Passages to Freedom: A Story of Capture and Escape

Captain Frelinghuysen (1912–2005) served as a battery commander in the 5th Field Artillery, US First Infantry Division in Tunisia. Captured by German troops 28 November 1942 and flown to Italy. Held at PG 66 Capua (Ch. 9, pp. 46–59), then transferred on 12 January 1943 to PG 21 Chieti (Chs 10–14, pp. 60–119). After move to PG 78 Sulmona at the Armistice he escaped on 23 September with Capt Richard (Dick) M. Rossbach (captured in Sicily in August 1943; d. 1987) under the wire (Ch. 15, pp. 120–32). Dick recaptured but Frelinghuysen met troops from 4th Indian Division near Castiglione on 15 November after various adventures on the Maiella. Frelinghuysen dictated the story after he returned to the US in December 1943. An epilogue covers two return visits to Italy in 1956 and 1958.