Military Nurse–In searching for real-life stories to write about, I came across this real and profoundly moving story of forbidden love during World War II and the shocking, hidden history of race on the home front.
“Elinor Powell was an African American nurse in the U.S. military during World War II; Frederick Albert was a soldier in Hitler’s Army, captured by the Allies, and shipped to a prisoner-of-war camp “in Arizona. 1
What’s more, with a large number of American men away in battle, under the Geneva Convention, the P.O.W. detainees of war could work.
As a result, Frederick Albert worked in the kitchen at the camp in Arizona, meanwhile, Elinor Elizabeth Powell was an African-American military nurse.
Later, their paths would cross in Arizona in 1944.
After completing training at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., she was sent, along with other black military nurses to care for the German detainees of war in Florence, Arizona.
The words of the son
According to her son, they met,” when his father was working in the kitchen, he made advances toward his mother and stated: ‘You should know my name. I’m the man who will marry you.’
They were very mindful there was a significant segregation issue and that the Americans weren’t generally permitted to involved.
The End of the War
By war’s end, all German P.O.W.’s, including Frederick Albert, was sent to Germany.
Frederick returned to the United States, he and Elinor wedded on June 26, 1947, in Manhattan. They faced racism and had a difficult time finding work and a place to live.
So they moved to Boston and did find a few jobs. But eventually, he decided to move back to Gottingen, Germany, where his family lived.
Where he could work for his dad’s concrete business.
However, Germany was troublesome. His family members never had contact with people of color, which made it difficult and awkward for Elinor.
In under two years, Frederick, Elinor, Stephen, and Chris, who was a newborn child, returned to the United States.
Settling in Morton, Pa. Where they experienced the school racial issues.
Reference:
Columbus: Alexis Clark on Enemies in Love
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