From the S&S archives: POW camp choirs lifted spirits

CLARK AB, R.P. — Downed American fliers organized prison camp choirs and their inspirational music helped carry inmates through the long years of captivity, a fellow POW said Tuesday.

One choir, composed of 17 POWs repatriated last Sunday, visited the local armed forces television station Tuesday and video-taped a series of songs for late night viewers at Clark Air Base.

In a warm-up for newsmen, the group sang, "The Lord Is In His Holy Temple," "The Lord's Prayer," "I Believe" and "This Is My Country" with precision and feeling.

Navy Cmdr. Eugene B. McDaniel, 41, a fellow prisoner who served as an unofficial prison chaplain, said, "The men in this choir, as you observe, have wonderful voices. And they've been a great inspiration."

The choir participated in a Thanksgiving service which McDaniel presided over a few hours after their flight to freedom Sunday.

Military spokesmen said most of the 17 men had been singing in vocal groups in different camps.

They were formed into a united group only three weeks ago under the, direction of Cmdr. Kay Russell, 38.

Seven of the men had been singing with Russell since 1970 in a group which practiced 30 minutes to one hour on Friday and Saturday night. "This was typical of all the Americans," Russell said.

The Navy commander, shot down. in an F8 Crusader nearly six years. ago, said: "It has been a source of pleasure and pride to me to work with these great men who have brought so much to all, of my fellow prisoners through their music and singing. We are not polished, we are not professional, but we really have a good time at it."

The singers, all in new uniform with ribbons, lined up in two rows and responded well to Russell's deft right-handed direction.

Russell, a clarinet player when he went to university 15 years ago, said he had used the lid of a porcelain teacup made in Haiphong as a tuning fork for the past three years.

He gently flicked the lid for newsmen during a choir practice session.

Asked the note, Russell smiled and said, "we're not sure, somewhere around C below middle C."

One of the singers suggested it was a "C-cup" and drew laughs from the others.