How a German POW became a proud American [Video]

Editor’s note: This is the third part of a five-part series on the history of World War II POW camps in Michigan. Part 1 is available here. Part 2 is here. A new story will be published every Sunday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — In the final days of World War II, the Grand Rapids Press published an editorial on the nation’s POW camps and how the American military’s decision to treat its prisoners humanely helped end the war.

“Perhaps we have erred on the side of kindness, but thereby we may have helped shorten the war and bring more American sons, husbands and fathers home safely,” it read.

One prisoner took that kindness and humanity to heart, moving back to the U.S. after the war. This is his story.

Ernst Floeter was born in August 1925 in the German town of Stettin, which is now a part of Poland. After being forced into the military and dragged into a battle he wanted …