Chapter 8
Stalag 13, Tunnels under the camp,
September 5, 1943, 1330 hours
Vladimir looked at the men who had assembled in the cramped tunnel area. This is it. In just a little while, I will climb up through the doghouse, into Oskar's truck and ride away from this camp. Tomorrow I will no longer be part of this team, no, part of this family here in Stalag 13.
Hogan cleared his throat as if to say something. Everyone turned their attention to him, but he remained silent for a few moments more. Finally, he spoke. "All right, you know the plan," he said. "When Oskar pounds on the doghouse, it's safe to come out."
Vladimir nodded. He noticed that Hogan was speaking to him rather than Marya. She seemed to be deferring control of this portion of the escape to him. He wasn't sure if this was because, as a member of Colonel Hogan's team, he knew the procedure better than she did, or if this were a test to see how well he would do.
"I know the procedure, Colonel," he said. "We'll come out of the doghouse, one at a time, and Oskar will shepherd us to the truck." Hogan nodded, smiling at Vladimir's choice of words. "Marya will go first, then Zagoskin, and I will follow last," Vladimir said.
"Right," Hogan said. "Oskar will keep you hidden at his place today, and tonight you can start your journey home."
Vladimir nodded. "As Carter would say," he said. "It's a piece of pie." He was smiling as everyone laughed. He noticed that Carter was flushing with embarrassment and he smiled broader.
Vladimir extended his hand towards Carter. "Good luck in your game today, Andrew," he said.
Carter took the hand and said "Thanks Sam. Good luck to you too."
After Vladimir accepted handshakes from Newkirk, LeBeau and Baker, Colonel Hogan stepped up. "Have a safe journey home, Vladimir," he said.
Vladimir looked back at him. "Thank you, Colonel Hogan," he replied. "And thank you for inviting me to be a part of your, as you called it, little band of merry men. It meant a lot to me and made me feel like I was making a difference. I hope I did make a difference to the group."
Hogan smiled and nodded. "Most definitely," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "And now, since our little bird is leaving the nest, I think it's time to make sure he has his wings." Hogan stepped forward and pinned something on Vladimir's collar. "Sam Minsk, I hereby appoint you as an honorary member of the United States Army Air Corps." He stepped back and gave Vladimir a salute fit for a general.
Everyone in the tunnel started clapping as Vladimir looked at the item on his collar. Colonel Hogan had given Vladimir his pilot's wings. Vladimir looked up at the Colonel and returned the salute. "Thank you Colonel," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I will wear these with pride remembering my service here in Stalag 13."
When the applause from the men died out, Vladimir turned and looked at Kinch. Kinch was smiling, but Vladimir could see the sadness in his eyes.
"I have an urge to say something corny," Kinch said. "Like parting is such sweet sorrow."
Vladimir smiled. "That is from that English playwright, Shakespeare, I think," he said.
Kinch nodded. "From Romeo and Juliet," he said.
Vladimir started laughing. "I do not think I want to know which of us is Juliet," he said. The men in the room started laughing too.
"That is not even close to what I meant," Kinch said.
"Ah, I wish I could tell if you are blushing," Vladimir said, still smiling. "But I know what you are trying to say."
Kinch extended his hand towards Vladimir. "Do svedanya, Volodya," he said.
Vladimir looked at Kinch's hand and shook his head a little. Then he embraced his friend. "Paka, Vanya," he said.
Vladimir stepped back, looked at everyone in the room and said," And now, as our beloved Kommandant would say ..." He tried his best to imitate Klink. "Diiiiiiis-missed! Hmmph!" He shook his fist the way Klink did.
Everyone in the room laughed.
Stalag 13, Camp compound,
September 5, 1943, 1400 hours
Hogan was leaning against the barracks with his arms folded, watching the baseball players warming up for their championship game. They would warm up until Oskar's truck arrived at the camp, and then they would start their game.
Kinch was standing beside Hogan, looking around at the players and the prisoners who were there to watch the game, and at the guards. LeBeau had positioned himself so that he could distract the guard that would watch Oskar unload the dogs. Kinch was not surprised to see that Schultz would be that guard. Baker and Newkirk were mingling with the prisoners watching the game, letting them know what they were supposed to do once the diversion started.
"Do you think it will work?" Kinch asked. He knew what the answer would be, but it felt better to ask, and to hear Colonel Hogan's answer.
"It should," Hogan replied. "Carter and Roth know what to do, and Vladimir knows the drill with Oskar's truck."
Kinch nodded. "It should go smoothly," he said. "Once the diversion starts, the guards' attention will be distracted and from their positions, would not notice the activity at the kennels."
"The only spot I am concerned about is in front of Klink's office," Hogan said. "If he comes out to see what is going on and looks over at the kennels, he'll see everything."
Kinch grinned. "That's why you are standing here, right?" Kinch asked. "To distract his attention and keep him from spoiling our fun."
Hogan chuckled. "We've done this before, haven't we?" he mused.
Kinch laughed. "Many times!" he said.
The men were silent again, watching the players toss baseballs around. They looked bored and ready to start the game. But they knew what they were supposed to do, even if they didn't know why they were supposed to do it.
"Here he comes, Colonel," Kinch said, nodding his head towards the main gate.
Hogan looked over at the ball players. They had noticed the truck's arrival and were moving into position, ready to start their game. He noticed Carter on the pitcher's mound, looking over at him and waiting for the signal to start.
Hogan watched the truck drive through the main gain, unchecked as usual, and head towards the kennels. When Oskar had positioned the truck by the kennel gates, as he usually did, Hogan removed his hat, smoothed his hair and put the hat back on his head.
Carter stood on the pitcher's mound waiting. They had seen the truck enter the camp and head for the kennels, so all the players moved into their positions. Corporal Bob Roth stood at home plate, bat in hand, and waited for Carter to pitch.
When the truck stopped, Carter saw Hogan remove his hat, smooth his hair and put the hat back on his head. There's the signal. It's time to start. If there's ever a time when I need to make a perfect pitch, this is it. Carter nodded, signaling to Corporal Roth that he was about to start. He took a deep breath, went into his windup, and threw the ball towards home plate ... and hit Corporal Roth right in the rear end.
Carter stood on the pitcher's mound waiting. He saw Corporal Roth turn towards him, throw his bat down on the ground and start running towards him.
"You hit me!" Roth yelled as he ran. "I'll teach you to hit me with the ball!"
Carter braced himself. He knew that this was the diversion, and Roth was supposed to pretend to be angry and start a fight. But the look on the Corporal's face was so real that for a moment, Carter thought that Roth might have forgotten that it wasn't supposed to be a real fight.
When Roth reached Carter, be got him in a big bear hug and whispered in his ear, "Let's make this look good."
As the two men struggled, the other players scrambled towards the two men. Some of the spectators, urged by Newkirk and Baker, also ran onto the field towards the fight.
Hogan watched the tangle of men in the middle of the ball field. He saw Newkirk and Baker were urging some of the spectators to join the fight, and hoped that they had the sense to let them know that this was supposed to be an act.
LeBeau had started to usher Schultz away from the truck when the fight started. The portly sergeant was running towards the ball field as fast as he could, which, Hogan noticed, wasn't really that fast.
Hogan glanced around at all of the guards. Their attention was turned to the mass of prisoners within the compound, alert to possibility of the trouble escalating.
"So far so good," he commented to Kinch.
Kinch nodded. "Oskar's going in," he said.
Hogan looked over towards the kennel. From where he was standing, he could see the doghouse that served as the entrance to the tunnels. He saw Oskar enter the kennel with a dog, release it and pound on the doghouse. The veterinarian then grabbed one of the dogs that he was going to take back, and waited by the doghouse. It had been raised, and Hogan saw Marya step out, close the doghouse entrance and walk briskly beside Oskar and the dog to the truck and enter the back.
Kinch poked the Colonel with his elbow. "It looks like it's your turn, Colonel," he said looked over towards Klink's office. The Kommandant was just stepping out of the door, looking in the direction of the commotion.
"Well, here goes," Hogan said, pushing away from the barracks and walking towards the ball field. "Kommandant Klink!" he yelled, motioning the German Colonel over to him as he walked. The Kommandant started walking towards Hogan without even a glance at the kennel area. Kinch smiled. Yes, so far, so good!
Vladimir was standing with Marya and Zagoskin by the ladder leading up to the doghouse. He looked at Zagoskin, who had been quiet for a while. "Are you going to be all right?" he asked Zagoskin.
Zagoskin nodded "Da," he replied. "This is just a bit unusual for me."
"It is for me too," Vladimir responded. "Normally I am helping people escape, not escaping with them."
Marya was about to say something when a pounding on the doghouse above them startled them.
"That's the signal," Vladimir said. "Marya, climb up and out. Oskar will be waiting."
Marya nodded and climbed the ladder, lifting the doghouse entrance and shutting it behind her as she climbed out.
"When Oskar pounds again, you go out," Vladimir said to Zagoskin. Zagoskin nodded and climbed a little ways up the ladder. The pounding came again, and Zagoskin lifted the doghouse, climbed out and shut the entrance again.
Vladimir was alone. He knew that in a few seconds he would be climbing out of Stalag 13 for the last time. This place had been his home for more than a year. He had made good friends here, and he had helped make a lot of trouble for the Germans. He would miss this place.
The pounding startled Vladimir from his thoughts. Without taking another look behind him, he climbed the ladder, lifted the doghouse and climbed out of the tunnel.
Kinch stood by the barracks, watching the kennel area. Zagoskin emerged from the tunnel, and like Marya before him, walked briskly beside Oskar to the back of the truck.
Oskar went back into the kennel with the last dog, released it, pounded on the doghouse and grabbed another dog to return. The doghouse entrance opened up and Kinch saw Vladimir emerge.
Vladimir looked quickly around the camp and spotted Kinch. They stood looking at each other for a second, and then Vladimir gave a small wave and walked to the truck with Oskar. Kinch watched his friend climb into the back of the truck and close the doors.
Kinch stared at the truck for a second as Oskar walked to the driver's door to get in. Goodbye, my friend.
Kinch looked over at where Colonel Hogan and the Kommandant had been standing. He saw Hogan glance back at him, and he nodded to indicate that the transfer was complete.
Hogan was standing beside Klink in the middle of the compound. The Kommandant was frantically waving his riding crop and stomping his feet.
"Schultz!" he screamed. "Make them stop! Make them stop!" Schultz was in no position to do that, having been knocked to the ground by the group of prisoners.
Hogan kept looking back at Kinch, waiting for the sign that the transfer was complete, and the diversion could be stopped. So far, Kinch had not given the signal.
"Colonel Hogan, these are your men," Klink said. "Make them stop this nonsense!"
"What, this?" Hogan responded. "They're just having a little bit of good, clean fun."
"You call this fun?" Klink asked.
"Of course, Kommandant," Hogan said. "It's just a baseball game."
"A baseball game? It looks more like a wrestling match," Klink said.
Hogan glanced at Kinch again, and Kinch nodded. That meant that everyone had gotten into the truck, so it was time for Hogan to stop the melee.
"I guess you are right, Kommandant," he said to Klink. He raised his voice and yelled towards the ball field, "All right, that's enough. Break it up!"
Newkirk and Baker nodded and started circulating around the mass of prisoners, telling them it was time to stop. Slowly the mass of men started to break apart, and the yelling that had been coming from the ball field subsided.
Hogan watched Oskar's truck pull away from the kennel and head for the main gate. While looking at the main gate, he saw another truck entering the camp. It was Hochstetter. Hogan held his breath for a second. He wasn't sure if Hochstetter would stop Oskar's truck and want to search it.
He was relieved when the trucks simply passed each other and Oskar headed out down the road away from camp. So long Vladimir! I hope we can meet again after all of this madness is over.
Hochstetter's truck pulled up next to Klink and Hogan. Hochstetter got out of the truck, looking at the ball field where things were getting back to normal. "What is this?" he asked gruffly.
"It's the camp baseball league championship game, Major," Hogan replied. "Why don't you join us and watch the game?"
"I'd rather not," Hochstetter muttered under his breath. "Klink, I am here on business," he said out loud.
"What is it now, Major?" Klink asked wearily. "Haven't you bothered us enough?"
"No, I don't think I have," Hochstetter said slowly and savagely. "But apparently General Burkhalter does. He has requested that I leave Stalag 13 alone, so I am here to take my men back to town."
"Giving up Major?" Hogan asked cheerily.
"No, Hogan, I am not giving up," Hochstetter growled. "But it seems that I no longer need to look for the Russian prisoner that Kommandant Klink was hiding here in camp."
"Major Hochstetter, I find that remark very disagreeable!" Klink exclaimed.
"Klink, I find you very disagreeable," Hochstetter replied. "But it seems the Abwher has taken care of things for me. I have a report that the Russian prisoner was shot while trying to escape from the Abwher."
Hogan noticed the genuine look of shock that appeared on Klink's face. "That is terrible," he said.
"The only thing terrible about it is that I didn't get to do it," Hochstetter said.
"You're all heart, Major," Hogan said icily. If you had, Major Hochstetter, I would personally tear your head off. But happily, you did not get your chance, and Vladimir is now on his way back home. Score one for the good guys, Major!
"I'm warning you, Hogan," Hochstetter said through clenched teeth. "One day you will slip and I will catch you, and then it will be your turn." Hogan grinned broadly at the Major.
"Major Hochstetter, I do not like you talking to my prisoners like that," Klink protested.
"And I'm warning you, Klink," Hochstetter growled again. "When I catch him, not only will his head roll, but your head will roll!" Hochstetter turned and walked towards the main gate to gather his men together.
"I do not like that man," Klink said.
"Kommandant, for once we are on the same side," Hogan responded.
Klink turned to look at Hogan with a sad expression on his face. "Colonel Hogan, I am sorry about Vladimir," he said softly.
Hogan looked back at Klink, studying him for a moment. "Yes Kommandant, I believe you really are," he said. "Thank you."
Klink nodded before turning and walking slowly back to his office. Hogan stared after him as he walked away. If I could tell you that Vladimir is still alive, I would. But since I can't do it without telling you how I know, you will just have to keep on believing the worst.
Kinch walked slowly towards where Colonel Hogan was standing. He had watched Klink walk slowly away from him, leaving Hogan to stare after him without moving.
"What was that about?" he asked when he had reached Hogan.
"Hochstetter is taking his men back to town," Hogan said. "He reported to Klink that Vladimir was shot by the Abwher while trying to escape."
"Poor Sam," Kinch said smiling.
Hogan smiled back. "I'm glad this adventure is over," he said. "But it will feel a little different without Vladimir in camp. How are you feeling?"
"Melancholic," Kinch replied. "I am glad this is over, and I am very happy that Sam is getting a chance to go home. But I also think it will feel different with him not in camp."
Hogan put his hand on Kinch's shoulder. "Everything changes," he said. "And someday, hopefully soon, we will all be going our separate ways when we leave the camp."
Kinch didn't say anything. He simply looked off towards the main gate, where moments earlier, Oskar's truck had driven away. Finally he nodded. "You're right, sir," he said.
"Now, let's see what we can do about getting this baseball game started," Hogan said. The two men walked towards the ball field.
Stalag 13, Camp compound,
September 5, 1943, 1725 hours
"Strike three!" yelled the umpire.
Carter stood motionless on the pitchers mound, staring at home plate. It took a moment to register what had just happened. Then he threw his glove into the air and started jumping up and down. I did it! I struck out Bob Roth! I won the championship! In a moment, he was surrounded by his teammates wanting to congratulate him. They picked him up and carried him off the field on their shoulders as if he had won the war single-handedly.
They put him down near where Colonel Hogan and the rest of his barrack-mates were standing. He accepted congratulations from all of them with a smile that threatened to split his face in two.
Newkirk stepped up, slapped him on the back and said, "You did it! In the bottom of the ninth inning, ahead by only one run, the bases loaded, two outs, a full count on the best hitter in camp, who only needed to get a hit to win the game ... and you struck him out!"
Carter stared at Newkirk with his mouth opened in amazement. "Newkirk," he said finally. "You finally got it right! I must have taught you better than I thought!"
Newkirk stood there with his silly smile. "Carter, I have to tell you ..." he said, and trailed off.
"What?" Cater asked.
"I already knew how to play baseball," he said. "Colonel Hogan and Kinch taught me about it before you got to camp."
"But," Carter started. "But, if you already knew how to play, how come you got it all wrong when I was trying to teach you?"
The silly smile was back on Newkirk's face. "I did it to keep you from thinking about the game and getting too nervous. Congratulations, champ!"
Carter smiled. "Thanks," he said. "For everything!"
At that moment, Corporal Roth came up to the group. He stepped over to Carter, extending his hand. Carter shook it.
"You did it Carter," Roth said. "That was some really fine pitching today."
"Thanks," Carter replied. "I can't believe I struck you out!"
Roth laughed. "Me neither," he said. "I thought for sure that I could get a hit to win the game, but I guess today was your day."
Carter couldn't reply. He didn't know what to say to Corporal Roth or any of the men who were still coming up to him and offering their congratulations. I did it! I won the championship!
Stalag 13, Barracks 2,
September 6, 1943, 0030 hours
Kinch climbed out of the tunnel over the bunk into the barracks. He touched the switch to close the tunnel entrance quietly, trying not to wake his bunkmates. He winced as it made a loud creak as the bunk was sliding into place.
"No need to be quiet," Newkirk said. "None of us are sleeping."
"I wasn't sure," Kinch replied.
"After all that has happened today, none of us are tired," Baker said.
"And I don't think Carter will sleep for a week!" Newkirk said, laughing. The other men laughed softly.
"So we did it," LeBeau said. "We managed to get Zagoskin and Sam out of camp without any trouble."
"Are you balmy?" Newkirk asked. "Without any trouble?"
"OK, so we had a little trouble," LeBeau agreed. "But we still did it!"
Kinch smiled, though he was still sorry that Vladimir had to leave camp.
"Well that was mission one hundred ninety-nine," Baker said, as the door to Colonel Hogan's office opened and the Colonel came into the room. "I wonder what kind of mission we'll have for number two hundred," Baker continued.
"What's this about mission number two hundred?" Hogan asked.
Kinch told him about his unofficial count of the missions they had completed, and that they had just completed their one hundred ninety-ninth mission getting the Russians out of camp.
"Oh, and Colonel, I just received a message from Oskar," Kinch said. "He said that the birds have flown the coop and are migrating east."
Colonel Hogan smiled. "Now that is also good news," he said. "But Kinch, I think you have your numbers wrong."
"Colonel?" Kinch questioned.
"We helped rescue Zagoskin and sabotage the rocket research, correct?" he asked his men. They all agreed.
"That was mission one hundred ninety-nine," he said. "And we also rescued our friend Vladimir from Hochstetter, correct?" There was agreement again from the men.
"And that was mission two hundred," he said.
"But Colonel, I've always counted multiple people escaping at the same time as a single mission," Kinch said.
"Kinch, forget the fact that I am a Colonel, and in charge of this little band of merry men," he said jokingly. He smiled and thought of Vladimir as he used that phrase to describe his operation. "When you think back to everything we have done here, wouldn't you rather have the two hundredth mission be something special?"
"Yes," Kinch agreed.
"Now, can you think of anything more special, short of ending this war, than sending Vladimir home?" Hogan asked, smiling.
Kinch smiled broadly. "No sir, I can't!" he said. The rest of the men agreed.
The door to the barracks opened and Schultz hurried into the room. "Colonel Hogan?" he asked.
"Yea Schultz, what is it?" Hogan replied.
"You should not be making noise at this time of night," Schultz said. "Kommandant Klink will be angry!"
"Why is that, Schultz?" Hogan responded. "Is he afraid of missing his beauty sleep?"
"You know the rules, lights out means you go to sleep," Schultz said.
"I thought it meant that the movie was about to start, Schultz," Carter chimed in.
"Jolly joker," Schultz replied. Then somberly he added, "I am sorry to hear what happened to Sam, I mean Vladimir, Colonel Hogan. He was a nice man, never causing any trouble. You must all be very sad."
"Not really Schultz," Hogan replied.
"How can you say that?" Schultz asked, then immediately thought of something. "Wait a minute, you know something, Colonel Hogan."
"I hope so, Schultz," Hogan replied. "If I knew nothing, I would be just like you."
"Ja, make jokes. You know what I mean," Schultz responded. "You know something about Vladimir. I demand that you tell me what it is!"
"All right, Schultz," Hogan said calmly, with a hint of humor in his voice. "Do you really want to know?"
"On second thought, no," Schultz replied.
"I really will tell you, Schultz," Hogan said. "I don't want you to feel like we would be hiding anything from you."
"I think it is best if I know nothing. Whenever you know something and tell me, something unpleasant happens to me," Schultz said. "No, I'd rather know nothing."
"All right, suit yourself," Hogan said. "I won't tell you. That way you can always say, ..." Hogan paused before continuing. When he spoke again, everyone in the barracks joined him in saying, "I know nothing, nooothing!"
Schultz turned and walked towards the door. "Jolly joker," he said. "You all are jolly jokers." When he got to the door, he turned towards Colonel Hogan. Hogan could see a small hint of a smile on the sergeant's face in the dim light of the dark barracks as he spoke. "I know nothing, Colonel Hogan," he said. "But if I did know something, I would wish the prisoner Vladimir the best of luck in getting to where he is going." Schultz turned and walked out the door, shutting it softly behind him when he left.
Hogan stared at the door for a moment. It was Carter who finally spoke, summing it up for all of them. "Well I'll be darned, Colonel," he said. "Schultz really does know something."