Paul Bucheister
Reported Missing in Action
Word from the war department last week informed Paul A. Bucheister of Cedar Lake that his only son, Pfc. Paul, had been missing in Belgium since December 17th. In service the past two years, he has only been overseas since November, going to the front lines immediately. Previous to entering the service he had attended Heidelberg College at Tiffin, Ohio, and had worked in the Carnegie Steel Corp., at Gary, where he was preparing for a career as a sales engineer. His mother died 9 years ago. The young man was well known to the younger set here.The following March 22, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:
Cedar Lake Boy Prisoner of War
Word has been received by Paul Bucheister of Cedar Lake, that his son, Paul, who was reported missing in action some time ago, is now reported to be a prisoner of war in Germany. Paul, Sr., received the following letter from Stalag XIII, a German prison camp:"Am well and looking forward to coming home to the best cooking ever." He also writes of his desire for wheat cakes and ham, and for many other things to eat that are stocked in refrigerators in America. He sent love and regards to all his family and friends.
The Bucheister refrigerator will really be stocked up when young Paul finally arrives home.
The following June 7, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
Home from German Prison Camp
Sgt. Paul Bucheister, Jr., returned to his parents' home May 26 upon being reprocessed following his liberation from a German prisoner of war camp. Sgt. Bucheister was captured Dec. 18, and liberated just one week before V-E Day near Steinbeck, Germany.Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bucheister, his fiancée, Miss Vicki Sato, were happy to welcome the Cedar Lake soldier back home and were interested to hear his varied experiences while in Europe.
According to Sgt. Bucheister, Allied troops held by the Germans had to endure many hardships throughout their days as captives. Their diet of black, moldy bread and watery potato soup did not afford proper vitamins, causing many to suffer from malnutrition and dysentery. He said that had it not been for the few American Red Cross food parcels they were permitted to receive, few could have endured the long forced road marches and long hours of hard labor the Germans dealt out to them.
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