CPL Alvin I. Fehlman
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War: World War II (POW) Branch: United States Army Unit: Combat-Infantry Division Service Location: Battle of the Bulge; Germany Rank: Corporal Wartime Service Dates: March 1944 to November 1945 Library of Congress Link: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/86638 Deceased - January 22, 2014 In Memoriam | Obituary Notice |
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After enlisting in the Army in March 1944 at Ft. Sheridan, CPL Fehlman began his training by attending chauffeur school and became a military truck driver. Following a journey across the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth to Glasgow, Scotland, he traveled through England then on to his assignment in Belgium. During the Battle of the Bulge, he was captured by the Germans and held in five P.O.W. camps. CPL Fehlman was forced to give up his weapons, money, shoes and all belongings. He marched for twenty-three days along railroad tracks at night, was locked in boxcars sleeping on straw, suffered frostbitten feet and toes, and sustained multiple other injuries. He suffered some of the worst conditions of WW II. In fact, his wife received a Western Union Telegram stating Mr. Fehlman was missing in action. He was freed on April 19, 1945 and discharged on November 30, 1945. He received many awards for his service. Recently, he traveled to Washington DC with Honor Flight in June of 2011 to view the WW II monument; most notable was his visit to the area dedicated to “The Battle of the Bulge”.
CPL Fehlman's advice to younger generations is “Freedom is not free,” and “Treat others like you would want to be treated.”
Gier, E. 2013, “First Person Story of CPL Alvin Fehlman”, National History Club Newsletter, Fall 2013, Issue XXV11, pp. 1-2. Article. - www.nationalhistoryclub.org/documents/Fall13.pdf
Article circulated to 20,000 high school National History Club students, advisors and other history educators.
In Memoriam of CPL Alvin I. Fehlman: Tribute to Alvin I. Fehlman - (January 13, 1922 - January 22, 2014)
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Video InterviewVHP Al Fehlman 23 Jul 12 from Veterans Tribute on Vimeo.
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