UNDATED — Tom Reimensnyder of Mifflinburg is well-known for his work with the Central Susquehanna Valley Veteran’s Council. A Korean War veteran, Tom spoke with us about Bill Baumer, a Milton native, author and Air Force vet.
During the Korean conflict, Baumer flew missions over North Korea and China, “He was shot down over, well they say North Korea, but I think it was over China to tell you the truth. When the plane got hit he lost his leg which was badly shot up. Then he landed in frozen areas in China, I believe. He lost fingers and toes on the other extremities. In the prison camp they had him in, they amputated his leg.”
Reimensnyder says Baumer languished in a concentration camp, “When they had the cease-fire at the end of the Korean situation, they found him a year and a half after that in a Chinese concentration camp and finally got him out.”
Baumer went on to write a book called “The Extended Mission of Stardust Four Zero” about his experiences as a prisoner of war. (Jennifer Wakeman)