Mom and her friend, Marie, in front of a guard tower at the Border Patrol POW camp near New Orleans, c. 1943

Mom says they would go there on official business but be sure to stay for the lunch. The camp was populated mostly by German nationals, many of whom were in the country when war was declared plus a few German sailors. One of the detainees had been a chef, and according to mom, he prepared some of the best meals she ate during the war. She claims the prisoners got better quality food than was generally available to civilians.