WWII prisoner will lead parade
Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Dec. 19, 1944, is a day Francis "Kelly "Parkinson is not soon to forget.
It was the third day of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, and Parkinson was a member of the 106 th Infantry Division of the U. S. Army. He was captured and placed in a prisoner-of-war camp with 11, 000 other men.
On July 4, 2008, Parkinson will be honored, along with all other veterans, in the second annual Fourth of July parade, sponsored by the Bella Vista Patriots.
When Parkinson tells the tale of his capture, he remembers how his release was far from what would be expected. Not long after he was captured, the Russians - who were technically allied with the Americans - captured the camp. The odd thing was, none of the prisoners were released, even though the war was over.
"It became a little scary," Parkinson said.
The camp had just about every nationality who fought in the war, which made it like the "Tower of Babel," he said. The prisoners were separated by language, which means the British and Americans were placed together. Six days after that, the Americans were driven to an old officers camp in Riesa, Germany.
One day, Parkinson sneaked into the back of a food-supply truck and was eventually able to make it back to American lines. A week or two later, the rest of the prisoners from the camp were finally released. Parkinson eventually made it back to the United States and was discharged one year to the day he was captured.
Parkinson has asked the U. S. government numerous times over the years for some sort of explanation as to why the Allied troops were not released right away when the Russians captured the camp. He's never received an answer.
"I gave up asking," he said.
Parkinson is one of only a handful of World War II POWs still alive in the area. He will be honored, along with other military personnel, during the parade. Parkinson will be the parade's grand marshal.
The parade festivities will start around 10: 30 a.m. in front of Allen's Foods on U. S. Highway 71 in Bella Vista. The actual parade will begin at 11 a.m. near the Dartmoor Bridge, coordinator Jim Parsons said.
The Bella Vista Patriots are still seeking anyone who wants to be involved in the parade, Parsons said. The group is especially interested in having people from various states bring their state flags to display. The children of veterans will also be honored by riding in the parade in Army vehicles. "It will be a good time for family and a bit of Americana," Parsons said. For more information, contact Parsons at 876-2624.
or ltcparsons @ cox. net.
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