These oral histories are part of the Institute For Oral History and are
housed in the Texas Collection at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

James Cortemelia

Interviewed on 30 May 1972 in Hearne, Texas. 10 minutes; 5 pages.

James Cortemelia was a farmer near Hearne, Texas, who used German prisoners of war for picking cotton; guarding the group; reasons for needing labor; payment; assessment of work ability; finding out about the labor.

Fred C. Ferrarra

Interviewed on 25 May 1972 in Hearne, Texas. 10 minutes; 5 pages.

Fred Ferrara was a farmer near Hearne, Texas, who used German prisoners of war for picking cotton; arrangements for labor; possibility of escape; provisions; reaction of townspeople; prisoner's gift of painting.

Helen Cox Palmos

Interviewed on 25 May 1972 in Hearne, Texas. C. S. Massey was also present. 15 minutes; 9 pages.

Helen Cox Palmos was an employee, City Cafe, Hearne, Texas, which used German prisoners of war as kitchen help; feeding troops; reaction of townspeople; description of the camp; marching prisoners from the railroad to camp; wood carvings made by a prisoner.

Leo Luke Roffino

Interviewed on 25 May 1972 in Hearne, Texas. 10 minutes; 7 pages.

Leo Luke Roffino was a farmer near Hearne, Texas, who used German prisoners of war for planting and harvesting; security; provision of transportation; payment of wages; advantages of POW labor; murder of POW by other prisoners; Japanese prisoners.

Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Rohde, Jr.

Interviewed on 24 May 1972 in Hearne, Texas. 20 minutes; 22 pages.

Robert Rohde was fire chief for the German prisoner-of-war camp, Hearne, Texas; construction of camp; reaction of townspeople; number of military people and prisoners; separation of Nazis and German Democrats; labor provided by POWs; artistic abilities of some prisoners; POWs' desire to stay in U.S. after World War II; deactivation; discovery of a whiskey still.

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