War (1:40)

During World War 2, Alvin had a Prisoner Of War camp housing German troops from the North African campaigns.  The only other one in Brazoria County was in Angleton at the county fairgrounds.  The POWs were brought here to alleviate the labor shortage in the rice fields.

Alvin also had 3 platforms used to spot any enemy planes flying over the Alvin area. These platforms were staffed by volunteers as part of the Ground Observer Corps. They were located near Fairview Junior High, in the Heights and near the Mustang Community.  They had a direct link to Ellington Field to report any airplanes that were spotted.  Similar platforms were located along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts.

In the upper case please note a telescope and letter. In World War 1 Germany was the only manufacturer of optics.  Since the United States didn’t have the capability, the Navy Department requested a loan of any binoculars, telescopes, etc. for use on the many ships being commissioned as part of the war effort.   The D. C. Robinson family donated this telescope and (since the ship it was used on was not sunk) it was returned after the war with a letter signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy at that time. Also in the case a compass, first aid kit and trench art. Above the case is a flag that was flown over Bagdad in 2000.

The lower cases contain various items from World War 2 including a Japanese rifle and Samurai sword.