RECORD-KEEPER: SCOTT CITY MAN TENDS TO IRAQI PRISONERS OF WAR

SCOTT CITY -- A Scott City serviceman who has been in Saudi Arabia since mid-January is doing his part in handling the thousands of Iraqi prisoners of war who have surrendered to U.S. forces.

Randy Zimmerman, an Army 2nd lieutenant, is in charge of records at one of the enemy prisoner of war camps in the Saudi Arabian desert.

Last week Zimmerman told a national correspondent for The Kansas City Star about his part in processing the prisoners.

"Every bit of information about every prisoner is sent to the national computer in the states," Zimmerman told the correspondent. "We assign them a number, fingerprint them, give them an ID card. We learn everything about them we can."

Zimmerman is with the 358th Military Police Unit based in Decatur, Ill. He is a graduate of Scott City High School and Southeast Missouri State University, where he majored in criminal justice and minored in military law. He's been in Saudi Arabia since Jan. 13.

His parents, Bill and Geri Zimmerman of Scott City, said they received a telephone call from their son Wednesday around noon.

"He said he was really stressed out," said his father. "He's been working 12 hour days."

Trained as a military policeman, Zimmerman was formerly with the 1137th Military Police Unit out of Kennett.

Bill Zimmerman said his son described the enemy prisoners as tired, dirty, hungry and thirsty.

"He told me (the prisoners) really appreciate the MREs," his father said. "He didn't know if the prisoners were not fed or what."

Randy also told his father there were more prisoners than he or other soldiers had expected. "He told me they were overwhelmed; they were just swamped."

Bill Zimmerman said his son's camp is south of Kuwait City, about five miles from the main highway.

Randy Zimmerman completed Military Police Training school at Fort McClellon, Ala., on Dec. 13. He worked briefly for the Scott City Police Department before he left for Saudi Arabia.

His father said Randy hopes to become a state Highway Patrolman when he returns from the Middle East.

"He's ready to come home," his father said. "He said he's sick and tired of seeing camels, and he said walking in the sand is like walking in a foot of snow."