The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-10-04

d to do q good job.
They haven't had electricity or
gas since last winter and no
fuel to cook gathered wood
from trees to get by on. They
have no candles, flashlights,
nothing. Uncle told me that if
the liberation of Holland came
one week later there would have
been about two feet of water on
the floor. He said that some
people in TIN neighborhood nv-
ed on nothing but sugar beets
for three months last winter
and that his family had also
been on the diet.
II took up some oranges, hard
boiled eggs, about two cartons
OF cigarettes, some cigars and
all the candy and gum that
had been in my ration, as
eat very little of it. One of my
cousins started eating the or
ange as you would an apple. He
had never seen one before. The
eggs, candy and smokes, they
couldn't get over them. MY uncle
said he would save the cigars
until Sunday so that if he did
get sick he could go to bed. It
had been so long since he had
smoked a cigar.
1--WE talked and talked. I told
them all about the Army. the
United States las I remember
it, and everything else they or
could think of and I did all
my talking in Dutch and SEEM
ed to have no difficulty at all.
Talked as though I had been
with Dutchmen all my life and
they said I spoke very good.
The big moment came when
my aunt spoke up and said it
was the best Christmas they
had ever had. I said Good gosh
woman, this is July. But she
said July or December when
you come with all those good
things it must be Xmas and you
are Santa Claus The strange
part of it is I think they meant
1T. They are good people. They
have seen German soldiers take
blankets off their beds in the
dead of winter, when they had
no other heat; they have seen
them come in and take the
little nick-nacks made of brass
and silver which are the Dutch
mans pride and joy. The Ger
mans have requested and taken
all the radios, stolen thier cows
ruined their utilities (gaS, ell
ectricity). blown up their dykes
(ruined their land) made slaves
OF many, shot and tortured
others. After five years of that
plus being hungry, cold. half
naked, the German shipped all
the clothes they could find in
stores and warehouse to Ger
many for Germans, both men
and Women's clothes. You ask
them how they made out and
they'll say, oh, we are still a.
live They don't kick, they
didn't tell me the foregoing
tales of woe to be kicking. l
asked them, and if I hadn't
have. probably would not have
heard them. If I ever say
Damn the luck again, 1 hope
someone slaps my face-but
good!
Il also learned that my cou-
sin who met me at the door
was in the Dutch underground
and had been captured and es-
capped twice, shot at several
times, and the day that we left
ne was going up to capture the
BurgomaSter'S (mayor) son. His
brother was slave labor in Ger
many and his folks never re-
celved word from him in two
years.
Il went up there with about
SlOOOO and asked them if they
needed any of it and they said
no, they had plenty of money
as far as food was concerned.
But they have no clothes
under or. outer garments, no
socks or shoes, and that seemed
to be their biggest worry as
they were afraid the winter
would be on them before they
could get much relief an win
tiers do get very cold there. So
writing to his wife, I wish YOU
would go through your things
and see if you can send them
anything. Also send them such
things as that pair of black
shoes I've never worn, my green
sweater, the jacket I got with
cigarette coupons, and as re-
member 1T, used to have two
leather jackets everything
that used to belong to me.
They need anything, sizes don't
matter. MY cousin Tenna is a.
bout your build and size and
has no clothes at all. So please
go first to the post office and
inquire about sending packa pes