Item Description
Original Items. One-of-a-Kind. This is an unbelievably rare grouping to the Commander of the Fort Knox POW Camp during World War II. Fort Knox was the site of a main Prisoner of War (POW) camp between February 1944 and June 1946. The first POWs to arrive were Italian. In May 1944 they received an opportunity to volunteer for special service units to aid the American Army. While still classified as POWs, they were on an honor system and given more opportunities. German POWs arrived that same month and had a routine camp life which included work, rules, and recreation.
The grouping includes:
-A large blueprint layout map of the Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot, Prisoner of War Branch Camp - 850 Man Addition measuring 23¼ x 33½”. Dated January 1945.
-Two copies of the Camp Fort Knox Kentucky POW commemorative picture book, in English and German. One of the two copies is signed at the top to Capt. Chapman, with the WIDMUNGEN at the end bearing the names and units of 18 German soldiers, a very interesting addition.
-A Large binder with over 175 photographs, spanning Chapman’s years of service from 1925-1946 with a few post war. The most interesting photos include POW photos inside the camp, some showing their everyday life including the mess hall and even some men dressing up for theater productions. There are also five holiday programs that span July 3rd, 1925 to Christmas 1930 and include Chapman’s name and rank in each. The binder also includes several personal family letters and photos, plus a small diary of his father, postcards from various U.S. historical sites, film negatives, and negatives on glass.
-Several printed pages of research about Chapman and his wife.
Richard Jefferson Chapman was born on March 22nd, 1909 in Austell, Georgia. He began his military career at age 16 as a Private in the 2nd Battalion HQ, ROTC in Fort Sill, Oklahoma in July 1925. By December, he was a PFC in Battery A, 1st Field Artillery at Fort Sill. By 1930, he was documented as a Stable Sergeant. During this time Richard worked as a teacher in the Military Department at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. On September 9th, 1939, he married Jessie M. Pinsenschaum. Around February 1944, when the first prisoners of war from Italy and Germany arrived at Camp Fort Knox, Kentucky, Chapman was assigned to the position of Camp Commander, which he held until Spring 1946 when the prisoners were released. German prisoners were very grateful for their fair and correct treatment under Chapman. Chapman remained in the military through the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retiring at the rank of Major. He lived in central Ohio until his death on January 20th, 1981, at the age of 71. He’s buried at Arlington National Cemetary.
This is a phenomenal grouping to the commander of a POW camp during World War II, a one-of-a-king group that you won’t see again. There are so many photos with great details in this group. Ready for further research and display!
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