Chapter 18: Another Boxcar Ride: We go south

18

Another Boxcar Ride: We Go South

Suddenly, without any preparation, the Germans selected 700

American POWs, marched us to the railroad siding, and jammed us

in as before, and we were off on another journey we knew not

where. We left without our daily rations and without a new Red

Cross box, which somehow we had expected to get. It was the middle

of November. We had not yet been given overcoats, and blankets

were turned in. In that land of high blood pressure the guards,

shouting and gesturing, worked to get us in the cars. As before, a

milk can was provided and the doors locked. The train started with

determination and continued for many hours. The first two days

were a repeat of the former trip-no food, no water, a calculated

effort at bestiality.

We, however, were different men now. Behind us was a long

boxcar ride and several weeks of prison life. There would be few

surprises this trip. There would be no false hopes or great expectations.

We were alerted to long hours of waiting in switchyards.

We'd experienced want of water, food, and air. We would remember

the frustrating and maddening necessity of dividing bread and

cheese whenever the swines of society chose to toss it in the car.

We'd find ways this time to stretch our legs. There would be more

readiness to deal with the claustrophobic conditions. There might

even be a little cooperation, now that we were all Americans in the

car. Of course there would be a stronger sense of self-preservationin

several meanings of the words.

Yet it was surprising, what happened. We had learned very little.

The disorder was, if anyth.ing, greater now that we were really

hungry. When, after sixty hours, the Legitimate Bastards of the

human race opened the door and dumped in some food and water,

some men did not get any. There was still the galling problem of

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