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6ATHE LORDSBURG LIBERAL — Friday, August 20,1976Personalities And PoliciesEDITOR’S NOTE: For the next few months the Lordsburg Liberal will publish several Bicentennial stories written by localresearchers. The local research was conducted by students enrolled in Dr. Phil Cook’s, “Problems in American History” class. By MOLLIE PRESSLER Special To The Liberal Col. C. A. Lundy Lt. Col. C. A. Lundy, the firstand probably most tolorful of all tne camp’s commanders, arrived in April to take command of the Lordsburg cantonment which was to ooen June 14, 1942. Lundy seemed tohave been well received by Lordsburg, and spoke at many civic functions, including Armistice Day and Pearl Harbor Day celebrations.His army career began in 1901 when he enlisted in the11th Cavalry as a private and saddler. At one time, he had soldiered with the late Will Rogers. Prior to his Lordsburg assignment, he had served in various capacities throughout the world.While here, he was^■1^ ^ S A ^ ^ s - — — — - — — — — W w — — — — —of Subdistrict No. 3 of the Southern Defense Command, a rim of counties along the Southern edge of the United State’s boundary where, it was considered, the United Statesight be exposedColLundy had a difficult job to do as commanding officer at the Internment Camp, for there were no precedents in our history for him to follow. His efforts were rewarded in November, 1942, when he received a promotion to fullColonel.His record was marred, however, when scarcely more than a month later, an intensiveComing EventsMONDAYCeramics - Civic Center - 10 a.m. to 12 noon.Novena - St. Joseph’s Catholic Church - After Mass. Blood Pressure Clinic - Health Dept. - 8 a.m. to 12 noon Sage and Sand Extension Club - Civic Center - 2 p.m.TUESDAYinvestigation by the Inspector General revealed:He had misappropriated funds and supplies. For example, band instruments for the Japanese sent by the International Red Cross were given to the officers. He may have also misused the Japanese’ rations savings...At any rate, at the end of the investigation, rather than take any disciplinary measures against him, the army recommended his retirement.Lundy was described as being quite a character, one who fixed the duty rosters of his poker-playing buddies to coincide with his game schedule. He loved his “B and B’s,” but would never take a drink “until the flag went down.” In the early days before a full company had arrived at the camp, and there was little to do, the lowerip of the flag at day’s end woul afford him the opportunity to announce, “Flag’s down.” The camp safe, containing nothing but a bottle of whiskey, was then opened, and a round of drinks was poured.Col. Louis A. Ledbetter, who had been instrumental in bringing the investigation of Lundy’s procedures, replacedLundy as commander of the camp in December of 1942.Ledbetter came into the regular army through the national guard of Oklahoma where for three years, he was Adjutant General of the state, later serving as commander of an internment camp in Louisiana.In civilian life, he was one of the prominent lawyers of Oklahoma before assuming military duties.He continued as commander of the camp until December of 1943. During his command, all Japanese internees were relocated about June, 1942, and the internment camp became a Prisoner of War camp. Italian soldiers, captured in North Africa, were brought to Lordsburg, where Ledbetter, a prisoner spokesman reported, treated them “as if he were their father.”Another concern of his was finding work for the prisoners outside of camp. This he did in establishing sub-camps where the Drisoners aided fanners inharvesting crops.Col. Joseph R. Carvolth fol-Ledbetter in administration of the camp. Carvolth, a “congenial, cordial gentleman,” escorted Governor Dempsey around the campfnmmiccinn fin Aoino _ 1 n m . fSvi/* C' on torwhen the official visited Lordsburg in January of 1944. During his command, it isreported that for a while the camp housed German and Italian prisoners of war at thesame time.His period of administration would see the Italians relocated and the camp being iut on a reserve, stand-by _asis during the summer months of 1944. The Italianfoundim to be as fatherly as his pre-decessor, for Carvolth reported to a Swiss Legationinspecting *and designated for internmentcamp that...contrary toillt;popular belief, he found the Italian personnel just as obdurate and difficult to handle as all the German prisoners whom he had known formerly and that the Facisti in this camp are still much stronger than the anti-Facisti.In die same report, however, it was noted that Carvolth had done excellent work at another prisoner of war camp, and it was felt that the commander administered this “difficult camp” in a commendable manner.Col. I. Rainbolt In September of 1944, Lt. Col.NapoleonTexas, was assigned to takecommand when tne camp removed from reserve statusof German noncooperativefiinoncommissioned lt;oners of war.It appears that Col. Rain-bolt’s wife was the only camp commander’s wife who accompanied her husband to reside in Lordsburg. Col. Rain-bolt’s stay at the camp was short lived, lasting less than five months. Apparently, difficulties existed between Rainbolt and the German prisoners, who numbered at one time approximately 5,500.Lt. Col. Rainbolt was assigned to Heame, Texas, and Col. John L. Lee arrived to take final command of the camp about January, 1945. Col. Lee, a native of Virginia, had been director of Military Command in Headquarters of the Eighth Service Command, and was a former professor of Military Science and Tactics at Houston High School.His command, too, was to be short-lived, for the camp was phased out and placed on surplus status effective June 15, 1945. In general, the Germanfirisoners during his command elt that their treatment was “fair and correct,” and “military courtesies” were shown them in what appeared to be a “well’administered” camp, according to one inspection report in January, 1945. Insucceeding months, however, Col. Lee came under some criticism when he permitted the prisoners to have a...spectacular celebration of Helden-gedenktag or heroes commemoration day It was asNazi a celebration as the annual Nurenberg Congress.Recommendations weremade for alleviating other problems in dealing with the noncooperative NCO German prisoners, but little time remained. Notification was received from Headquarters, Eighth Service Command, that there would be “no furtherneed” for the camp after June 15,1945.128 E. Railroad Ave.Ice Cold BeerDiscount LiquorsCigarettesPipe TobaccoBooks - MagazinesCome CheckOur PricesWalk A LittleSave A Lot
Newspaper Details
Lordsburg Liberal
Lordsburg, New Mexico, US
Fri, Aug 20, 1976
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Dale E.
USA 17 Mar 2019
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