Introduction

Charles M. Newton	Date: March 19, 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Interviewers: Telling Their Stories class, with Howard Levin and Deborah Dent-Samake Date: March 26, 2004 Location: Carmel, California Interviewers: Jacob ('05), Lindsey ('04), Sydney ('05), with Howard Levin and Deborah Dent-Samake
Charles M. Newton was a Belgian citizen living in Germany with his family as a child. He and his mother returned to Antwerp in 1933 after Hitler became Chancellor. After Germany invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940, Charles left for America from Bucharest while his parents and younger brother remained in Bucharest under the protection of the Swiss. Charles trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland with other foreign-born GIs who collectively became known as "The Ritchie Boys." Just before he shipped out, the Army had Charles change his name to protect his family still in Europe in case he were taken prisoner. Charles landed in Normandy soon after D-Day in 1944 and served with the famous 3rd Army led by General Patton. Charles was an interrogator specializing in German prisoners from the 17th SS Brigade. The Third Army is famous in part for liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp, and Charles was among the first to enter. Nowadays, Charles tries to focus on the beauty in life, and forget his harsh memories of the past. He believes everyone should have a child, plant a tree and write a book. He has done all three.
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March 19, 2004 March 26, 2004