A World War II veteran’s story of love

Charles D. Krandall served in the 36th Division during World War II. Today, February 14th, is his 99th birthday.

His is more than a war story. His sister-in-law, Helen Anton, said "It was a love story."

She was just a kid when her older sister, Margaret, started dating Charlie. He said Margaret "always smiled and she was pretty. She was really pretty."

Helen said Charlie "was just handsome, and when he got into the uniform, that really settled it. He was just God's gift to woman."

The couple got engaged before Charlie left for the war in 1942. His unit headed first to North Africa then to Italy where the Nazis were lying in wait. Charlie's half track was blown up and his legs were injured by shrapnel.

The Germans captured him and packed him into a railroad boxcar with other POW's. They were sent to a prison camp called Stalag 3B.

Charlie's family didn't know what happened to him. He was officially Missing in Action. His letters to Margaret stopped coming. "She was beside herself," said Helen, "we all were."

Meanwhile, Charlie said he and his fellow soldiers survived on whatever rations their captors would spare them. "I lost a lot of pounds naturally." He described the uncomfortable conditions where they slept as "wooden beds, doubled, and with straw."

More than a year went by before word came...he'd been taken prisoner. And then several more months passed before he escaped during a bombing raid. All the while, Margaret was waiting. Helen said her sister was "Very, very faithful to him and she just couldn't wait til he got back."

That day finally came 3 long years later on May 21st, 1945, as Margaret and her family were visiting Charlie's. Helen said, "And while we were there, somebody knocks at the door and his brother brings him in. My sister almost got sick. I mean she was so shocked."

Charlie said, Margaret "got nervous and all. She nearly passed out."

The happily reunited couple got married four months later--in September 1945. Their union lasted 59 years, until Margaret passed away. Their daughter, Ruthann Zavakos, said "Dad was really devastated."

Charlie now lives at the Dayton V-A.

Margaret's love lives on through their daughters and grandchildren, who visit him often.
And Charlie keeps rolling along with an attitude that got him through the war. "Don't worry. You're not going to get out of this world alive."

His family is planning a 99th birthday party for him this Saturday, Feb. 18th. Maybe he'll have a surprise visitor too--just as he surprised Margaret all those years ago.

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