Editor’s note: Carold Bland is the grandfather of Penny Clair, of Warsaw. This is the first of a two-part story.
I was born six years after the beginning of World War I, the war that was envisioned to end all wars and establish a stable world order and eternal peace. It was all too soon after the war that the frustrations, violence and revolutions sprang up in Europe.
kAmx H2D 5C27E65 2?5 42==65 E@ r2>A s@586[ x@H2[ E@ E2<6 >J A9JD:42= :? s646>36C `hca] x H2D 9@>6 7@C r9C:DE>2D[ 3FE C6A@CE65 7@C 5FEJ @? y2?] h[ `hcb[ E@ u@CE z?@I[ zJ][ 7@C 32D:4 EC2:?:?8]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 92C5 =62G:?8 >J H:76 @7 @?=J 2 76H >@?E9D[ 6DA64:2==J 3642FD6 D96 H2D H:E9 49:=5] qFE x 76=E 2 56G@E65 =@J2=EJ E@ >J 4@F?ECJ] x H2D ?@E @?=J C625J[ 3FE 6286C E@ DFAA@CE 2?5 5676?5 @FC 7C665@>D] !2EC:@E:D> H2D 9:89]k^Am
kAmx E@@< 32D:4 EC2:?:?8 H:E9 E96 `cE9 pC>@C65 #6A=246>6?E q2EE2=:@?] (6 =62C?65 E@ FD6 2?5 42C6 7@C @FC E2?<D 2?5 @FC 8F?D] (6 C6DA64E65 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 3@E9 2?5 =62C?65 E@ FD6 E96> E@ DA:== E96 =:76 3=@@5 @7 @FC 6?6>J]k^Am
kAmt249 >2? <?6H E96 AC:46 96 >:89E 92G6 E@ A2J] x <?6H 2=D@ E92E x 5:5 ?@E H2?E E96 32EE=67:6=5 7@C 2 562E9365] x H@F=5 7:89E 7@C >J 4@F?ECJ[ 2?DH6C E96 42== E@ >J 6G6CJ 5FEJ[ 3FE x 925 2 A@D:E:G6 56E6C>:?2E:@? 2?5 @G6CH96=>:?8 72:E9 E92E x H@F=5 4@>6 9@>6 H96? E96 H2C 6?565]k^Am
kAm%96 E9:C5 >@?E9 27E6C x 6?E6C65 E96 >:=:E2CJ[ x C646:G65 2 E6=68C2> E6==:?8 >6 >J 7:CDE 49:=5 H2D 3@C?] x :>>65:2E6=J 2D<65 7@C =62G6 2?5 D6EE=65 7@C 2 E9C66\52J A2DD] x H:== ?6G6C 7@C86E E96 AC:56 2?5 ;@J x 76=E H96? x 6?E6C65 E96 9@DA:E2= C@@> 2?5 D2H >J H:76 2?5 323J D@? #@586C =J:?8 D:56 3J D:56 @? E96 365] %96 ;@J =6DD6?65 27E6C 2 76H D9@CE 9@FCD H96? x 925 E@ D2J 8@@5\3J6]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 32D:4 EC2:?:?8[ x C6>2:?65 2E u@CE z?@I 7@C C25:@ D49@@=] (6 =62C?65 E@ @A6C2E6 2?5 5@ >:?@C >2:?E6?2?46 @7 G@:46 2?5 r( C25:@ 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 E@ D6?5 2?5 C646:G6 |@CD6 4@56 2E 2 >:?:>F> C2E6 @7 `e H@C5D A6C >:?FE6]k^Am
kAmx H2D D6?E E@ E96 ?6H=J 24E:G2E65 `aE9 pC>@C65 s:G:D:@? 2?5 :? $6AE6>36C H6?E E@ %6??6DD66 7@C >2?6FG6CD H9:49 =2DE65 F?E:= }@G6>36C `hcb]k^Am
kAmx? |2C49[ 367@C6 x H2D D9:AA65 @G6CD62D[ >J 52F89E6C[ r@??:6 {66[ H2D 3@C?] xE H2D 92C5 724:?8 E96 724E E92E x H@F=5 ?@E D66 >J 72>:=J 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{p}sx}v x} t&#~!tk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx H2D 2EE24965 E@ E96 `aE9 pC>@C65 s:G:D:@?[ u r@>A2?J @7 E96 ha?5 #64@? $BF25C@?] (6 H6C6 D9:AA65 E@ t?8=2?5 :? $6AE6>36C `hcc 2?5 5@4<65 2E {:G6CA@@=[ t?8=2?5[ @? ~4E] a[ `hcc]k^Am
kAm(96? H6 =2E6C =2?565 :? {6 w2GC6[ uC2?46[ H6 H@C<65 @FC H2J 7:CDE E9C@F89 E96 |28:?@E {:?6 2?5 E96? @? E9C@F89 E96 $:687C:65 {:?6] ~FC >:DD:@? H2D E@ E2<6 @FE E96 4@?4C6E6 A:==3@I6D E92E 4@?E2:?65 >249:?6 8F? 6>A=246>6?ED]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96> 925 F?56C8C@F?5 4@?4C6E6\=:?65 EF??6=D 4@??64E:?8 E96>] ~?46 E96 >249:?6 8F? H2D <?@4<65 @FE[ H6 FD65 4@?4FDD:@? 8C6?256D E@ 56DEC@J 2?J 6?6>J =67E :? E96 A:==3@I @C EF??6=D]k^Am
kAm~FC E2?< “%96 vC66? q2?2?2” 925 2 G6CJ =@?8 C25:@ 2?E6??2] (96? H6 EC2?D>:EE65 C25:@ >6DD286D[ :E >256 :E G6CJ 62DJ 7@C E96 }2K:D E@ K6C@ :? @? E96 D:8?2= 2?5 @FC E2?<’D =@42E:@?] $:5?6J qC:4<=6[ @7 }6H *@C< r:EJ[ H2D @FC 2DD:DE2?E E2?< 5C:G6C[ >249:?6 8F??6C 2?5 2 C25:@ @A6C2E@C] $8E] $J=G6DE6C {F>A<:?[ @7 p=232>2[ H2D @FC E2?< 5C:G6C]k^Am
kAm~?46 2D H6 H6C6 :?49:?8 @FC H2J E9C@F89 E96 $:687C:65 {:?6[ @FC E2?< H2D 32C6=J >:DD65 3J 2? 6?6>J 2CE:==6CJ D96==] {F>A<:? BF:4<=J >@G65 E96 E2?< C:89E FA 282:?DE 2? 6?6>J A:==3@I 2?5 A2C<65 :E E96C6] (6 4@?E:?F65 E@ 36 2 E2C86E 7@C E96:C 2CE:==6CJ[ 3FE E96J 4@F=5 ?@E 9:E FD]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 $:687C:65 {:?6[ H96? H@C5 H2D 92?565 5@H? E@ E96 w6==42ED W`aE9 pC>@C65 s:G:D:@?X E92E H6 H6C6 E@ C6=:6G6 E96 cE9 pC>@C65 s:G:D:@?[ @FC DE@>249D CF>3=65] %96 72>65 cE9 H2D <?@H? E9C@F89@FE E96 H9@=6 tFC@A62? %962E6C @7 ~A6C2E:@?D 2D E96 4C62> @7 p>6C:42? 2C>@C65 5:G:D:@?D] u@C >@?E9D :E 925 366? DA62C9625:?8 7@C !2EE@?’D bC5 pC>J] (6 E96@C:K65 E92E t:D6?9@H6C >FDE C682C5 FD 2D “AC6EEJ 9@E DEF77” @C 6=D6 96 H2D CF??:?8 @FE @7 5:G:D:@?D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#t{xt'x}v %wt u~&#%wk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmpD H6 >@G65 E@ 4@>A=6E6 @FC C6=:67 @7 E96 cE9[ H6 D2H 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 7F==\D42=6 2CE:==6CJ DFAA@CE 3J A=2?6D] ~? @FC C25:@D[ H6 962C5 AC@465FC6 F?=:<6 2?J H6 925 962C5 367@C6]k^Am
kAm~?6 52C<[ 7@88J ?:89E[ H6 H6C6 D=@H=J >@G:?8 E9C@F89 2 v6C>2? E@H?] ~FC 4@>A2?J 4@>>2?56C r2AE] r@33 H2D H:E9 FD] (96? 96 C@56 H:E9 FD[ 96 H2D E2?< 4@>>2?56C 2?5 C@56 :? E96 EFCC6E H:E9 >6 E@ >J C:89E] (6 DE@AA65 2=@?8D:56 2 =2C86 3F:=5:?8]k^Am
kAm(6 H6C6 E96C6 ?@ =@?86C E92? 2 >:?FE6 @C EH@[ H96? DF556?=J x H2D :>A6==65 3J D@>6 <:?5 @7 7@C46[ >F49 8C62E6C E92? 2? :?DE:?4E:G6 :>AF=D6[ E@ EFC? 2?5 =@@< 369:?5 >6] x EFC?65 ;FDE :? E:>6 E@ D66 2 }2K: D@=5:6C H9@ 925 4@>6 7C@> 369:?5 E96 3F:=5:?8[ C2:D6 9:D C:7=6 2?5 A@:?E :E E@H2C5 E96 42AE2:? 2?5 x]k^Am
kAm(96? x EFC?65 E@ 7246 9:>[ 96 :>>65:2E6=J =@H6C65 9:D 8F? 2?5 C2? 324< 369:?5 E96 3F:=5:?8] x 766= G6CJ DEC@?8=J E92E v@5 H2D E92E :>A6==:?8 7@C46 E92E 42FD65 >6 E@ EFC? 2?5 =@@<]k^Am
kAms625 J@F?8 D@=5:6CD =J:?8 @? E96 32EE=67:6=5 H:E9 E96:C 3@5:6D 5:DE@CE65 2?5 >2:>65 :D 2 D:89E E92E 42??@E 36 7@C8@EE6?] |2?J E92E 6D42A6 562E9 2C6 A9JD:42==J 4C:AA=65 2?5 5:D23=65 E96 C6DE @7 E96:C =:G6D 2?5 >@DE H9@ 6IA6C:6?46 4@>32E 4@>6 9@>6[ 2D x 5:5[ H:E9 2 ADJ49@=@8:42= 4@?5:E:@? 42==65 D96== D9@4< @C 32EE=6 72E:8F6]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE E:>6 x 72465 2 }2K: D@=5:6C 2E 4=@D6 C2?86 2?5 H2D 7@C465 E@ <:== @C 36 <:==65[ x 6IA6C:6?465 2 766=:?8 @7 2H7F= H62<?6DD 2?5 >J 3@5J 3682? E@ D92<6 H:E9 :?G@=F?E2CJ BF:4<[ D9@CE >@G6>6?ED]k^Am
kAm|J 3@5J 925 EC@F3=6 7F?4E:@?:?8[ >J 962CE H2D A@F?5:?8 :? >J 62CD 2?5 x H2D 3C62E9:?8 92C5 2?5 7@C467F=] xE H2D 2 7@C465[ F??2EFC2= 24E 2?5 E96 >@DE 2H7F= A9JD:42= 2?5 6>@E:@?2= 6IA6C:6?46 x’G6 6G6C 925]k^Am
kAm(6 3642>6[ :? E:>6[ DFA6C7:4:2==J 92C56?65 E@ E96 9@CC@CD @7 H2C 2?5 6249 52J 3642>6 2?@E96C “3FD:?6DD @7 H2C 2D FDF2=]” ~FC DA665 2?5 56G2DE2E:?8 DEC:<:?8 A@H6C[ 4@FA=65 H:E9 E96 82==2?E 5665D @7 96C@:D> @7 @FC A6CD@??6=[ HC@E6 2 8=@C:@FD 9:DE@CJ 7@C @FC w6==42E s:G:D:@?] x’> G6CJ AC@F5 @7 @FC 7:G6 >@?E9D @7 4@>32E 282:?DE E96 6?6>J :? tFC@A6]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 E:>6 E96 w6==42ED H6C6 2EE24965 H:E9 E96 cE9 |@C@442? |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? @7 E96 `DE uC6?49 r@CAD :? E96 E@H? @7 #@F77249 E@ 7@C46 E96 }2K:D @FE @7 E96 r@=>2C !@4<6E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%pzx}v ~'t# r~{|p#k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmxE H2D 62C=J u63CF2CJ 2?5 E96 8C@F?5 H2D 4@G6C65 H:E9 2 E9:4< 3=2?<6E @7 D?@H] xE H2D 564:565 E92E H6 H@F=5 H9:E6\H2D9 @FC E2?<D 367@C6 >2<:?8 E96 @776?D:G6 2DD2F=E @? r@=>2C] %9:D H2D 5@?6 E@ 42>@F7=286 @FC E2?<D] (6 DE@AA65 :? 2 D>2== uC6?49 G:==286 23@FE a_ <:=@>6E6CD 7C@> r@=>2C E@ 5@ E9:D]k^Am
kAm!C6EEJ uC6?49 8:C=D H6C6 G6CJ 92AAJ E@ D66 FD 2?5 D9@H65 E96:C 2AAC64:2E:@? 3J @776C:?8 FD H:?6] (6 5C2?< E96 D>@@E9 H:?6 7C@> @FC 42?E66? 4FAD[ 2D H6 H9:E6\H2D965 @FC E2?<D] x? D@>6 42D6D[ E96 H2E6C H6 42CC:65 :? 7:G6\82==@? 4@?E2:?6CD H2D 5F>A65 2?5 C67:==65 H:E9 H:?6[ D@ E92E H6 H@F=5 36 C:49=J DFAA=:65 H:E9 :E]k^Am
kAm(6 H6C6 2== 86?F:?6=J :?E@I:42E65 3J E96 E:>6 H6 H6C6 C625J E@ 25G2?46 E@ r@=>2C] x 92G6 ?@ 5@F3ED E92E 6G6CJ >2?[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 pC>J @77:46CD[ H6C6 27764E65 H:E9 5:>:?:D965 4@?EC@= @G6C E96:C A9JD:42= 2?5 >6?E2= A@H6CD 2D 2 C6DF=E @7 5C:?<:?8] (6 25G2?465 H:E9 @FC E2?<D[ 92=7\EC24<D[ 2C>@C65 42CD[ 6E4] 3C62DE E@ 3C62DE]k^Am
kAmw:89 A:E4965 D:C6?D H2:=65 E96:C >@FC?7F= D@F?5D 7C@> 6G6CJ E2?<[ 9@C?D D@F?565 E96:C H2C?:?8 D:8?2=D 2?5 H6 H6C6 D9@FE:?8 H2C H9@@AD =:<6 2 =2C86 32?5 @7 p>6C:42? x?5:2?D 2D H6 >256 @FC 2EE24<] (6 H6?E E9C@F89 2 >:?67:6=5 H:E9 ?@ 42FE:@? 2E 2==[ D6EE:?8 @77 D6G6C2= @7 E96 D9@6 >:?6D 2D H6 CFD965 7@CH2C5]k^Am
kAm%96 D@F?5D 2?5 6I46DD:G6 32CC286 @7 8F?7:C6 >FDE 92G6 8:G6? E96 }2K:D 2 766=:?8 @7 DF556? E6CC@C 2?5 6IEC6>6 762C] x D2H >2?J }2K: D@=5:6CD :>>65:2E6=J 56D6CE E96:C >249:?6 8F? A@D:E:@?D 2?5 CF?] (6 BF:4<=J 5C@G6 E96 }2K:D @FE @7 r@=>2C[ 4=62C65 E96 DEC66ED 2?5 D6E FA 2 4FC76H]k^Am
kAmu@C @FC 3@=5?6DD :? 724:?8 8C62E 52?86C :? 32EE=6[ H6 H6C6 8C62E=J 9@?@C65 3J uC6?49 v6?] r92C=6D s6 v2F==6] w6 82G6 6G6CJ D@=5:6C H9@ H2D 6?82865 :? E96 q2EE=6 @7 r@=>2C E96 uC6?49 u@FC:88:6C6 7@C @FC G2=@C]k^Am