submitted by inhonoredglory

CENSOR'S NOTE: this never made it to me. The author slipped it to someone, who somehow got it out to the writer through other means. In exchange for some information...Snooky-9093

Dear Dee,
Hello! I think your teacher had a fine idea about sending letters to our
prisoners here. And if I say it's a fine idea, you can be pretty sure it
really is: You see, I'm a guard here. My name's Hans Schultz and I'm master
sergeant of the guard. I'm so sorry to hear that your teacher's husband is in
prison somewhere in my country. The censors blocked his name, so I won't be
able to locate him for you. But tell your teacher I'm sorry. Believe me, if
this were my war, I'd sent everyone home and celebrate with a great plate of
apple strudel!
There is in fact an officer here who leads the prisoners. I sometimes don't
understand it because ours is suppose to be a stalag for non-enlisted men, but
I don't question the rules and regulations. I just do what I'm told and try to
keep everyone happy. Our officer is a colonel. He's an American flyer and I
think he and I get along very well, if I might say so myself, even if he does
get a little naughty at times. Our colonel, his name is Robert Hogan, by the
way, he is allowed to associate with the prisoners. In fact, he shares a
barracks with them, and no one is complaining, which is good. I don't like
squabbling.
But your letter was very interesting. To be frank, I think you'd make a better
leader than I would. Don't tell the Kommandant, of course, and don't tell me
either and I might start believing it and that wouldn't be very good for my
being a sergeant. You certainly would make a better pilot than I would. I'm
afraid of heights, but I'm sure you're not afraid of heights. Just wait a
moment, Dee. I have an idea about those pilot dreams...
I am back! You see, I slipped your letter from one of the prisoners' boxes. I
know it was terribly naughty of me, but I wanted to be a part of your project.
It sounded like such fun, and I think everyone should be involved in a little
goodwill, don't you? And for a little old sergeant like me, well, a little
excitement could hardly do any damage. But about being a pilot. I've overheard
some prisoners talk about women in special groups that fly planes from
factories to bases. Just now, I checked with Colonel Hogan, and he said that
it's called the Women's Army Corps. I had quite a time trying to get it out of
him without him knowing what I was up to; he's a slippery fellow and I'm sure
he got suspicious. I don't know much about that women's flying group, but
maybe you could check it out for me. I probably should finish this letter and
hide it in the outgoing mail. Uh-oh, here comes Colonel Hogan now and if I
know Hogan, he's figured me out. Good luck, Dee. You'll make a great flyer.
Hans

P.S. Don't give up on your dreams, Dee. Your skills and tenacity can do a lot
of good for this world. My prayers are with your teacher. –Colonel Robert E.
Hogan, Stalag 13