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Show - yyr 4 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, Nov. rr p ,. . i HI' 24, 1988 HOLIDAY MEMORIES "The Heist" FORWARD: The winter of 1944-4will be remembered by many people living in war torn western Europe as the worst winter on record. For more than fwe years the tyranny imposed on them by Nazi Germany had created untold suffering, made shambles of once beautiful cities and claimed millions of lives. The story below is about ordinary to women, willing subject themselves to extreme danger for an armful of one of lifes most essential survival tools - firewood. The "Maria" in the story was my mother, then 28 years old. 5 -- "The Heist" The wall tapping had begun A rhythmic sound of three short taps, followed by a pause and then repeated. It was a signal easily picked up by the occupants of the two story row house street on the outskirts of the Dutch city of Rotterdam. During the years of German occupation, the thin, walls between the apartments had proven to be very effective as a communciation link to alert neighbors of any unusual activity, or other. enemy-wisMaria first picked up on the tapping after she had returned from the soup kitchen. Tired and weary from the long wait in the endless line of people, she had just sat herself down to rest a bit. "It was hardly worth it," she thought, looking at the small pan of watery soup for which she had endured the cold and aching feet. "There was barely enough for one person, let alone three. She sighed and pulled her wrap a little closer around herself. And then she heard the faint rap on the wall. Immediately she was on alert. Tap, tap, tap . . . tap, tap, tap . . . Maria got up and went to the wall and with her middle finger she responded: tap, tap, tap . . . tap, tap, tap . . . Nervously she went to the wall on the other side of the house and did the same thing. She repeated it a few times, until the familiar response came the back, confirming message had been picked up. A few years earlier, when unannounced S.S. raids had herded hundreds of young men off to the labor camps in Germany, the neighbors had come up with a number of warning systems to allow a quick escape or receive clandestine information. Since congregating was forbidden, each neighbor had a contact and Maria knew that as soon as night fell, she would have to seek her contact under the cover of darkness. "Its a large supply of wood," the woman, "but explained railroad ties are heavy and our women are not very strong anymore," she continued. The two schemers looked at each other early in the morning. e . In The War Ravaged Netherlands 1944-194- 5 trying to size up the the situation. kept the depot out of vision, but A pile of railroad ties near the Maria knew where she was to railroad depot, one mile away and meet the others and after parking under heavy German guard. To her bike looked for the spot where attempt to break through the the dike curved ad became a small a guard and steal a few pieces of viaduct crossing wood sounded preposterous and waterway. They were to move could be a very dangerous next to the bridge, which was mission. If caught, the Germans nearly adjacent to the storage would be merciless. If they could unit. Two hundred feet ahead pull it off, however, think what it could mean: fuel for the stove. German soldiers were anxiously There had been very little of that waiting to be released from duty. lately and especially during this Bored and cold at their little harsh winter, the cold, plus the outpost, they were ready to go off lack of food, was decimating the and the light inside the station seemed very inviting to them. population rapidly. They were silently cursing the war and its inconveniences. "This damn frog land wasnt worth getting pneumonia for." The dozen or so women had cautiously crawled up the dike, protected by the bridge wall and were anxiously watching the soldiers. Maria adjusted the skirt of her dress. She suppressed a laugh, remembering that only six years before this had been her wedding dress, a beautiful pastel colored crepe georgette. It was ridiculous to be crawling up and down a dike with it, but she was down to her last dress and this was it. Finally, the signal was given. Up ahead, they could see the German guards leave their post, their hated boots clicking on the cobblestone. The women inched forward until they could hear the muffled voices inside the station. The Maria VanDerHeyden stack of railroad ties were in plain view now. They ran towards and With the aid of an underground with bare hands grabbed the informer the women were advised wood. The ties were larger than that the best plan to carry out the had been expected and the dew heist was to infiltrate the German had frozen, making them stick held railroad station during the together. Counting seconds, they changing of the guard at six a.m. pushed and pulled . . . not one on Sunday morning, for about six word was said. Two of the women or seven minutes the area would kept watch . . . still okay. be unattended and if properly The first log gave way. The prepared a- dozen or so women weight of it nearly knocked the could remove six ties and roll women off their feet. Maria took them down the dike. Once on hold of the second and with help level ground they could be carried on the other hauled the end, they and load toward the dike. The climb view of out enemy transported on bicycles. over the dike was almost too The morning of the planned raid much for their weakened bodies. arrived with a howling wind They pushed and pulled the blowing arctic air over the already heavy object and silently prayed frozen fields. Maria pushed her the other women would follow bicycle, its rubber tires long gone, them shortly. Nearing the top of through the empty streets, her the 12 foot dike they suddenly shoulders bent to the wind. It heard the unmistakenly German made her warm and for a minute command, "Halt!!!" "Hurry," she forgot how cold it' Maria whispered and with one big -thought briefly of hef ycnlng breath they rolled the wood over husband, confined to bed with the rails down the other side. oedema, the swollen condition of Relieved of their burden they the body associated with severe peeked over the edge to see what malnutrition. Her tightened face was happening. Almost immedisoftened a little she ately there was a scrambling of as remembered her sleeping child, women coming up the side of the innocent to lifes difficulties. hill. She could see the outline of the "Run, ladies, before they shoot railroad station looming up ahead us." Marias body seemed frozen. in the early morning darkness. A "Ive got to move," she thought, not too distant whistle told her but her limbs would not go. other women were nearby. The Somebody shoved her and she railroad dike, like a giant barrier, rolled down the dike. Shouts seemed to penetrate the wind and several shots rang out. Blindly she grabbed someones hand. "Lets get out of here," she whispered. She stumbled over something heavy. Oh, dear . . . the wood the precious wood. She could not go home without, the wood. She remained oblivious to the shouting and the crying on the the other side of the dike. Her mind now sharp and her heart racing she called out to the other person, "Grab hold of that log and Every speck of wood gathered. Against the wall Maria clutched what she had been able to whisk away; a piece of wood, not bigger than a foot long and about 6 inches across, was all she got. And for this she had risked her life! She looked up and saw a ray of sunshine pierce through the heavy clouds and thought, "This hell has got to come to an end soon . . . but today we have heat " And with that she straightened up and walked the few steps to her door, leaving the street deserted and still. ... lets had been Someone picked up the other end of the railroad tie and as quickly as their strength would allow the two women carried their heavy cargo to the bicycle park, where they hoisted the load on to the bag carries and tied it down. They worked quietly, vaguely aware that the night had turned to crimson red and the wind was settling a little. As the women made their way back the rimless under their tires squeeked weight. They encountered no one and with a sigh of relief they reached their street. Breathlessly the women untied their load and with a thud it dropped on the sidewalk. The noise apparently woke up the because suddenly neighbors, doors opened and eveiybody wanted to hear what had happened. Although concerned about the fate of others, they were much more interested in the prize that was now lying on the ground. "I can have a piece, cant I?" one person begged, to be followed by a score of others, all encouraged by the first one. "Get a saw", someone hollered, "or an ax," someone else added. Within minutes the crowd had become greedy, not wanting to lose out on the treasure. Hungry as they were for a little warmth and a hot meal or even a cup of immitation coffee, they followed their instinct to grab what they could with no thought of the consequences. Someone brought an ax and furiously began to chop at the unwielding block of wood. "Stand back . . . youll get hurt," one woman called, without moving an inch herself. Within twenty-fiv- e minutes there was little left but dust. Returning The Thought When Christmas is over, instead of putting the cards you received in a box in the attic, put them in a bowl on the kitchen table. Once a week, pull out one card and think of something nice to do for the person or family who sent it. You might write a short note, pay a visit, send a small bouquet of flowers, bake a cake or simply make a phone call - each one a gesture greatly enjoyed not only by the person on the receiving end, but also by you. -- Continued from page 2 enemy haunted us as we pressed toward our victory. Anxious and scared we wondered who would be next (maybe us?), but never did the memory of Christmas night fail to be a solid anchor for me. "A year passed. It included hospital time, reassignment to Air Corps Supply, VE day, VJ day and transfer to Erding, Germany. finally asked me if I would go over and open the present with him. (We may have been terrorists but probably not martyrs). I agreed, and in front of about 20 police officers we did' a thorough inspection of a Haines undershirt, a pack of Camels, and a couple of bucks. To their credit, the officers at least were able to laugh at themselves, and of course at the officer who made the original "collar". Well, it wasnt much fun at the time, but it sure makes a good memory. BOOK FOR KIDS CreateABook' Personalized with your child's name. Family, friends and more. Reading is exciting when the story is about you! Imagine your child's delight when reading a story personalized with name, family names, friends' names, age and more personal inillustrations formation. Books have to help tell your child's story and are bound with a hard cover. Book printed while you full-col- FREE Perunaliietf letter from Santa with any "Book for Kid'' purchase with this ad. . Shop. ONLY $12.95. Reading is Exciting when the story is about you! An Old - Re-Disco- Wayne Ursenbach "And on December 23, 1945 with a group of other American servicemen we joined, on Sunday morning, with a small group of German families in Munich. POST SCRIPT: Thirteen women "In our own languages, we had participated in the raid. Nine and gratefully sang joyfully of them made it out safely. Four Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, were arrested and interrogated. Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and They were released the next day. Silent Night, Holy Night. Peace In the hurry to escape only two and after 44 years, it railroad ties were taken. This reigned the same in my heart. remains story relates the critical conditions existing near the end of WW1I; that it would make beasts out of iftlftiftiOiftiOlOitititltiti. people and the instinct to survive overrode any and all thought for Peter Bernhard personal safety. Continued from page 2 go." was.i-43h- MEMORIES ver Christmas Tradition At GLOVER NURSERY November 28 through December 23 come out to Glover's Christmas Tree Lot at 9275 So. 1300 West and experience the fun of an Christmas old-fashion- ed tree-cuttin- g party. Ride through our lot, containing over a . thousand beautiful Christmas trees, on our hay wagon, pulled by Clydesdale horses. Enjoy singing carols and laughing with other friendly souls as you search for your perfect tree. The wagon will stop at designated intervals for you to hop off, find your tree and have our little elves carry it out for you. (flip mnmsbmr vjjk ihKn The wagon will pick you up on its next round and drop you off at our office, where your tree (tr will be loaded into your car. There is no charge for the hay ride esoi r Tree prices start at 'V ; f 4 s ' $9W for 6' ' Douglas Fir I - ; Choose from Balsam, Scotch Noble fc Pinion Pine Come Join Us or Grand Fir. All Sizes! All MAXWELL HOUSE PRIVATE COLLECTION. FOR THOSE WHO APPRECIATE COFFEE AT ITS FINEST. gently Our coffees are made from only the finest beans. All hand-pickefor blended and roasted to their peak perfection. Then vacuum-packe- d maximum freshness. There are ten other distinctively delicious coffees in the Maxwell House Private Collection. Also available in naturally decaffeinated. d, Premium Grade! have flocked trees. We also Family Will Love It! WEST JORDAN 9275 So. 1300 W. HOURS: Mon.-Sa- t. 9 a.m. 9 p.m. -- Son., lOn.m.-Sp.m- . Hoyridei nightly 5 p.m. 9 p.m. Sat. Sun., 10 a.m.-p.m. -- 1988 The Maxwell HouaeCottse Oompeny. Your I S We also have a large seledton of flocked and green trees at our MURRAY location! 799 East 6600 South Hours: Mon.-Sa- t. 9 a.m. 9 p.m. Sun., 10 a.m. 8 p.m -- -- |