Historic Preservation Essay Contest - Olivia Gatten, 2001

Camp Breckinridge
By Olivia Gatten

Olivia Gatten, placed third in the 2001 Historic Preservation Essay Contest sponsored by the Kentucky Heritage Council.

The place I have chosen to tell you about is a treasure to Morganfield, Kentucky, and all of Union County. It goes by the name of Camp Breckinridge, and it was a prison during World War II. Over 3,500 prisoners were kept there from January 1943 to June 1945!

One of the prisoners' names was Daniel Mayer. He was a German prisoner soldier during that time. Mayer also had a wife and a young daughter of six when he left to go to war. His home was in what is now part of the Czech Republic. Mayer was a house painter and a self-taught artist, who drew many pictures.

Before being taken to Breckinridge, Mayer was wounded twice. He went back to the front after recovering, where he was captured in Tunisia on April 23,1943. He arrived at the camp around May 20, 1943. He was treated well at Camp Breckinridge but longed for his homeland and family.

The reason Daniel Mayer is the prisoner I'm telling you about is that he did something wonderful while at Camp Breckinridge. He painted many masterpieces on the plywood walls between May 1943 and July 1945. The most famous is a 20-by-30 feet painting of Castle Werneck in Germany. The castle is now a hospital. It includes not only the castle but also the lake and grounds. Mayer used his last strength and will to finish it before dying of pneumonia two months later.

He had an assistant by the name of Hanz Genz. He was also a German prisoner-of-war. Retired Sergeant Erich Zychowski of Michigan says he had Mayer and Genz do the paintings in the Officers' Club to liven it up. They worked together for months to make the paintings look realistic. They are now trying to locate Genz. He was young while at Camp Breckinridge, and could still be alive.

Mayer was buried at Fort Knox along with many other World War II soldiers. Mayer did many other paintings, most from pictures on postcards sent to him or other soldiers at the camp. Most of them were lost when many of the buildings were torn down in 1948. Many people say he died for love of his family and country. His daughter, Martha (Mayer) Bolg, says her father lives on within the walls of the building and those paintings. This building will bring back memories not only for the Mayer family, but also many other World War II soldiers and their families. This historical site belongs not only to Union Countians, but also to the rest of the world. It is also, in a way, a memorial site for all the World War II soldiers who have died.

After telling you about the history involved in this building, I would also like to tell you a little about the museum itself. It has highly waxed floors on the inside that sparkle and shine when you look at them from the upstairs, indoor balcony. There is a room to one side where there are many photographs, pieces of clothing, household objects, and may other objects from World War II! There is another room where they display children's artwork and drawings they have done in school. This building is an interesting piece of history, and just a fun place to visit. The employees there are very nice, and will give you a tour of the building. I encourage you, and everyone else to come visit this historical site.

Olivia Gatten

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