This is part of a forward that Virgil Scott attached to a feature article written for the Daily Freeman-Journal by Lori Nilles and titled “A POW’s story of the strength to survive,” which he circulated to his family and friends.

Scott had signed up for the Army Air Corps in September of 1942, training as a flight engineer on a B-17, overseeing mechanical operations in flight, and manning the top turret gun in combat. After his B-17 was shot on that fateful day, he parachuted down — without an oxygen mask — into the Nazi camp.

Scott was held in three separate stalags until he and his fellow prisoners endured a brutal march on February 6, 1945, as Allied forces advanced on the Germans from all fronts. Finally, on May 2, 1945, the Canadian 6th Army liberated the POWs, ending Scott’s long captivity.

During his stretch as a POW, soldiers passed the time playing poker and bridge with homemade cards. Radio operators built radio sets out of trash or debris found around the camp. At Stalag Luft VI, then Stalag Luft IV, he put together his book and hid it beneath his mattress.

“Its cover was made from material that was used on the windows for blackout at night, German paper and laced together from my flight jacket,” Scott wrote of his book. Carved into it is “1971,” his prison number.

“This book is but a memory of the days that I, the one to whom this book belongs, and the few herein named, and some two thousand others, all Americans, were cast by fate into the confinement of a German Prisoner of War camp, away from all worldly things, and those we love. We hope that in the end we may see our homeland and those we love. Only those who have had the experience know the things that exist here, and to those God-fearing Americans whose duty to their country cannot be questioned, I dedicate this little ‘Book of Memories,’ written by S/Sgt. V.W. Scott.”

The book contains prayers, poetry, and artwork, including some originals by Scott and his fellow prisoners. He had written the names of guards but destroyed them during his confinement to avoid retribution. On the last two pages, he listed out the names of all 36 men housed in his 15-by-23-foot room at Stalag Luft IV.

Another page dates every day from his capture to his liberation.

Following Scott’s death in 2010, his sons and daughters, eight in total, wondered what to do with the original book that their father had worked on so diligently in prison camp. Together, they decided it needed to go somewhere for safe keeping, in a climate-controlled display shared with others. They contacted Curator Michael Vogt at the Gold Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston.

He agreed that the book would be an excellent addition to the military museum’s collection. Although the museum currently does not have a POW exhibit, the book fits in well with the other WWII artifacts.

On June 28, the book was given to the museum by the Scott family. They said it ensured future generations can appreciate the sacrifices this Iowa soldier made for his beloved country.

“My Budd(y)” (a poem from Virgil Scott’s Book)

“They said he died in glory

“Whatever that may be

“If dying in a burst of flame is glory

“Then it’s not for me

“In the briefing room that morning

“He sat with clear eyes and strong heart

“Just one of the many gunner

“Determined to do his part

“My budd[y] had the guts alright

“He sought not glory nor fame

“He knew he had a job to do

“And his crew all felt the same

“But death had the final word

“For in its log it wrote his name

“And my budd[y] died that morning

“In glory and in a burst of flame.”