Letter from Mrs. Barnard Cummings to Dwight D. Eisenhower

COLONEL BARNARD CUMMINGS AIR CORPS Copy September 6, 1953, Denver, Colo. Dear Mr. President - Am writing you in regard to my son - 1st Lt. Barnard Cummings, Jr. 05942, P.O.W. In the papers today, the news is that this is the end of the P.O. W. exchange. Mr. President, may I write you as a mother, and tell you -- I know Barney is being held and the evidence I have -- I want to make this brief. My son, graduated from West Point class of '49. He called on you with two other classmates at your present address in the fall of '49. You will recall him, as he was the "remarkable" goat of the class of '49. He went to Korea in August 1950 and he was one of three young men of his class, who trained the 1st Ranger Co. in Korea (8th Army Ranger Co. 25 Recon. Co. 25 Division). These three men were made 1st Lt. right away, and had a long period of very special training, and as I understand from his few letters, did the kind of secret quiet work you do not write about. This company was called into battle on Nov. 25 1950 and were terribly defeated. This particular company was almost annihilated. The other two officers were saved, one seriously wounded, the other man not hurt. My son was reported missing as of that date Nov. 25, 1950. x0F3-R-3 These have been long hard years of waiting and hoping. I've had the complete comfort of God with me - my husband Col. Cummings, Air Res. died Feb. 14, 1953. Now here is the evidence I have. My son was alive in Jan. 1952, An Associated