Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-05
Yank Sergeant Finds
His Mother in Tiny
Czech Border Town
By the Associated Press

oS tne ASSOCIATED Press.
WITH AMERICAN TROOPS IN
GERMANY, May Delayed Ar
American sergeantS reunion with
his mother brought tears to the eye.
OF everybody in the little CZECH
border town of Barnau.
1t made major, a captain and 6
private with him weep, too.
Maj. Dan Riddle, Marksville, La
had to 60 to Barnau and with hin
went Capt. Harry Grier. oxford, Pa.
and a driver, Pvt. Tom Kearns
Hartford, Conn.
May I 60 along, too?" asked
Sergt. Harry Alden, Pelham, N. Y
MY family used to have a summer
home there"
So they took him along and as
they rode toward Barnau the quiet
black haired sergeant told them his
story-how he was born in Nuern-
burg of German-Jewish parents
how he came to the United States
in 1898, became a citizen and joined
the American Army.
Every year before 1888 I used tC
60 to Barnau in the summer" he
said. He became more excited as
the jeep neared the little town.
Remembers Roads.
He remembered every turn in the
road and every tree and hill said
Pvt. Kearns. He even showed us
where he used to bicycle on Sundays
with his girl friend
There it is! There is my house, y
the sergeant called out. He leaped
from the jeep, ran up the steps and
pounded on the front door.
A little old woman opened the door
and greeted him casually and then
peered closer.
1T is very queer" she said, UNI
certainly, but you look very much
like my grandson"
When she really found out Alden
was her grandson she could hardly
believe it." Pvt. Kearns said. She
kept pounding him on the arm to
see if he was real
The sergeant learned that his
mother was in town, helping the
American troops, so Sergt. Alden
and his friends drove on into
Barnau.
The news had spread fast said
Capt. Grier. practically every win
dow had some one in it, looking at
US"
Mai. Riddle saw two women-one
tall and stately-walking down the
street, and on impulse, he backed
the jeep nearer to them.
The tall woman was Harry's
mother, and when she saw him she
cried out Hans Mein Junge' and
came running with open arms" said
Pvt. Kearns. And that's when the
crying started
Everybody joined in because all
the toWnspeople knew about Harry
from his mother. She led her son
up and down the streets, calling to
the neighbors:
Il told you I had a son in the
American Army. See? Here he is
Harry's biggest surprise was to
hear his mother speak English.
Speaks English.
She began to study the language
after I left in 1898" he said, be
cause she wanted to be able to talk
with me when l returned. She also
learned Swedish because my sister
Rose Marie is in Sweden"
Harry's mother, who is German,
was subjected to racial discrimina-
ton because she married a Jew.
Before bombings destroyed her home
in Nuernburg she had given shelter
to a number of Jewish refugees from
the GeStapo.
When the Americans approached
Barnau, she persuaded the local
volksturmers to lay down their arms
and she went out and contacted the
American patrols herself, leading
them in to show there would be no
resistance. They subsequently hired
her as an interpreter.
Her biggest worry" grinned Maj.
Riddle, was whether Harry was
married. She had heard that all
Americans marry at a very early
age. She asked Harry continually
If he had a wife yet"
Harry is still a bachelor.