The November meeting was held on November 19 at the Farquar Building in the Texana Room. Mrs.
Reba Robinson, retired professor and principal, was introduced as the club’s featured speaker.
As she has given very interesting programs previously, the group was looking forward to her explanation of the significance of the Richie Boys from the WWII era.
Camp Richie, located in Maryland and named for the 49th Governor, was established in 4926, and had been utilized by the National Guard. By 1940, America had entered the war, and the US government took over the facilities for a widely kept secret program involving Jewish, German, and Neise Japanese refugees, including a few women.
These peoples were personally familiar with Europe and Hitler thus when the war came to their adopted country, 2000 joined the US military, who was to make great use of their knowledge and abilities.
Camp Richie was set up to train people in intelligence gathering, prisoner interrogation, and espionage using their language skills. A German village was created within Camp Richie to use as a training facility. There were 28 Black soldiers among the European immigrants who trained along with Japanese women who were used to translate captured Japanese documents, while WAC’s sometimes were employed as “captured individual” so that Richie Boys could practice their interrogation techniques. In the spring of 1944 before these unique refugee trainees went back to Europe to aid in the war effort.
From D-day forward Richie Boys fought in every major battle in Europe and Africa, collecting intelligence and interrogating prisoners and civilians. The goal of the Richie Boys establishment was to fight Naziism and they succeeded!
After a break for refreshments, President Caralyn Strnadel shared an article about Dr.
Grace Danforth, pioneer physician. She practiced in Granger, TX in 1889 and in addition to being one of the first women doctors, she was also a promoter of women’s suffrage.
December’s meeting was held at the Victoria Country Club. It was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, decoratively accented goodie bags and gaily dressed ladies. President Carolyn Strnadel treated everyone to a scrumptious meal.
After the meal, Christmas cards with personal holiday greetings and angel ornaments enclosed were made to be delivered to all Jackson County nursing home individuals.
