Prisoners Exchange At St Nazaire (1944)

I'm proud and privileged to say that I knew Gerow Hodges, SGT John " Mac " McConnell, and I knew him well. Growing up in Birmingham, AL, my parents and the Hodges were great friends. I spent many nights at their home with their youngest son, Greg, and vice versa. His widow, Mary Louise, is still alive and living in Birmingham. We still speak from time to time.
A number of TV productions have highlighted his exploits in WWII, specifically: "For One English Officer" and "Thank You, Mr. Hodges."

“Andrew Gerow Hodges
(1918–2005)
War Hero • Businessman • Community Servant
Born in Geneva, AL, to a horse trader and a homemaker, Gerow Hodges grew to become one of the state's most celebrated citizens. From his parents, he learned the value of hard work, integrity, humility and courage. These were apparent in his years at Howard College, where he distinguished himself both as a business student and a player on the football field. A shoulder injury ended his football career, and although Hodges served in the National Guard, his injury prevented active military service during World War II. Ironically, it also made possible the wartime acts of courage for which he is still celebrated.

The new graduate joined Brown Service Insurance Company, which soon merged with Liberty National Life Insurance Company, as an accountant and married Mary Louise Shirley, but he still longed to actively support the U.S. war effort. He joined the American Red Cross with the assimilated rank of captain and was assigned to the U.S. Army's 94th Infantry Division as a Field Director (ultimately Senior Field Director) of the Red Cross in the European Theater of Operations. Hodges personally took responsibility for crossing 15 times alone and unannounced into Axis-held territory to take relief supplies to Allied prisoners of war. Recognizing that it would be easier and better for both sides to care for their own men, Hodges proposed an unprecedented prisoner exchange that resulted in the liberation of 169 Allied prisoners. For his courage and service, the U.S. Army awarded him two Bronze Stars, the highest military decoration available to a civilian. (He was 22 years old at the time.)

Hodges followed that stunning success with a distinguished career at Liberty National Life Insurance, eventually rising to the office of Executive Vice President. In that position of great responsibility and influence, so far from his modest rural origins, Hodges never lost his desire to serve his community. Elected to Howard College's (Samford University's) board of trustees in 1962, he became chairman of the board of trustees and supported the institution as a trustee for the rest of his life. His personal reputation and friendship attracted to his alma mater two other Liberty National executives—brothers Ralph and Dwight Beeson—whose subsequent gifts transformed the university. Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel in Beeson Divinity School now stands as tribute to this Alabama hero's role at Samford.

Hodges is also celebrated for his support for the Boy Scouts of America at the local, regional and national levels; and his service to Kiwanis, Salvation Army, Operation New Birmingham, his church, and a host of civic and charitable organizations. His life was a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit.”

(Taken from the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame)

Andrew Gerow Hodges married the former Mary Louise Shirley and they had two sons, Dr. Andrew G. Hodges and Gregory R. Hodges.

I've chronicled his life in a remembrance profile on Together We Served-Army.

SGT (Join to see) SGT Mark Anderson SGT Robert George SP5 Mark Kuzinski TSgt Joe C. Maj Marty Hogan SGT Gregory Lawritson Sgt (Join to see) Capt Seid Waddell SPC Douglas Bolton Sgt David G Duchesneau CSM Charles Hayden MSgt George Cater COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col Charlie Brown CPT (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGT Robert Pryor PO2 Frederick Dunn

https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=340798

Great stuff! Just wish they had voice at the time. Would have love to hear what they were saying.

Thanks for sharing an interesting WWII history series of events SGT John " Mac " McConnell. The thought struck me as barbaric as the Germans were in WWII, prisoner exchanges were able to occur at times [as long the SS or even Waffen SS were not involved] such as this November 17, 1944 in the Lorient sector and on November 29th in the St Nazaire sector. Thanks LTC Stephen C. for sharing the news that you personal know Andrew Hodges who was the American Red Cross representative to the 302nd Infantry that was the chief coordinator for the exchanges.
While the Germans were barbaric at lest they nominally followed the Geneva and Hague conventions. In the wars against radical Islam we generally do not have prisoner exchanges unless the thugs can significantly benefit [i.e. Bergdahl]. We also have been guilty of unilaterally releasing GITMO scum of earth. Hopefully that process will be curtailed.
FYI SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SP5 Mark Kuzinski Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SFC William Farrell SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Tom Brown SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt Robert Marx SGT Robert George PO2 Ed C. LTC Greg Henning CPT Gabe Snell