Large group of correspondence from Pfc. Chester Bowles of Xenia, Ohio, a member of the 168th Infantry who was captured in Tunisia on or about February 15, 1943 and held at Stalag IIIB near Furstenburg, Germany and about 60 miles southeast of Berlin, for the duration of the war. The 168th Infantry was essentially destroyed at its position atop Djebel Lessouda by elements of the 21st Panzer. The grouping contains 26 letters from Bowles to his mother in Xenia on official camp stationery, all dated from May 17, 1943 to Feb. 13, 1945, and there are an additional 80+ letters from Bowles from during his training and earlier in the war. As is always the case, the POW letters are fairly routine, sending regards to family and friends, mentioning letters received, etc. but at times his despair shows through. He writes, in small part: '...All we've done today is sit around & talk about the good times we've [had] on [July] fourths in the past. This has been the worst one I ever spent...Tell Freda I still love her dearly...haven't seen any mail for three weeks...Just came back from church...These nice days sure make me homesick...We are still getting our Red Cross food parcels each week so as long as they keep coming we haven't got anything to worry about...take good [care] of my wife...Being here in Germany there isn't much to write about...just a few more lines from one old wore out soldier...' On May 8, 1945 (the day of the German surrender), Bowles writes his family for the first time since the start of the year. He mentions that he was freed on April 26th: '...You will never know how we felt when we first saw our boys coming up the road after us...' Bowles writes that anticipates an early return home to his wife and family, but this was not to be. The army held Bowles in the service until at least the middle of October, as other letters in the grouping indicate. Bowles' letters from before and after his capture are unread by us. Also present is a photo portrait of Bowles in uniform, ten worn French and Italian banknotes collected by Bowles in North Africa prior to his capture, and a green embroidered handkerchief. Overall very good.