Howard Jones on “The Italian Prisoners of War – From Surrender to Paradise” and Big Book Raffle

This is the story of 5,000 Italian Prisoners of War who were imprisoned at the Naval Supply Depot in Clearfield, Utah during WWII. This contingent of Italian soldiers was just a small portion of those who surrendered during the war. In fact, over 500,000 surrendered in North Africa and Europe during the war. Most would be imprisoned in England or other countries in the British Empire, but over 50,000 came to the United States. Their story is both interesting and—at times—humorous. The events that occurred in Clearfield would affect our speaker’s wife, Cathy, and her family. In fact, her father was a Naval officer at the base and had to deal with the prisoners who rioted on one particular day. Howard Jones is long time member of the Round Table and amateur historian.

Also This Month — Big Book Raffle!

PCWRT is holding  a big book raffle at the January meeting. There will be a big assortment of Civil War titles, plus other military history books as well. Tickets will be $5 each.

Tom McMahon on “The Battle of Monocacy”

Also known as Monocacy Junction, the Battle of Monocacy was fought on July 9, 1864, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Frederick, Maryland, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. This was just one year after Gettysburg, and 13 months before R.E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. It is a key rag tale battle that becomes the defense of Washington, and a great contributor to the continuance of the Union.

Tom McMahon, now in his 90s, is a third generation native San Franciscan whose great grandparents came as Irish immigrants in 1858 directly to the City, more than likely via the Isthmus of Panama, and then by boat up the West Coast. Tom is a member of the South Bay Civil War Round Table.