Volume 15 , Issue 16

WWII POW - Karl Friedrich Koenig

Perhaps there are still some WWII old-timers who might remember Karl Friedrich "Charlie" Koenig was a POW in Oklahoma. Koenig said, "I liked the people here, I liked the way they lived, you know, they were open-minded and friendly."

In the News On 6,newson6.com article, by Scott Thompson, they reported that Koenig, who calls himself Charlie, joined the Germany army when he was 18 years old, and spent 2 1/2 weeks of his time as a POW at the Watson ranch, that Fred Watson (doctor, oilman and rancher) had down near Pumpkin Center, in Okmulgee county, Oklahoma.


NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com

The article mentions why, how Karl Friedrich "Charlie" Koenig came to be a POW during World War II, at Doc Watson's ranch near Pumpkin Center, Okmulgee county, Oklahoma. Most of all the American hired hands were in the service, and to keep the Watson ranch going Watson provided accommodations for the POWs and for two guards.

Charlie went through a series of POW camps in Africa before coming to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas and even spent some time at the Alva, Oklahoma WWII POW camp. He had a short side trip to Okmulgee, then to Fort Polk, Louisiana. At the end of war Charlie went to Belgium and England, before being allowed to return home to Germany in 1947.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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