Sixty-five years ago as of last night, Allied POWS at Stalag Luft III began their escape attempt (it was March 24, 1944). Out of the 76 men who escaped the German camp, only three made it to freedom; 50 of them were executed. In the movie, McQueen whiled away time in solitary with a baseball glove and ball. After numerous breakout attempts, Sage, who worked for the U.S. Office of Strategic Service, made his final escape across Poland after being a POW for more than three years."
The escape was immortalized in the film "The Great Escape." U.S. Army Col. Jerry Sage is the war hero on whom Steve McQueen's character was based, though regretfully you never seem to hear much about him. Sage worked for 15 months on a three-tunnel escape plan while in the POW camp, which he told of in his book "Sage." The movie "The Great Escape" was based on the book of the same title by Paul Brickhill, but Sage's exploits are credited with helping form the movie's plot (though his own book wasn't printed until well after the movie was made).
According to his 1993 obituary in Variety, Sage:"...earned the nickname 'Cooler King' because he was placed in solitary confinement 15 times in the Nazi camp.
According to IMDB:"Steve McQueen's character Hilts was based on amalgamation of several characters, including Major Dave Jones, a flight commander during Doolittle's Raid who made it to Europe and was shot down and captured and Colonel Jerry Sage, who was an OSS agent in the North African desert when he was captured. Col. Sage was able to don a flight jacket and pass as a flier otherwise he would have been executed as a spy. Another inspiration was probably Sqn Ldr Eric Foster who escaped no less than seven times from German prisoner-of-war camps."
There's not a lot out there about Col. Sage. I remember him coming to speak at a history class when I was in junior high in the '80s; he talked about how he could kill a man in two seconds with his bare hands. Even though he was well into his 60s at the time, I firmly believed him and didn't doubt he could still do it if need be.
Sage struck me as a tough old bird who gave a hell of a lot in service of the United States. He was a member of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in World War II, a predecessor of the CIA. Perhaps he kept such a low profile due to the nature of his work. He also seems to have led an incredibly interesting life. I wish there was more out there about him (heck, I wish at least that his book were still in print! You can find some used copies on Amazon and at Abebooks.).
Do you have more info or stories about Jerry Sage? Leave a comment and share the love!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A forgotten hero of The Great Escape
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Lt Col. Jerry Mike (The Dagger) was the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team (5th RCT) in Korea in 1954. I was an Operations Specialist with the rank of Corporal in the Bn. Hq.
While I didn't know him well I did know that he had been in the OSS and wore a German Solingen Dagger on his pistol belt. And he always carried a swagger stick.
At the time we were well above the 38th Parallel (Combat had ceased in Oct. of '53.) and thusly well above the "farm line" where indigenous personnel were not allowed.
One night there was a ruckus and a Korean woman was brought into the battalion CP. She was in a suit made from GI blankets and had been found hiding under another blanket in our area. Of course she was interrogated with the thinking that she might be an observer from the North.
It turns out, after a roll of $1.00 bills, script, was found in her nether recesses, it turns out she was just another working woman out for a buck flat backing.
What's to do with The Dagger?
The next morning the entire battalion was assembled on the pareade field and the Col. mounted a stand there with the troops all up close. He proceeded to provide a communal tongue lashing about physical associations with the likes of the detainee from the night before. He was adamantly against it for all kinds of reasons.
His most memorabloe statement was, "I wouldn't stick my swagger stick into the likes of that woman!"
He transferred not too long after this incident and while I have recalled the time frequently I didn't have any notion that the Colonel was the hero he was nor anything of his exploits. I never heard anything about him again.
Only this evening, 5/2/'09 while watching a documentary about the Green Berets wherein it mentioned that they trained at Robin Sage in NC which was named after Jerry Sage, did I know a darn thing about him, that he is a published author and that The Great Escape was greatly modelled after him and his exploits.
What a kick! I am so amazed.
Amazon has his books...search on SAGE. DON SHIPMAN... LAIVA@SWBELL.NET...800 577 7310 in Dallas TX
Col Jerry M. Sage was the North Bavarian District Commander when I first met him in August 1966. While I did not report to him I was considered part of his staff as I provided supply and maintenance support to all units in the North Bavarian District. He was a 'no nonsense' type of officer and took a particularly firm stance with students in the Nurnberg American High School. I remember hearing stories of how he handled disciplinary problems - through the parents. Quite an individual. An imposing figure. The stories of his WWII adventures were widely known at the time. He pinned on my Captain's bars when I was promoted.
Col Jerry Sage was my high school history teacher in 9th grade at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, SC. Col Sage had such a strong impact upon me from his motto: have faith in God, work hard, and dream big. He and I were involved in Logos Club, a faith-based in school program. I stayed in contact with him through college and then in seminary. I have a signed copy of his book and remember fondly the many storied he would tell in class. Col Sage was such an incredible teacher that he was awarded SC Teacher of the Year, I think in 1980. I was watching the special program on TV about Robin-Sage in NC, a special community where special forces are trained named from him. It was then that I learned about his death in 1993. He was a great mentor, a loving and humble man even though he was very tough and strong. I feel blessed to have known this great man. He was indeed one of my heros!
I was one of the those at Nurnberg High when Col. Sage was our base commander...he was a gentleman but did not tolerate "riff-raff"....he had no problem calling our parents if we needed disciplinary action.
Ron Burgess
NHS '72
Col sage was my geography teacher my sr yr at spring valley hs. both he and my rotc instructor were then and still are the examples of what i truly feel a man should comport himself at all times.
Col. Sage was my geography teacher at Spring Valley as well, ’78 maybe ‘79. He was a great man that treated everyone fairly. I was sorry to hear of his passing. Of all the stories that come to mind here are a few of my favorites.
Two boys were fighting in the hallway, Col. Sage wheeling a projector cart, pushed it between them. Separating them he said “Stop it right now or I will break your backs.” No one there doubted his ability to do. Even at three time their age, no one wanted to test him.
Watching a film on Africa, a woman crossed the screen. A boy in the back said” “Wow! That is an ugly woman!” Col Sage stopped the projector, turned on the lights, and said “No woman is ugly. All women are beautiful. It’s just that some are less beautiful than others.”
I remember so many others. The stories he would tell of the war. The captures, the escapes. As I look back I am sure he helped reinforce my sense of duty and honor. Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.
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