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Pfc. Melvin Eugene "Popeye" Gregory
US Army 168th Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Division
from:oakesdale, washington, usa
My uncle Mel Gregory was captured at Anzio Beach, Italy in April, 1944. He was part of a seven man machine gun nest. They were hit by grenade and knocked unconscious. Mel suffered injuries to his left arm, left leg and face. He lost sight in his left eye. The other six members of his squad were unconscious when the Germans overran their positioin. Since they were unconscious the Germans slit their throats. Since Mel was conscious during the overrun, he was taken prisoner. Mel escaped twice during the next 13 months. He was housed at Moosburg, 7A and in Poland he was held at Hammerstein/Schlochau 2B, Stellin 3B, and Alt Drewitz bei Kurstrim 3C, all in Poland. While at 7A Mel became reaquainted with Fred Schumann from Garfield, Washington just 10 miles from Mel's hometown of Oakesdale, Washington. The two men were members of the class of '43 and competed against each other in the Whitman County League in junior high and high school basketball and high school football. They had known each other for many years and had many friends and aquaintences in common.
