I recently drove up north to Arizona's Mogollon Rim country, and we were surprised to see ordinarily dry creek beds and washes filled with running water. Seeing an active creek bed strangely reminded me of a piece of interesting World War II history: Did you know Arizona had a POW camp that held German prisoners?
These prisoners were from the German Navy and represented a skilled military group dedicated to the German cause. Their captive captain felt his responsibility was to organize an escape and return to the fight. His crew had access to the camp's library and history books to pass the time; lo and behold, one of the books had a map of Arizona! As they poured over the map's details, they realized the camp was near a river that led to Mexico! The plan - escape, get a boat, and go to a neutral country! They were excited for the plan to materialize.
The Great Escape Attempt
On the night of Dec. 23, 1944, after a tedious period of digging through decomposed granite 178 feet out under camp, 25 prisoners squeezed under a barbed wire fence and scattered across the desert toward the river. Much to their dismay, their boat plan quickly dried up because the river was dry. Many of the prisoners gave up and walked back to the prison. But a small group led by the officer decided to push on, thinking there would be water at some point; after all, it was a river! After a few days with limited food and water, more and more of them gave up and turned themselves in. Eventually, the captain did too, but not before he brazenly walked into a café in downtown Phoenix and ordered a bowl of soup and a beer before being apprehended. As he returned through the prison gates of Camp Papago Park, he was cheered by the other German prisoners for at least trying.
If you want to digest more details on the escape, search for titles online like "Escape into Arizona's Desert," "The Great Papago Escape," or "The Crazy Boatmen."
It's always funny how the simple sight of a dry creek bed can trigger a memory of a long-forgotten incident. Hope you enjoyed my sharing of it!
By David Edge
David Edge is a retirement lifestyle writer and contributor to the ARA monthly newsletter. His articles blend personal stories with practical insights on living well in retirement.
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Easy Eddie's Take
David's story about Camp Papago Park always fascinates me because it reminds us how Arizona's unique geography has shaped so many unexpected chapters of history. Many people don't realize that Arizona was home to several prisoner of war camps during World War II, including camps in Florence, Scottsdale, and this famous one in Phoenix that's now part of Papago Park near the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden.
What strikes me about this escape story is how those German prisoners made the same mistake that catches many newcomers to Arizona even today - they assumed our rivers would have water! The Salt River, which runs through Phoenix, flows year-round in some sections now thanks to Salt River Project dams and canals, but back in 1944 it was often just a dry riverbed. It's a good reminder that understanding your local environment is crucial, whether you're planning a prison escape or simply choosing where to retire in the Valley of the Sun.
Sometimes the most interesting stories are hiding right in our own backyard, just waiting for the right moment to surface in our memory.