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While I value freedom – I hate war. Why? People die – families suffer.

Please note: I am NOT posting this page for it to become a sounding board about the pros and cons of war, this is simply a page in the album I am making for my brother.

Journaling says: "It is truly a noble deed for a man to attempt to bring closure to another man, woman, child or family, without a cost involved. Even if you don't find what you are looking for, just for the fact that you took the time to search." (by: Sue Hagerman)

Several years ago I found out that my brother, who lived in Germany (for several decades) would take time out from his schedule and go into the Huertgen Forest and other areas, with his metal detector, and search for MIA’s from WWII.

I’m not sure exactly when he started doing this, but I remember reading a newspaper article about a man here in the States who made 2 trips to Germany to search for his brother who was lost during the war. My brother called him up and told he would help to look for him.

Speaking the language helped him overcome many barriers that others might face, also knowing the terrain helped. Working for the government probably helped too. He never did find the man’s brother or others, but he spent many weeks looking. And yes, his dog, Mato, (in the picture) would go with my brother on these expeditions. (He does have a head, it’s just turned, but it’s the only picture I have from that trip with him in it.)

Really, it was his willingness to do this that impressed me. How often do we extend ourselves; our time, and our money to do something noble, just to help someone else out?

In 2007 when I went to visit him, he took me to one forest area near where he lived and we brought his metal detectors. Within no time at all, we found several WWII bullet casings. He showed me how the landscape in all different areas is full of foxholes that have filled with debris, leaves, limbs, etc over the past 60 years. And hidden away, that is where some of these MIA’s are. It was very depressing.

Thank you Gabrielle for these awesome papers that were perfect for documenting this event in his life. It was not easy to do.


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