Although a bit off topic, perhaps some will find this interesting, I did.
In 1926 a tract of land was set aside a few miles from Tullahoma TN for a TN National Guard training camp, which was named Camp Peay for Gov Austin Peay. On Jan 10, 1941, the Federal Government acquired this land as well as some additional & renamed it, Camp Forest, for former Confederate General N B Forrest (we weren't so politically correct back then). Four uses were made of this land,
1 - Civilian Alien Enemy Internment Camp;
2 - Training Camp for soldiers;
3 – POW Hospital;
4 – POW Camp.
Recently a local Historical Society published an article on this camp. Included was a picture of 6 POWs with their names which had been written on the back. One of their names was Josef Lindner. It would be interesting to know if he were related to the Lindner's who were shotgun makers. As written on the picture back;
Josef Lindner Langliebn. (Kr. Cosel) O. Schl
Froschweiler - Strasse 8
Most of these POW's were German with a few being Italians. At the end of the war, these POW's were allowed to go out & do farm work for farmers of the area. I can remember meeting some of them which an uncle of mine had hired to do some work. So far as I know though no pictures of them were taken & while I am certain we knew their names at the time I no longer have any recollection of any of their names. In 1945 when the war ended I was 7 years old. Soldiers trained all around this area of Middle TN early in the war & I can remember seeing a lot of them.
Incidentally, it has been recorded that General George Patton was "Killed" 3 times during these Mock Battles. Apparently, he learned well from his mistakes during this period of training.
