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Published: August 10th 2009
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I suppose that since this is a “Travel Blog” I must do a little traveling. So the other day on one of my little adventures, my partner and I decided to venture outside the gates of Camp Atterbury. Okay, it wasn’t far but it was well worth the 10 minute drive. Following the small non-distinct signs along the roadways we found ourselves on dirt roads, traveling through a camp ground and then driving along past a small local fishing hole. Our destination… The Camp Atterbury POW Chapel. Or better known as the “The Chapel in the Meadow,” a small chapel the Italian prisoners had built in 1942.
As history tells us that in 1942, Italian soldiers who were fighting the war in North Africa were extremely outnumbered by the British and American soldiers and because their conditions were so deplorable the Italians began to eagerly surrender in large numbers to the Allied forces. These Italian prisoners were sent to internment camps, some under British authority and some under American responsibility. Over 50,000 Italian POWS were sent to camps across the United States - in Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Utah, California, Indiana and elsewhere.
In the United States there was such
a shortage of young men because of the war effort that a prisoner of war program was established that used the Italian POW’s to work in the fields, on farms and also in factories. The recipients of the POW workers had rules and standards to adhere to. Many local communities resisted "the enemy" working in their midst. But eventually the close contact between the two sides began to break down barriers and long lasting friendships - and even romances developed.
It was during these years of internment here at Camp Atterbury that the POW’s requested a chapel. From what I have heard from the local soldiers was that the POW’s did indeed build this very small chapel and that the murals were painted using berries, leaves and the blood of the men held at the camp. To be noted, the original wall art had begun to fade immensely over the years and in the mid 80’s was painted over with true paints from this generation.
The story continues with that after D-Day, as more German soldiers were taken prisoner and after the fall of Mussolini, the Italian prisoners were offered the chance to enlist in an Italian Service Unit,
working in non-combat assistance to the U.S. Armed Forces. The Italian POw’ universally signed up for the service. It didn’t take long for the camp to then fill up with German POWs.
At the conclusion of World War II, a far share of the Italian prisoners returned to an Italy that was shattered by war, but many others remained in the communities where they had been held captive in the United States and settled to make new lives in their new found home. Many former Italian POW’s married the local sweethearts they had met while working in the communities.
We drove back to Camp Atterbury with a new appreciation of the true freedom that we enjoy so much. There were families fishing off the shores of the lake and kids were running through the camp ground toward the swimming pool to get a little relief from the heat. The drive along the slightly used roads to the Chapel in the Meadow was peaceful and lined with beautiful trees with the brightest green foliage.
Some days we just have to take 30 minutes out of our hectic schedules and look around, and usually tucked into the “normality” of
our surroundings is a small thread of adventure. We heard the call and took the chance to look at a small building tucked into the trees and learn about soldiers of the past. Sacrifice is passed through the generations and now it is our time to make a history that maybe the future soldiers can look back at and tell stories to their children.
This is just the beginning of the journey… Welcome to Camp Atterbury!
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