W Camp at Camp Polk, Louisiana
Bayou Region Camps
aynsley andras staff writer More than 12,000 prisoners of war (POW) were sent to Louisiana during World War II, with 2,073 sent to camps in the Bayou Region to live in the communities and work the local industries. “You take a soldier out of the war to ship him 5,000 miles away,” says Glenn Falgoust, local historian and Vacherie native. “He’s as scared of what’s going on to him as the people sitting in their homes around Donaldsonville are of him. So it’s a mutual scenario.” “You take a soldier out of the war to ship him 5,000 miles away — He’s as scared of what’s going on to him as the people sitting in their homes around Donaldsonville are of him.” Glenn Falgoust Between 1942-1945, more than 425,000 prisoners of war were sent to over 700 camps throughout the United States, mostly located in the South and Southwest, according to the National Park Service. In the Bayou Region, POWs were housed in areas to help with local industry like sugar cane. “They [local men] just left the territory for like four years, so these sugarcane plantations were in trouble,” says Falgoust. “With no labor, you can’t produce a crop. So here comes the big question about the POWs, what to do with them.” Several camps were located in the Bayou Region including Donaldsonville, Thibodaux, Houma and Montegut. The Thibodaux camp, located in north Thibodaux on Coulon Road, housed 485 prisoners. Donaldsonville hosted one of the biggest camps in South Louisiana at the Donaldsonville State Fair Grounds, housing about one thousand prisoners, says Falgoust. The Houma camps came later because of a War Department rule preventing camps within 150 miles of any coast, according to the book Hard Scrabble to Hallelujah Legacies of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana by Christopher E. Cencac Sr. and Claire Domangue Holler. But Louiaiana’s senators got the rule changed so prisoners could work in the sugarcane fields. The first camp in Houma was located near North Woodlawn Plantation house on Woodlawn Ranch Road and the second was on West Main Street between Boykin Street and Wolfe Parkway near Terrebonne High School. The prisoners ranged from 16-50 years of age, and life in the camps was strict, Falgoust says. The prisoners were not allowed anything relating to the war once they were captured. They were, however, allowed to write letters to their families. The POWs would work six days a week at farms and would start their days at 4 a.m. Prisoners in the Thibodaux, Houma, and Donaldsonville camps worked mostly in the sugarcane fields. Depending on the location of the camps, the prisoners would work on planting trees, shrubs, cotton, rice, and sugar. The local farmers were responsible for transporting their prisoner workers. Falgoust says the policy was that prisoners who did not work did not get to eat. Some of the prisoners of war got close to the families at the sugarcane farms where they worked. Some would even feed the prisoners. “I do know they were very hungry,” says Linda Theriot, an executive at Houma Regional Military Museum. “They didn’t get a lot of food. The owners of the plantation and the neighbors would invite them in to eat. These prisoners of war were not per se criminals for the community. They were criminals only for war.” Blimp at the Houma Naval Air Station where the German POWs were employed during WWII. Photo Credit: Regional Military Museum Hospital and kitchen at the Thibodaux POW campsite. Photo Credit: Evert Halbach Collection and Nicholls Archives & Special Collections Blimp base at the Houma Naval Air Station where the German POWs were employed during WWII. Photo Credit: Regional Military Museum German POWs walking at the Thibodaux campsite. Photo Credit: Evert Halbach Collection and Nicholls Archives & Special Collections Blimp base barracks at the Houma Naval Air Station where German POWs were employed to plant trees during WWII. Photo Credit: Regional Military Museum Thibodaux German POW campsite. Photo Credit: Evert Halbach Collection and Nicholls Archives & Special Collections Deflated blimp at the Houma Naval Air Station where the German POWs were employed during WWII. Photo Credit: Regional Military Museum Prisoner tents at the Thibodaux campsite. Photo Credit: Evert Halbach Collection and Nicholls Archives & Special Collections Sketch drawn by a German POW of the PeeWee Falcon House in Donaldsonville. Photo Credit: Glenn Falgoust