Camps
Held In: STALAG VII A, DULAG LUFT, STALAG LUFT III
How
Long Interned: 317 days
Liberated
/ repatriated:liberated
Date
Liberated: 04/19/45
Age
at Capture: 31
Medals
Received: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION MEDAL, POW MEDAL, AIR
MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ETO MEDAL, WW II VICTORY MEDAL
Military
Job: FLIGHT OFFICER
Company:
M&M, MARS CANDIES
Occupation
after War: MANAGER
Bio:
Steve P. Odahowski was a Flight Officer and Glider Pilot with the 71st
Sqd., 434th Group with the 9th Air Force when he landed his plane behind
enemy lines on June 6, 1944. He landed his Horsa Glider on a supply
mission for the 101st Airborne. Upon landing he was captured by German
paratroopers. Interrogated at Dulag Luft, where most airmen went after
they were captured, then spent a few days in solitary confinement, and
sent on to various POW camps, or Stalag. Steve was sent to Stalag Luft
3. In January, they were marched out of the camp in the freezing cold.
They walked for many days and also rode in box cars to Stalag 7-A near
Munich. He was liberated on April 1, 1945 by General Patton's Armored
Division, then to Rheims, France and to Lucky Strike and back home in
June 13, 1945.
Message to Future Generations:
"Don't let anyone take your freedom away from you."
