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Luke Vet Of World War II Finally Receives POW MedalByCHUCK ItlKDKA Times-News Writer After a 45-year delay, the U.S. Department of the Army has honored a l.uke. Md. veteran of the Thunderbird” Division who knows that lightning can strike twice.In 1944 Luke Mayor James T. Warnick was twice captured and on both occasions escaped unscathed from the German army during World War II.Ironically, when Warnick recently received the nation's Prisoner of War Medal he almost forgot about his wartime experiences in Italy.honorable service while a prisoner of war.”The hack side shield is a replica of the U.S. coal of arms.Federal law stipulates that the POW medal is accorded a position of precedence in relation to other authorized awards and decorations worn by its recipient.The medal is placed immediately after decorations for heroism, meritorious achievement or service and before any other service medal, campaign medal or authorized service ribbon.\ccording to the U.S. Army, about 142.000 U.S. citizens were held as prisoners of war since April LI. 1917.The Prisoner of War Medal is presented to POWs who served honorably while detained by the enemy.In a letter to medal recipient James T. Warnick. Army Secretary John (I. Marsh Jr. said the medal recognizes the special service and sacrifice that you have given for this country.”An eagle, surrounded by barbed wire and bayonet points, guards the front of the medal.Marsh told Warnick that the wire and bayonets symbolize the hope that upholds the spirit of the prisoner of war.Fach medal is inscribed, on the hack, with the name of its recipient and the words. ForMay 30. 1944 lound Warnick. then age 19. as an infantryman fighting with the 2nd Battalion, 157th Regiment of the 45th Division.The soldier wore the three stripes of a buck sergeant when he was captured about one month after his birthday while the Thunderbird” Division was approaching Rome Sgt. Warnick was part of a squad-size patrol which was searching for enemy lines.We didn’t know we were in their territory until there were Germans firing all around us and our guys started going down.” he recalls.When the shooting stopped. W'arnick was the only one of seven Americans who was standing and not w ounded Warnick and two German soldiers carried a wounded U.S. lieutenant about three miles toa large building where the Germans temporarily confined prisoners before they could be shipped north to a prisoner of w ar camp.It was there that Warnick. who was to become a career soldier, used the philosophy which he would later impart to fellow soldiers and caaets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.His message was simple: Escape early, as soon as possible. while there are fewer guards and you are closer to the fines.Wamkk's tirst capture came at the time when the infamous railroad-car mounted Big Bertha and Big Bob artillery guns pounded Allied troopsThe POWs knew the U.S. Army Air Corps could put the guns out of action by trapping them in a railroad tunnel if the bombers knew their locationSeveral POWs tried to make a difference.We knew that at least one of two of them made it because a couple of days later, they bombed it real good. Warnick said.By this time Warnick and other POWs were led to a large brick building in the Italian countryside.Warnick. accompanied by a Clarksville. W.Va. area soldier whose last name was Rogers, discovered an unlocked door.(Continued On Page 20»
Newspaper Details
Cumberland Times News
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Fri, Feb 17, 1989
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MD, USA 05 Apr 2017
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