Bossier Native Survives WWII Prison Camp, Part 1

This Friday is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, first established in 1979 through a proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter. Since then, each subsequent president has issued an annual proclamation commemorating the third Friday in September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Today, more than 81,600 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts. Approximately 72,000 missing Americans are from WWII alone, 976 of which are Louisianans.

Among those unaccounted for include those buried with honors as unknowns, officially buried at sea, and missing in action, including prisoners of war. Not all POWs became unaccounted for; many were liberated and came home. This week we remember Robert Milton Pittman, Sr., a Plain Dealing native who survived being a POW in Germany during WWII.

Pittman graduated from Plain Dealing High School in 1940 as a track runner and football player. His skill on the gridiron won him a scholarship to Tulane University, where he continued his education. At the end of 1941, the United States entered World War II after Japan staged a surprise attack on American military installations in the Pacific with the most devastating strike at Pearl Harbor. Pittman registered for the draft in 1942 and was accepted, along with 45 other Bossierites, by the Bossier City Draft Board No. 1 in May of 1943 for Army Air Force Services.

Robert Milton Pittman

After going through basic training and several technical schools, he reported to Omaha, Nebraska, for assignment to a combat crew. But once they saw that he played football for Tulane, they signed him up to play football for the Second Air Force that fall. Pittman did not want to stay and play football for the base team; he wanted to join a combat crew. He put in a request for assignment on a combat crew, and it was granted. His assignment was to a B-24 Liberator Bomber crew of the 712th Squadron of the 448th Bomb Group.

On Apr. 5, 1945, The "Bossier Tribune" announced, "Plain Dealing Man German POW."

"S/Sgt. R. Milton Pittman, radioman-gunner on a B-24, reported missing in action over Germany since Jan. 16, is a prisoner of the German government, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.D. Pittman of Plain Dealing, have been advised by the war department.

"In a card received a few days after the report from the war department, Sergeant Pittman told his parents he is in perfect health and is grateful for the Red Cross clothing distributed in the camp.

"The young flier, who has been overseas since August, 1944, has a brother, Sgt. Perry Pittman, stationed in Thomasville, Ga. His brother-in-law, S/Sgt. Cecil R. Roberts, is a marine stationed in the Pacific area."

Then, on June 7, 1945, "The Bossier Banner-Progress" announced, "Sgt. Milton Pittman Is Reported at Home Now" [Miller's Bluff Correspondent].

"Sgt. Milton Pittman arrived home Monday morning from overseas. He had been a war prisoner of the Germans since the 16th of last January. He was liberated on the 29th of April by our armed forces, and arrived in the States last Tuesday, May 29th.

"Milton was a radio man-gunner on one of the planes that bombed Berlin so often last winter. We're all quite glad he is back home and in good health. All are rejoicing with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.D. Pittman, of the Wardview community."

Another interesting report appeared in "The Shreveport Journal" on June 28, 1945.

"Lieut. John J. Doles, Jr., is with the 14th armored division that liberated the big prisoner of war camp at Moosburg, Germany. He did not know that his school mate, Milton Pittman, whom he had liberated many times in football games, was one of the prisoners. Lieutenant Doles has what it takes to make a good soldier. In his last letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Doles, he asked them not to worry about him, that he is all right and is in no danger now. We are all proud of you, Lieutenant Doles."

These reports in the local papers let us know that he was captured by the enemy, held prisoner and that he wanted his folks to know that he was in good health. We also know that he was liberated and came home. These articles are all his community saw and learned about his ordeal until he shared his story.

Often, survivors of war don't like talking about their experiences; it's something that most want to and try to forget. Those who share their stories allow the listeners to understand better what it was like for them and others serving in the military during wartime. Pittman shared his story with the Plain Dealing Phi Delta Club in 1980. The Bossier Parish Libraries History Center is grateful to have been donated the transcript of that talk and the discussion afterward. Come back next week to read a summary of his account of what it was like to be a POW in Germany during WWII.

By: Amy Robertson