A Foreign Friend
As they all gathered around Hawkeye reached down and picked up a glass jar that had the word "TIPS" written across the side in black sharpie. "Well, well, I guess you are quite wealthy. That jar seems to be full."
"No Radar. You see I don't keep this money."
"Come again. I don't understand."
"Well after I get a good amount saved in tips I give it to a local hospital so they can treat the homeless."
"That is really swell of you."
"In celebration of finding my friends I thought I would let you guys pick the hospital to whom I send this money."
"Thanks. Would it be ok if we think about it tonight and get back to you tomorrow?"
"Sure B.J. that very ok!"
"Say everyone lets go across the street and do some evening shopping while we are here!"
"Peg that sounds tempting but I am very tired. I think I will go home and sleep now. See you all in the morning and have fun shopping!" Before leaving they all said good night to Hawkeye and hugged him.

As they entered "Dave's T.V. World", the local electronics store, they each found something different that caught their attention. Erin found the TVs to be the most mesmerizing. Her eyes glazed over and the 9 o'clock news came on.

And now for a moment we turn for a look at news across the world. This time it comes to us from Germany where around 5pm there was a 20-car wreck on the Autobahn. It killed at least 10 people and left more than 5 children homeless and seriously hurt.

Erin felt a tear run down her face as the images of mangled cars and twisted metal filled every pixel of the screen. With the introduction of the color TV Erin was able to see the splattered blood, which stained the street and what was left of the cars. "DAD, DAD!" She cried as she frantically tried to locate him. She then ran to him and buried her face in his warm shirt. As he bent down he was trying to calm her. "Erin what is wrong? Please don't cry it will be ok."
"Those poor kids. The blood was everywhere. How..."
"Go on explain to me what you are talking about."
"Those German kids on the news. They were hurt so bad and are now homeless. I saw the blood it was all over the street. They did not look any older than me." She explained with a sniffle here and there.
"Well Erin would it make you feel better if I could send a little money over to help them get the treatment they need?"
"Ye...yes." Just then B.J. motioned for Radar to come closer.
"Radar what would you say if we send the money to help some kids in Germany?"
"Sounds fine to me Beej."
"Why don't you look tomorrow in the paper and see if you can find the details and where to send the money."
"Ok will do."

The sun rose the next morning and the friends as planned had breakfast together at the local dinner. "So B.J., Radar, have you decided where we are going to send that money?"
"Yes."
"Well don't keep me in the dark!"
"We have decided to sent it to a children's hospital in Germany that has had a increase in patients due to a recent tragedy."
"Normally I don't send it to a foreign country but if that is what you have decided on that is what we will do."
"You know Radar, B.J., Hawkeye, I think Erin and I should go back to San Francisco now. Erin has school and I have things to do."
"Are you sure?" Questioned B.J.
"Yes."

B.J. said good-bye to Peg and Erin as they were on their way home. Hawkeye sent the money to the children's hospital in Germany a long with a note explaining why and what the money was to be used for. B.J., Radar and Hawkeye meet for breakfast every morning for several weeks. They just wanted to catch up on old times when one morning Hawkeye had a surprise for them. "I just received this letter yesterday. It is from the head nurse at the children's hospital where the money was sent. I will read it to you."

Dear Mr. Helper,
My staff and I are very thankful for your donation. We wanted you to know that you are welcome to come and visit us anytime you get the chance. It surprises us that some one from so far away would care and put this much effort to help us. We wish the best for you, your family, and your country...Bis bald.
Sincerely,
Margaret Scholz

"Well Hawk you gonna go see them anytime soon?"
"Nope. Never!"
"Why not?"
"Radar, I am in my country where I feel safe and I don't ever want to leave it again. It is not that I don't want to see the kids but I never want to leave my country again for any reason." Radar and Beej tried for over an hour to change Hawkeye's mind. Radar finally picked up the letter to point something out when he became speechless and his mouth dropped wide open. "What is it Radar?"
"Look her name is Margaret!"
"So, what does that have to do with anything?" Hawkeye questioned as he gave Radar a look of confusion. "Geeez, you know it just reminded me of Houlihan."
"Come now Radar are you trying to say that you think this could be Houlihan."
"No, but now I am wondering what happened to her. Did she ever have kids? Get married? Where does she live?"
"You know Radar I don't know but I would like to find out. I bet she did get married again and I hope she had kids if that is what she wanted." Hawkeye looked down at the letter and his hand covered his mouth in thought. The more he thought the more he wanted to visit the children's hospital but he never figured it would be possible to get over his fears of being so far from his country like had been for so long. "Beej, I want to go to Germany and I want you to come with me!"
"Well Hawk I would love to but I can't just up and leave my family."
"Please I want to go so bad but I really don't want to go alone."
"Let me call my wife and see what she says." After talking with Peg he decided that he in fact intended on going with Hawkeye to visit the German children's hospital. They were exited that they were finally getting to meet the children they helped.

The plane finally landed after a grueling nine-hour flight to Berlin from Boston. "Beej, I am glad we are on the ground and I am not looking forward to the flight back. That was too long to sit in one seat!"
"You said it Hawk." They unloaded off the plane and after having their passports checked they began trying to locate the hospital. They found buses, trains, and subways very useful in their hunt. After several days they found the hospital. "Ready Hawkeye?"
"Ready as I will ever be. Let's go in."
"Right, in we go!" B.J. agreed. The excitement was so intense that their hands began to shake and they got butterflies in their stomachs. "Excuse me nurse but do you know where I could find Margaret Scholz?"
"Nurse Scholz ist on a lunch break now. Hold on a moment and I will page her."

KRANKSCHWESTER SCHOLZ BITTE ZU DIE DRITTE BODEN KOMMEN. KRANKSCHWESTER SCHOLZ ZU VORHALLE AM DRITTE BODEN BITTE.

B.J. and Hawkeye patiently waited for nurse Scholz. About ten minutes had passed when the doors to the lobby opened a woman dressed in a white gown started to approach Hawkeye and B.J. They both were speechless and their minds began to race like a run away train.
"Hallo und wer bist du?"Hawkeye tried to speak but was not sure what she just said. "Hello I am sorry but I don't understand."
"Does it help when I speak in English?"
"Uhhhh...yes mam it does. Thanks!" By this time Hawkeye had realized that Frau Scholz was really who he knew as Major Houlihan. So astonished at his discovery he did not say anything for several minutes and B.J. was busy introducing him self.
"So you say your name is Margaret Scholz." Hawkeye interrupted. "Yes."
"Are you married?"
"Yes."
"Houlihan I know it is you!" He said as a tear ran down his face and he opened his arms for a hug. He could no longer hold his knowledge in. "Hawkeye, B.J. is that you?"
"You bet!" As they realized it really was their old friends they hugged one another without pause.