207429 PFC. Ezra W. "Jodie" Simmons US Army 509th Parachute Infantry Battlion from:Sheridan, LA My Uncle Ezra W. Simmons (my Mother's brother) was a POW in Stalag 2B during WW2, he was with the 509th Parachute Infantry Battlion, which was the first American Unit to parachute into combat in November 1942. He would only talk about the war with other vets, such as my Father. I did hear him say that he almost froze to death many times in that camp. He was from Sheridan, LA. After the war, he went on to be a commercial fisherman and alligator hunter on the Pearl River at Slidell, La. I remember him as a very rugged man, who was "not" afraid of anything.
Uncle Jodie was married, and had one son. His wife died, and his son was killed in an accident. Uncle Jodie died in the 1970's. I do remember that he and my aunt went to a couple of reunions somewhere with the group he was with during the war. Hopefully, this info will help someone else in some way.
When he was alive, I never realized the sacrifice he and others made, and never did thank him for that sacrifice. I sure wish I would have. We owe alot to the WW2 Vets. Thank you Vets.
|