SDNG’s WW2 POWs Won’t Be Forgotten
(POW Memorial established at Camp Rapid)
By Duke Doering
During World War II the South Dakota National Guard had 31 of its members taken Prisoners of War (POW). 29 of these were captured in North Africa and Italy, one on the island of Java and one at the Philippines. Miraculously all 31 survived and returned to the United States after the war ended.
In 2004 , Maj. Gen. Michael Gorman teamed with the State Prisoner of War coordinator, Steve Fousek, to build a POW memorial on the west side of Camp Rapid. Along the west fence at Camp Rapid they placed two metal plaques with the names of all 31 POWs.
10 years ago on this date, September 10, 2004, Maj. Gen. Mike Gorman, The Adjutant General, dedicated the POW Memorial. Helping General Gorman with the ceremony were three POWs that had been confined to Stalag 3B in Furstenburg, Germany from February 1943 until April 1945. They were Kenneth Gourley, Richard Behrens and Francis Murray.
Maj. Gen. Gorman’s father, Sgt. Owen M. Gorman, was one of the POWs captured on February 17, 1943 at Kasserine Pass in North Africa. He spent over two years as a German POW.
The location, year of capture along with the individual names of the 31 POWs are listed below:
BIZERTE, TUNISIA, 1942
Leroy Anderson
Le Roy C. David
Richard P. Griffin
Robert J. Hackett
BATAAN, PHILIPPINES, 1942
Theodore I. Spaulding
JAVA, 1942
Roy E. Stensland
KASSERINE PASS, TUNISIA, 1943
Leo T. Baker
Richard M Behrens
Kenneth W. Brandon
William H. Caton
Esquipula C. Gallegos
Owen M. Gorman
Kenneth P. Gourley
Harold R. McGregor
Wayne M. Hannant
Royal I. Lee
Robert J. Lodge
Francis G. Murray
Gordon J. Tjomsland
William C. Weimer
CASSINO, ITALY, 1944
Kenneth K. Kalberg
Richard Kiefer
Raymond T. Martin
ANZIO, ITALY, 1944
Warren R. Evans
Robert E. Turner
PONENURI, ITALY, 1944
Edward J. Graf
Bartley W. Tillotson
GERMANY, 1945
Robert W. Lievan
LeVerne F. Reynolds
John F. Stephens
FRANCE, 1945
John M. Lukens
My grandfather was Roy E Stensland. I was grateful to see him honored by this memorial. The suffering endured by ALL POWS should never be forgotten.
Kathleen…I was reading about your grandfather in a book about the USS Houston (THE SHIP OF GHOSTS, I believe). His strength of character and courage gave me the desire to find out more about him. He was a truly remarkable man!
Kathleen – my name is Sonja Johnson, I am the director of the South Dakota National Guard Museum, and I have been researching your grandfather’s story for some time. I would love to talk with you about his story and his life. You can message me on the Museum Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/southdakotanationalguardmuseum/
I am doing some research on your grandfather. Would you mind giving me a call at the South Dakota National Guard Museum.