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080219-F-ZZ000-001
Abe Baum, who led the storied Task Force Baum during the European campaign of WW II, relates his experiences to the men and women of NORAD and USNORTHCOM Feb. 20. Baum was ordered by General George S. Patton on March 26, 1945, to lead a small armored column 60 miles behind German lines to rescue prisoners of war being held by the Nazis at Hammelburg . Patton believed that his son-in-law, Lt. Col. John K. Waters, was being held at the camp. His force of a mere 300 personnel fought their way through an entire German Corps, which mistakenly thought Task Force Baum was a major push by U.S. Forces. Baum's Task Force found more than 1,500 P.O.W.s at the camp, when they expected only 700, and were forced to attempt to escape, only to be either captured or to fight their way back to American lines in small groups. Baum himself was wounded and captured, and ended up in the same prison camp hospital as Waters.

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Photo by: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joaquin Juatai |  VIRIN: 080219-F-ZZ000-001.JPG