Dear Leland,
The email string below is from a cousin of mine, Lt. Col. Glenn Nivens,
who is a Viet Nam War vet and Chmn. of the Gold Star Committee in AL.
Glenn made me aware that the surviving soldiers from Berga are to be
honored (see the
email posts below... and read to the end of this email to ck. for
Wallace Carden's name listed along with the 12 others who are survivors
of Berga).
Recently we had a small discussion about Wallace Carden's war service on
the Carden list, and I wrote back to you then to ask if you knew of
Wallace's address. I haven't heard back from you on this and was hoping
that you would share Wallace's address with my cousin Lt. Col. Glenn
Nivens. Even if Wallace doesn't want the recognition, I'm sure that he
would want to know what is going to be done to honor all of the heroes
of that war torn period in our nation's history.
Please let me know your thoughts on this as the deadline is approaching
for contact to be made with Wallace Carden concerning his participation
in this ceremony honoring him, and the others who were at Berga.
Thanks,
Martha Smith
Dothan, AL
Descendant of: JHR Carden->Wm. C. Carden-> R.G. Carden in Shelby Co, AL
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert G. Nivens [mailto:rnivens2887@charter.net]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 9:34 AM
To: Martha
Subject: RE: Dear Colleague: Veterans - (H.Res.883) Soldiers at Berga
Resolution
US Congressman Bachus' Chief of Staff asked me yesterday if we had
established contact yet with Wallace Carden, and I had to tell him that
we were still trying. They are most eager to tender this public
recognition if we can get it all together.
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha [mailto:dixiepeanut@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 9:10 AM
To: 'Robert G. Nivens'
Subject: RE: Dear Colleague: Veterans - (H.Res.883) Soldiers at Berga
Resolution
Hi Glenn,
No answer from Leland Carden as yet. IDK why, he usually answers my
emails promptly.
There may be several reasons, but if I do hear anything on the
whereabouts of Wallace
Carden, I'll let you know. I think it would be a wonderful thing to be
able to honor him
in that manner.
Later, Martha
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert G. Nivens [mailto:rnivens2887@charter.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 5:22 AM
To: Martha
Subject: RE: Dear Colleague: Veterans - (H.Res.883) Soldiers at Berga
Resolution
Thanks Martha,
I'm eager to know if there is any Alabama connection...seems that
the US Congress is intending to pass a national resolution in honor of
these surviving veterans of Berga, and someone has indicated that this
Wallace Carden is now a resident of Alabama.
RGN
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha [mailto:dixiepeanut@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 9:40 PM
To: 'Robert G. Nivens'
Subject: RE: Dear Colleague: Veterans - (H.Res.883) Soldiers at Berga
Resolution
Hi Glenn,
Thanks for the note.
The article about the Berga prison camp was very touching, and yet
pitiful. Those men at Berga were such heroes. Unlike you and others who
have served in
a theater of war, and know of some of these things first hand, most of
the rest of us have no real conception of how horribly cruel a war can
be.
As far as I know Wallace Carden was not a Shelby Co. Carden, but he may
be an ancestor of Bill Carden of Tullahoma, TN, a cousin from a
collateral Carden line of mine. I've emailed Bill the link, so we shall
see. Maybe there's some family followup info. on him, and if so, I'll
let you know what I find out.
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert G. Nivens [mailto:rnivens2887@charter.net]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 2:12 PM
To: Martha & Terry Smith
Subject: FW: Dear Colleague: Veterans - (H.Res.883) Soldiers at Berga
Resolution
Importance: High
Hello Martha,
Here's a question for you... amongst your Carden kin, have you ever
heard of this Wallace Carden?
To give you a bit more information, please google: "The Tennessean
October 29, 2003, "Holocaust Soldiers Recall Capture,Liberation" by
Anita Wadhwani. Herein you will find that Wallace Carden enlisted in
the Army from Briceville, TN northeast of Oak Ridge.
Glenn
__________________________________
From: D. Villanueva (De La Cruz), Brenda
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 1:36 PM
To: Dear Colleague
Subject: Dear Colleague: Veterans - (H.Res.883) Soldiers at Berga
Resolution
Attention colleagues from AL, CA, FL, GA, NJ, and NY: Please join me in
recognizing the American soldiers from your state that survived the
Berga Nazi detention camp during WWII.
January 4, 2008
Dear Colleague,
American soldiers fought bravely in World War II, yet today some of
these soldiers have gone unrecognized. German Nazi forces captured 350
American soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944. These
soldiers were inhumanely detained at Berga, Germany for 50 excruciating
days before the Allied forces liberated them. Unfortunately, our nation
has never acknowledged them for their service to our nation. Please join
me in co-sponsoring H.Res. 883, a resolution that specifically
recognizes the bravery and sacrifice of these soldiers and expresses
appreciation for their courage and contributions.
The horrible events at Berga were characterized by the German Nazi
policy of physical destruction through labor. Currently, only 13 of the
250 American soldiers liberated on April 25, 1945, are still alive. One
survivor, Anthony Acevedo of California, has worked tirelessly for many
years to raise awareness of their sacrifice and to honor their service.
This resolution:
. represents the first time the U.S. House of Representatives
formally recognizes the soldiers detained at Berga
. recognizes and expresses its appreciation for the courageous and
loyal contributions made by the soldiers at Berga
. encourages all Americans to recognize the service and loyalty of
these soldiers.
Current Berga camp survivors reside in Alabama, California, Florida,
Georgia, New Jersey, and New York. We should not let another Congress
go by without honoring these American soldiers for serving their
country. The tragic loss of soldiers at Berga represents the biggest
loss of American soldiers of all Nazi camps in Germany.
Join me in honoring these soldiers for their courageous service to our
country. Please contact Brenda Villanueva at 5-6161 or email
Brenda.villanueva(a)mail.house.gov if you would like to become a
cosponsor or if you have any questions about the resolution.
Sincerely,
s/
JOE BACA
Member of Congress
43rd Congressional District
List of Survivors (state of residence):
Fellman, Norman D.(NJ)
Shapiro, William (FL)
Iosso, Peter (NJ)
Brooks, Mortin D.(FL)
Littell, Joseph F. (CA)
Acevedo, Anthony C. (CA)
Swack, Myron J. (NJ)
Wente, Martin "CHIC"(CA)
Slotkin, Edward (FL)
Cobine, Walter (GA)
Carden, Wallace (AL)
Lipson, Sid (FL)
Sharer, Sam (NY)
Brenda D. Villanueva | Congressman Joe Baca | Legislative Assistant|
1527 LHOB| Washington, DC 20515| P: 202-225-6161/ F: 202-225-8671
brenda.villanueva(a)mail.house.gov
*The information in this message is the property of the United States
Congress, confidential, and intended only for the use of the addressee.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any unauthorized dissemination, distribution, or
copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Violators are
subject to all penalties as allowed by Federal law. If you have received
this communication in error, please immediately reply to the sender.*