Harold G Froedge

Notes:

Died:
Recruit Harold D. Froedge,19, of Decatur, died Wednesday night of injuries received in a fire at Sandia secret weapons base near Albuquerque, N.M., Army authorities said yesterday.

Mrs. Ethel Froedge, his mother, of 409 Longview Place, said her son had been stationed at Sandia about two years as a military police guard.

His wife, the former Shirley E. Bond of New Mexico, had telephoned Mrs. Froedge of the death of her son about 45 minutes before she was notified by the Army.

Army officials said Froedge was one of 14 military prisoners whose lives were snuffed out by a flash fire at the Sandia base guardhouse.

They declined to list the individual charges against the prisoners.

Two guards, alerted by prisoners cries, vainly tried to rescue them from behind bars and meshed wire windows. They were overcome along with six others fighting the blaze.

Officials said the fire started from one of two oil stoves used to heat the prison.

Froedge and his wife had spent a 25 day furlough here in October. They had been married seven months.

His mother said that in January he had asked her aid in obtaining a discharge. When prospects for a job here appeared poor, the matter was dropped, according to Mrs. Froedge.

Froedge enlisted in the Army at Fort Knox, Ky. in November, 1947. After basic training, he was send to Sandia in April, 1948 where he remained as a prison guard, according to his mother. He was married last August in New Mexico.

He was born in Ravenna, Ky. July 14, 1930 and came to Illinois with his family in 1932. He attended Blue Mound schools and was a member of the Blue Mound Christian church.

Herald Friday March 10, 1950 includes picture
from Find A Grave

Inscription:
Illinois Pfc. 8455 Mil Police Co.

Harold married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]