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Manning Monitor April 17, 1941 Russell Lathrop In Selective Service Russell Lathrop, son of Mrs. Henry Brandhorst, will leave Manning Thursday for Carroll, where he will board a train minute to Ft. Des Moines. He will take his final examinations for selective service. Russell will be the only draftee to leave Manning during the month of April. Russell is a graduate of Manning High School with the class of 1939 and since that time has been employed at the W. B. Parrott Produce at Manning and at Perry. Russell will bring the total of draftees from Manning up to six with several in line for service the first of May. Manning Monitor articles------ 1943 Russell Lathrop Writes About Life in Algeria
Algeria, Africa, Jan. 8, 1943 Dear Friends: Lester Hagedorn and Harold Reinart are two from Manning who have been with me since we left the States. Ray Asmus stayed at Ireland. "Our mail was very slow in getting here at first, but has been coming much better lately. A month old letter or paper still looks good to us. I got a Des Moines Register yesterday telling of the Yanks taking over Algeria. Letters are like dreams and I wish to thank all of my friends who have written and hope they continue to do so. May this letter find all of you in Manning in the best of health and happiness. Russell C. Lathrop, Co. C, 109 Medical Bn., U. S. Army, A.P.O. 34 Russell Lathrop Writes Relatives have received news from Russell Lathrop who writes from Algeria, North Africa. He writes briefly about the warm climate and his views on the natives, mostly Arabian and French. Russell states that he probably won't be able to write again for some time and wishes his friends here. Merry Christmas. Treated Well By Irish Russell Lathrop writes from Ireland that the Irish people treat them fine. He says that the boys miss magazines and home-town papers and always glad when some one gets a batch of razor blades. They don't get them over here. Paul Jentsch has received a photograph letter from his grandson, Russell Lathrop. The letter cannot be long, the squares on which the letters are reproduced are very small. He says he often sees Lester Hagedorn and Roy Asmus. Russell Lathrop Reported Missing On Africa Front  Mrs. Henry Brandhorst has received notice from Washington that her son, Private First Class Russell Lathrop has been reported missing in action on the African front since February 17. Russell left here for the army in April 1941 and left this country for Ireland in February 1942. He was transferred to Scotland and then took part in the first African invasion. He was stationed with the medical detachment. Russel Lathrop Prisoner of War In Germany Mrs. Pearl Brandhorst has received word that her son, Russell Lathrop, is a prisoner of war of the German government. Russell, who is an ambulance driver with the medical division, was the first boy from Manning reported missing in action in Africa, February 17th. He was a member of the first contingent to land there. The message was from the government and stated that a letter of information would follow. Receive Letters From Boys In German Prisons Mrs. Henry Brandhorst, who was recently notified that her son Russell Lathrop was a prioner of war, received a personal letter from Russ this week, stating that he was in a prison camp in Germany. He gave his permanent address for the duration and a list of things he would like to have sent. He will be allowed to receive a package every 60 days, weighing not more than 11 pounds. He can receive letters and cards from anyone at anytime and can himself write 2 letters and 4 cards a month.
He says the prison camp in Germany is O.K., and informs his mother to get in touch with
the Red Cross to get information regarding articles which can be sent, etc. Russell Lathrop Writes From German Prison Camp Russell Lathrop, now in a German prison camp, following capture in the African war theatre, writes to his folks, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brandhorst. The letter dated April 24, reads in part . "Dear Folks. Writing from German to Manning is really traveling for a letter, as well as traveling a lot myself lately. Italy and Germany are two more countries added to my list of countries. I will be 24 next week and am feeling fine and in the best of health. I really have a suntan. My time from now on is like the fellows get at the Produce in January. I suppose the Produce is in full swing again.
"I hope you have seen the Red Cross and can send a box to me. The Red Cross is grand
to us here. I have seen a man from almost every country now. Two letter forms and four
cards a month we are allowed to write. Hoping to hear from you in the near future take
care of yourself mother, and don't worry about me. Hear From Russell Lathrop We are very happy to receive a card from Russell Lathrop, dated May 12, 1943, from a prison camp in Germany, which states as follows:
Am a prisoner of war, but feeling fine. Manning Monitor articles------ 1944
Russell Lathrop Gets Package Manning Monitor articles------ 1945
Lathrop, Prisoner of War, Writes from Germany
I am the "American Man of Confidence" here in the hospital, It's a very responsible job,
writing to the American Government for all Americans who came in here as patients; the
job of dealing with Geneva in Switzerland for Red Cross parcels and any personal matters
concerning the men here. VE-Day Brings Good News To Local Families V-E Day brought good news to two of Manning's families. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brandhorst received a letter from her son Russell Lathrop, who has been a prisoner of the Germans for more than two years, telling them that he had been freed.
He states that he has, been in a hospital in France and was leaving, it May 4th, to return
to the United States and could hardly wait until he could get home. RUSSEL LATHROP FREED Mrs. Henry Brandhorst received a wire Tuesday from the government stating that her son, Russell Lathrop, prisoner of war in Germany, has been freed and was preparing to return to the United States. Pfc Lathrop's training and military experience is quite similar to that of Sgt. Owen's. He went into training with the national guard from Audubon to Camp Claiborne and has been in the army 4 years in April. Russell was in the medical corps and
participated in the African campaign and was taken prisoner at Faid pass. This Thursday morning Mrs. Brandhorst received the following telegram: Boston, Mass., "Arrived safely, expect to see you soon. Don't attempt to contact or write me. Russell." Russell Lathrop Taken by Germans in February 1943 Freed by French and Given Good Feed April 25 Pvt. Russell Lathrop, son of Mrs. Henry Brandhorst, who has been a prisoner of war of the Germans since February, 1943, arrived in Manning last weekend. Mr. and Mrs. Brandhorst and Russell's sister, Mrs. Kennard Chaney and daughter, Carol Sue, of Omaha met him in Omaha.
Russell was captured with 3000 in a medical unit of the United States Army at Faid Pass
by the Germans. First the group was marched to Tunis where they were kept for about
three weeks and then were flown to Sicily where they remained for only a week before
they were taken by train to a camp in Italy for another three weeks.
Two of his buddies were with him this entire time. The Black Forest region was the playground of the wealthy, in former days. Lathrop was alone in this hospital for one year and five months. One of his buddies had been permitted to return to the states due to his health and the other had been sent to a prison camp.
There were no American doctors in the hospital, only three Americans in the entire
personnel. The greater share of the doctors were English; there were others from New
Zealand, Australia and South Africa. He is home on a 60 day furlough and then will report to a rest camp at Hot Springs for 90 days, after which he will report for reassignment or perhaps a discharge from service. Russell was very fortunate in being assigned to the ship for his return to the United States on which Amos Misselhorn, B 1/c, of Manning, was a member of the crew.
Russell states that because he belonged to the medical corps he comes under terms of
special protection according to the Geneva convention. POW Ends Stay in Manning Home Pfc. Russell C, Lathrop, who has spent a 60-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brandhorst after being released from a German prison camp, will report for further duty at Hot Springs, Ark. He leaves Friday morning and will be accompanied as far as Omaha by his fiancee, Miss Joyce Thompsen, who plans to return home that evening. |
Russell C. Lathrop
Russell C. Lathrop, World War II veteran and P.O.W. in Germany for nearly three years, passed away April 23, 2007, at the age of 88 years.
He was born on a farm near Botna, Iowa, to the parents Earl Lathrop and Pearl (Jentsch) Lathrop. After the loss of his father when he was one year old, he was raised in Manning, Iowa, by his mother Pearl and step-father Henry Brandhorst.
Russ was a graduate of the 1939 Manning High School.
He Married Joyce Thompson in 1945 and they have one son, Larry, of Volcana, California, and one grandson Chad Lathrop of Berkeley, California.
Although he lived in California 61 years and resided in San Mateo, California 57 years, his fondest memories were growing up in Manning.
Russ retired early from the San Mateo-Foster City School district because of poor health and during this time he enjoyed good food, helping others, salmon and trout fishing, exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains, riding his Honda 90, and driving around in his 1984 Ford truck to visit his many friends. He was a "people person," and will be missed by many.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Virginia Chaney, of Audubon, Iowa.
Interment will be at a later date in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery.