Nathan Sachnowitz

Prisoner of War

Personal Information

Birthplace: San Antonio, TX

Service Information

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: 52nd Armored Infantry Bn., 6th and 9th Armored Divisions

Theater of Operation: European

Enlisted / Commissioned: Nov 25, 1940

Highest Rank: MAJ

Military Honors: Bronze Star Medal;, Purple Heart

Honored By: Dickinson County Historical Society & Heritage Center, and the Eisenhower Foundation.

Biography

A complete service record is not available for Nathan Sachnowitz, but we do know he initially enlisted in the National Guard at the age of 19 in 1940. In March 1943, while stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, Sachnowitz was promoted to First Lieutenant of the 9th Armored Division. In May 1943, he married Geraldine “Jerry” Isler of nearby Chapman, KS. Deployed to Europe, now-Lt. Sachnowitz, commander of a heavy machine gun platoon, was captured in Germany on December 19, 1944, likely during the Battle of the Bulge. Sachnowitz was taken to Oflag X111B, a POW camp for officers, in Hammelburg, Germany. (Source: https://hillbillygeek.net/oflag64/display.php?id=1522&in=S) In the waning months of the war, Sachnowitz was released from Stalag II prison camp and rejoined his division. (See attached news articles.) Major Sachnowitz is buried in the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, King County, Washington.