[SECOND OF A SERIES] Sgt. Charles Riddell Jr., one of Middletown’s three ex-POWs, a few days ago was reading an account of prison life published in a Chinese Communist booklet. The article was "Our Life in POW Camp No. 3" by Pfc. Richard A. Peterson. The camp was the one in which Riddell spent the past two years. Peterson was one of the camp’s "progressives." "Listen," Riddell said to the city's other repatriated prisoners, Pfc. Roland A. Hamilton and Pfc. William F. Roosa, and he read, in a mocking tone: "Instead of starvation and maltreatment we get good food and thoughtful consideration from the understanding Chinese friends." Riddell read on to himself, looking up once in a while to repeat a few of the article's clauses: "Some of the men were sick but they were immediately given medical attention... we were given soap... Sunday was a day of rest..." The soldier didn’t finish the account. He tossed the book away from him onto a luncheon table. "I can't read those things," he said. "They make me too mad..."

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