Military Monday–WWII–Earl E. Pyatt declared POW

I have previously blogged about my Dad being a Prisoner of War in first the Philippines and later Japan, during WWII.  That post included pictures of my Dad’s return and excerpts from my grandmother’s diary entries from when she finally found out he was a POW.

 (See that post here.)

My grandmother also kept a large scrapbook from World War II.  In it she has clipped articles that pertain to my Dad’s unit, the 200th Coastal Artillery.  There are also articles about other young men missing, held prisoner or died during the war.  Some she clipped because she recognized my Dad’s friends, some she thought he might know from the war.  I like to think that this scrapbook kept her connected to my Dad in some way.  Keep her occupied as she waited to hear news from him or about him.  In looking through this scrapbook I came across this telegram and letters she received verifying his status as a Prisoner of War.

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Telegram received by my Grandmother.  This was her first indication that my Dad was alive in the Philippines.

Letter received from War Department confirming telegram.

Letter from Congressman from New Mexico regarding my Dad’s POW status.

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I am truly thankful that my grandmother kept this scrapbook.  It has given me a special insight into what it must have been like for her during those extremely trying times.