pics of my grandfather from pow camp in Galveston Tx

[RD Rygaard]

just wanted to introduce the man responsible for all my madness! Here are pics of my grandfather: PW Rygaard captured by the americans in Italy & sent here as a POW.Here you'll see 3 pics of him from "fort crockett galveston Tx" Id love to hear from anyone that has anymore info about the camp? I grew up in Galveston...now fort crockett has a hotel built on it. Anyone have other period pics of the camp? Also please see insignia...My grandfather is missing collar tabs but still retains arm eagle.All others seem to be heer & luftwaffe DAK members w/ original & self made insignia (see caps).In last pic you'll see everyone is dressed in what seems to be US supplied clothing except young SS man w/ blk wound badge....he has self made runic collar tab!

[RD Rygaard]

the red arrows show my grandfather Peter wayne Rygaard

[RD Rygaard]

please note young SS mann in top row w/ self made runes!

[Gesetz]

Very nice!

[dhunter93]

Wow, great family history

[Ryan94]

Great photos...

When were these taken? (what year)

[Gesetz]

Can we know what division he was part of as well?!

[Donald Abenheim]

Texas Germans

There is a historian at Texas A & M, Prof Arnolf Kramer, who was expert in this material, actually. I do not know if he is still around. I think so, actually, because he commented on Abu Ghraib last year, I think. Look in Google. He wrote a book about German POWs in the US in the late-1970s or early-1980s. These men look well fed and pretty prosperous when one compares most everyone else in the year 1943 or 1944. Sapere aude. Today, one of the prized bases in the Bundeswehr is that at Fort Bliss, where the German air force trains its rocket people and many more.

[Frank Pacheco]

Don, the book he wrote is titled "Nazi Prisoners Of War In America" published in 1979 by Stein And Day. Try your local library as I checked it out last Wed. Very good photos and info. The reason I got it is they had a POW camp where my Grandpa and Dad lived in Fort Bayard, New Mexico. The only thing my Dad has left is a Heer tropical belt and buckle. Also they have some furniture the POWS made for my Grandfather. He worked in the hospital and supervised some of the POWS. BTW Great Photos, thanks for sharing.
Frank

[RD Rygaard]

Great photos...

When were these taken? (what year)

they are all written on back "my pow days 1944-46" in german of course. You can see my early attempt (probably 6-7 yrs old) to identify my opa with a blur ball point pen!

[RD Rygaard]

Can we know what division he was part of as well?!

My grandfather was in Reichsfurer SS div. Also he had BIG trouble back in the late 50's & 60's for being an avid supporter of George lincoln Rockwell & the ANP! bvelow you'll find early pics of me as well 60's early 70's dressed up by my grandfather...lol btw I have my grandfathers autographed copy of "this time the world" by Rockwell.
this is me @6 yrs old in 1972

[RD Rygaard]

There is a historian at Texas A & M, Prof Arnolf Kramer, who was expert in this material, actually. I do not know if he is still around. I think so, actually, because he commented on Abu Ghraib last year, I think. Look in Google. He wrote a book about German POWs in the US in the late-1970s or early-1980s. These men look well fed and pretty prosperous when one compares most everyone else in the year 1943 or 1944. Sapere aude. Today, one of the prized bases in the Bundeswehr is that at Fort Bliss, where the German air force trains its rocket people and many more.

now this raises another question...please find one of my earliest SS photo pick ups. I got this at a coin shop in austin tx back in around 1979.I think it was like $1.50 but to a 13 yr old kid that was big money! now Ive often wondered what was with the "bliss Il" on the bottom of the frame? Over the yrs I couldnt resist so Ive lifted the frame creasing if but it is an original photo! Trust me w/ the exception of me lifting the frame (a lil poorly I might add) this pic is exactly as I found it 26 yrs ago! Could this be a posed POW shot to send back to family in Germany? is "fort bliss" in Bliss Il?

[xcalabur19]

Fort Bliss is actually in El Paso, TX almost on the border w/ NM. Couple of guys I know around base here go there for arty training regularly. Maybe Bliss in your case would be the photograpy studio where the frame was purchased? I don't know, just my 2 pfennig. Kyle

[Jens]

Excellent pics.


You name sound scandinavian.

Regards jens

[John Pic]

It looks to read "Bliss Lincoln Ill." maybe those are two different PW camps. Note the officers cap and Shoulderboards with Oberscharfuhrer tab.