This brings to mind a story of a childhood friend of my mother. He fled to Holland and lived with a family there. What I never knew until after he died and I read his obituary and a recounting of a memorial service was that he rescued downed pilots (he was in his teens at the time) and at the memorial, the descendants of those he'd rescued came to pay tribute. Another cousin's parents sent her to England on the Kindertransport. And, a guy I dated in high school's parents had been separated in different concentration camps, and somehow found each other after the war. His mother still had the numbers tattooed on her arm. We should never forget.
Actually, I went back and re-read his obituary and he rescued two downed pilots, but helped hide over 100 Jewish children when he was part of the resistance in the Netherlands. It was their descendants who came to his memorial service.
My late mother taught students in a Jewish school in Brussels, all of whom had been hidden during the war and I learned the amazing stories of how ordinary Belgians helped protect them.
Great story, Lev! My father was in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He volunteered. He was part of a group that made maps for General Patton. Dad went to all of the reunions of his Army brigade until he was too ill to attend. One of Dad's first cousins died fighting for the Allies. I feel lucky that my father survived. During his free time, he organized sports games like basketball for the other soldiers and defied the criticism of white Southerners to play basketball with Black soldiers. My grandparents saved Dad's letters to them, and I love reading them to see what he was like before I was born. Happy spring! Janet
Thank you, Lev! Yes, I have written about Dad's war experiences in a chapter in my unpublished memoir. He learned a lot about European culture and practiced his French while he was in the Army Corps of Engineers. I would like to find a publisher for this chapter. Best wishes for your own writing! Janet
This brings to mind a story of a childhood friend of my mother. He fled to Holland and lived with a family there. What I never knew until after he died and I read his obituary and a recounting of a memorial service was that he rescued downed pilots (he was in his teens at the time) and at the memorial, the descendants of those he'd rescued came to pay tribute. Another cousin's parents sent her to England on the Kindertransport. And, a guy I dated in high school's parents had been separated in different concentration camps, and somehow found each other after the war. His mother still had the numbers tattooed on her arm. We should never forget.
Wow. These stories of wartime bravery of civilians are always powerful.
Actually, I went back and re-read his obituary and he rescued two downed pilots, but helped hide over 100 Jewish children when he was part of the resistance in the Netherlands. It was their descendants who came to his memorial service.
My late mother taught students in a Jewish school in Brussels, all of whom had been hidden during the war and I learned the amazing stories of how ordinary Belgians helped protect them.
Thank you for sharing the story of your parents and the role Frank played in it.
Meeting him was an amazing experience--we spoke at a memorial conference about that train.
You were fortunate indeed to be able to meet him.
A career highlight for sure. If hadn't spent those years researching "My Germany" it would never have happened.
Great story, Lev! My father was in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He volunteered. He was part of a group that made maps for General Patton. Dad went to all of the reunions of his Army brigade until he was too ill to attend. One of Dad's first cousins died fighting for the Allies. I feel lucky that my father survived. During his free time, he organized sports games like basketball for the other soldiers and defied the criticism of white Southerners to play basketball with Black soldiers. My grandparents saved Dad's letters to them, and I love reading them to see what he was like before I was born. Happy spring! Janet
Fascinating--have you written about it?
Thank you, Lev! Yes, I have written about Dad's war experiences in a chapter in my unpublished memoir. He learned a lot about European culture and practiced his French while he was in the Army Corps of Engineers. I would like to find a publisher for this chapter. Best wishes for your own writing! Janet
You too! These stories need to be told.