Life As A Prisoner of War

WWII Veteran Speaks On POW

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Maurice Bonemeyer described a gruesome scene while overseas,”The five men were used to remove dead solider Germans into the barn, the American dead were left lying on the ground as the German tank ran over them.”

What would you do if you received a letter that your child was now a prisoner of war? Then think, what if you were that POW? For Maurice Bonemeyer of Fargo, there wasn’t much to think about.

“I don’t know what i was thinking, I was just trying to survive,” said Bonemeyer.

Bonemeyer served in the 99th division for the United States Army where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was then captured by the Germans. He went in weighing 180 pounds.

“When I was liberated, I only weighed 128 pounds,” said Bonemeyer.

He received multiple awards such as the combat infantry badge, the Purple Heart, and bronze stars. He then went to school and became a dentist here in Fargo for 34 years at the Black Building.

Even at his age is says to keep on moving, he wants to keep his mind sharp and also his body.

Along with crossword puzzles, the 90 year old hits the gym

Showing his moves Bonemeyer said,”I exercise a good half hour a day at least, 7 days a week too.”

Bonemeyer says everyone has to make sacrifices and his was being at the POW camp. Otherwise he would not have the family that he has today.

While smiling he said, “My whole life, could have never happened if I hadn’t gone through all of that. And like I tell people today, I’m the absolute richest man in the world except for money.”

The U.S. Army 99th Infantry Division had over 6,500 casualties in WWII.