SNAPSHOTS OF THE WAR: Images and Inspiration for "A Gift of Hope: Finding Faith Behind Barbed Wire" Inspiration for "A Gift of Hope" This corner of memorabilia, next to the desk where "A Gift of Hope" was written, was a source of continuing inspiration. You may see the purple heart near the center. A photo of Roy in basic training in Texas. A box of service medals is next to the Purple Heart and below the photo. And below the lower left corner of the folded flag is the original New Testament that he received in one of the prison camps. POW Photo of Roy Shenkel This was one of several photos of Roy Shenkel, taken by German staff at POW camps. Roy described himself at the time as a cocky 20-year-old kid from Kansas who had no possible concept of the brutality he was about to face. Later, looking at this picture, he observed that he was lucky he wasn't shot on the spot, just for the smirk on his face. Stalag Luft IV Near Kiefheide, Poland Stalag Luft IV was the first prison camp in which Roy was interred. This was during one of the worst winters in German history. The conditions were brutal. Prisoners starved, beaten and murdered. As the Russians advanced from the east, this camp was one of the first to be evacuated. The evacuation included a seven-day ride in a boxcar to his next prison facility. Stalag Luft 1 Near Barth, Germany Seven days after Roy left Stalag Luft IV in a boxcar, they arrived at Stalag Luft I. Originally designed to be an officers’ camp, the prisoners were hopeful for improved conditions. No such luck. The brutality and the starvation were just as bad for most of his internment here. This was the camp from which Roy was liberated at the end of the European war.
✔ Author(s): John Hornbeck
✔ Title: A Gift of Hope: Finding Faith Behind Barbed Wire: The True Story of a World War II Prisoner of War
✔ Rating : 4.7 out of 5 base on (141 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1735950815
✔ ISBN-13: 9781735950815
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about A Gift of Hope by John Hornbeck
Thea Bell
I'm still in awe of the intricate plot and the way everything seamlessly came together. The twists kept me guessing until the very end. It's one of those rare books that leave a lasting impact.
Aileen Menzie
What an intellectual journey! The themes explored in this book challenged my perceptions and sparked introspection. It's refreshing to read a book that provokes such thought.
Violet Tyler
The themes of resilience and hope resonated deeply with me. This book taught me valuable life lessons that I'll carry with me for years to come.
