Now I Understand
"I just don't understand, I really don't," Biedenbender kept repeating after Hogan had jumped out of the airplane. He could understand Hogan capturing his airplane, and perhaps the bombing run even made sense, but why would the American Colonel return to his prisoner of war camp instead of to London? That completely baffled the General. He didn't try to make any sudden moves or escape, especially since Hogan and his men had taken the parachutes and he wasn't suicidal. The young Lieutenant smirked at the General as he kept him covered with his pistol. It didn't take long for the plane to make it into British airspace and fighters escorted them to an airfield where they landed. Once there, Biedenbender was instantly arrested and taken to interrogations that seemed to go on relentlessly for weeks.
He never gave his interrogators the information they wanted, instead he was preoccupied with why Hogan had acted so out of character. Had something happened to the Colonel that changed his personality after being captured? Biedenbender had handpicked the Oflag camp Hogan had been initially placed in. It housed many officers from various countries, and Hogan was the highest ranking officer captured, so they thought he would feel a responsibility to the men under him. However as it was an officer's duty, Hogan tried to escape. He was recaptured but nearly a dozen others weren't, and it was reported they'd made it back to their respective countries. That was when the decision was made to move Hogan to Colditz, even though Biedenbender thought it wouldn't be the most appropriate place for the Colonel. He might be an enemy officer, but Biedenbender respected the man. Within six weeks of being confined at the castle prison, Hogan escaped and nearly made it back to England before he was caught again. These escape attempts couldn't continue, so a new plan was formulated and Hogan was moved to Stalag 13. Although it was an enlisted man's camp, it had a record of never having a successful escape. The hope was that Hogan would feel a greater responsibility for the men under his new command, and he'd been warned that if he escaped, the men would be severely punished. It seemed to work. Hogan stayed put and the camp record of no escapes remained intact.
So what had really happened? When Klink called about doing the study of German to Allied airmen to prove the German superiority, Biedenbender instantly recognized it as a Hogan plot. Since he was personally responsible for Hogan's capture, he went to finally crush the man's fighting spirit. Besides he wanted to meet Hogan and see the look in his eyes when Hogan learned why he was a prisoner. That was a sweet victory that the General savored all day as he thwarted one attempt after another of Hogan's to escape. The American couldn't get anything past the General, or so he thought.
After a month of captivity, General Biedenbender was moved to a prison in America. This wasn't like an ordinary prisoner of war camp; it reminded him a bit of Colditz. However, instead of having access to facilities and intermingle with the other prisoners, he was on 24 hour a day lockdown. The only human contact he had was with the guards and none of them spoke German, so he spent most of his time looking out the tiny window in his cell. Escaping was completely out of the question, he was on the third floor, and once a week the guards tossed everything in his cell. Pictures were taken down off his walls, his bed was moved out, and every inch of the cell inspected for signs of tunnel digging or escape plans. He became accustomed to the boring routine and settled in waiting for the war to be over, never giving the guards any reason for concern.
Several months after his move to America, he was taken out of his cell for a visit to the infirmary. The doctor preformed a standard physical and then he was returned to his prison ward. On the way back, Biedenbender looked up and saw a hand written sign that one of the guards obviously had put up above the wing he was housed in. His blood ran cold when he read it and he instantly recognized the implications.
Papa Bear's Wing
That evening he asked for some writing paper and was granted his request. The guards left him alone for the remainder of the night. The next morning when breakfast was served, they found Biedenbender dead, hanging from the bars on his window. On the desk was a note.
Now I understand why Colonel Hogan didn't return to London when he had my airplane in his custody. Hogan made the best of his situation and found a way to carry on fighting for his country, instead of sitting back and waiting for the war to be over. His dedication and belief in what he's fighting for is much stronger than anyone I've ever known. I thought I knew him so well, and had gotten deep inside his head. I proudly bragged about how I'd stripped a skilled and powerful opponent away from the Allies thinking I'd served Germany well. Now I know that I only changed the playing field, giving the Allies an advantage that I couldn't foresee. I never knew Hogan, really knew what was going on in the man's mind. My arrogance and self deluded importance prevented me from stopping a true opponent. I have been a prisoner of war for nearly a year, and in all that time, I've never tried to continue fighting for my country the way Hogan continues. For that, my shame is great. Tell Hogan, the better man has won, and now I understand.
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