Stalag 13, Barracks 2
December 22, 1943, 0800 hours

Schultz felt an involuntary shudder as he watched the mail courier enter the camp on his motorcycle. It's cold enough just standing guard duty, let alone riding on one of those things in this weather, he thought. The mail courier drove through the gate and stopped in front of Schultz outside the Kommandant's office.

"Guten morgen, Gunther," Shultz said.

"Guten morgen, Hans," Gunther replied. "Isn't it a little cold for you to be standing out here?" Gunther dismounted the motorcycle and rummaged through the sidecar, pulling out a mailbag.

"Ja," Schultz replied. "But I was waiting for you."

Gunther raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is there a problem?" he asked.

"I don't know," Schultz replied. "I just wanted to ask you a question."

"Ask away," Gunther responded, handing the mailbag to Schultz.

"Do you know why Colonel Hogan hasn't gotten any mail in the past two months?" he asked.

"That would be Colonel Robert Hogan?" Gunther asked. Schultz nodded. "Um, actually he has gotten mail – every week."

Schultz looked at the courier with surprise. "He has? Why haven't you delivered it?" he asked.

Gunther looked a little uncomfortable as he answered. "Hans, Major Hochstetter gave us an order," he said. "Any mail to Colonel Hogan or from Colonel Hogan was to be given to him and not delivered."

Schultz felt his jaw drop. "Why would he give an order like that?" he asked incredulously.

Gunther shrugged and started to get back on his motorcycle. "I don't know," he replied. "But I'm not going to start questioning orders from the Gestapo." He started the motor and revved it a couple of times. "Sorry, Hans."

"Danke, Gunther," Schultz replied. "You are just following orders."

Gunther gave a little wave as he turned the motorcycle around and headed for the main gate. Schultz looked down at the bag he was holding and sighed heavily. The bag felt like it was full of bricks. Why would Major Hochstetter do such a thing to a prisoner? How could he be so cruel to deprive a man of his connection to home? I hate men like Major Hochstetter. Schultz shook his head in disgust. Unfortunately, they are the men that are holding the power in this country now.

---------------

Kinch stepped over the bunk and out of the tunnel entrance to find everyone in the barracks staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

"We're going to have to hear more about the grandiose exploits of the super spy Nimrod, aren't we?" Baker said with disgust.

Kinch chuckled. "You'll be happy to hear that London reported nothing from Nimrod this week," he replied. The men in the barracks cheered as Kinch walked across and handed a paper to Colonel Hogan. "They just had a few things for you sir."

Hogan took the paper and glanced at it. "Fine, Kinch" he said curtly. "Let me know when Schultz is done with the mail. I'll be in my office." Hogan looked up to find Kinch staring at him determinedly. He met the stare with one of defiance as if to say, No I will not tell them, and walked into his office.

After he shut the door, he tossed the message onto his desk and climbed into his bunk. He picked up the stack of letters on the bookshelf and selected one from the top.

Lisa, I don't know why you have stopped writing, but it's killing me. What did I do? Yes, I know what I did, and that hurts me just as much. But did you figure that out? Did someone tell you? Hogan sighed and opened the envelope. Maybe you have found someone else – someone that is there when I cannot be, someone that can be a father to little Bobby while I am over here. Maybe you just found someone you love more.

Unshed tears blurred his vision as he removed the photograph from the envelope and tried to look at it. It was the last picture he had received of the son that he had never met. He looked at the little face smiling back at him. Damn, he looks just like me, except he has Lisa's eyes. How I wish I could be there for you – to hear your first words, see your first steps, to hold you in my arms as you fall asleep. He wiped his eyes and put his head back on his pillow.

God damn you, Hitler! You rob me of the chance to watch my son grow up because you have this vision that you are a superman leading a nation of supermen. How many sons are growing up without fathers because of you? How many mothers are losing sons because of you? He squeezed his eyes shut to try to block out the vision of his smiling son. God damn you, you son of a bitch!

---------------

Schultz had finished passing out the mail to the men and turned to leave. Colonel Hogan had not received any mail again, but this time Schultz knew the reason why. He had noticed that the Colonel didn't even come out of his office to find out. As he left the barracks, Kinch came up behind him and followed him out.

"Hey Schultz," Kinch said. "Did you find out anything about the Colonel's mail?"

Schultz stopped and put the mailbag down on the bench outside of the barracks. "Ja," he replied. "And I wish I didn't."

"Why, Schultz?" Kinch asked. "What's the problem?"

"Gunther, the mail courier, told me that Major Hochstetter has given orders that all mail to or from Colonel Hogan was to be given to him," Schultz replied.

"What?" Kinch asked. "Are you sure about that?"

"Sergeant Kinchloe, all I know is what Gunther told me," Schultz said.

"But that's crazy!" Kinch exclaimed.

"I think it's cruel," Schultz replied gloomily. "I am going to hate telling the Colonel this."

Kinch smiled and put his hand on the big man's shoulder. "I'll tell him Schultz," he replied. "After all, I'm the one that asked you to find out."

"Danke, Sergeant," Schultz replied. "I don't think I could stand to look the Colonel in the eye and tell him."

"I'm not looking forward to it either," Kinch responded. "He's not going to like it."

"Ja, I know," Schultz responded. "I should deliver the rest of the mail now."

Kinch watched the big sergeant pick up the mailbag and walk away dejectedly. He sighed, wondering how he was going to tell the Colonel the bad news. He wasn't going to like it at all. Damn that Hochstetter. Schultz was right; this was a cruel thing to do. I bet Hochstetter was the type of boy that liked to torture animals when he was growing up. And now that the madmen control the country, he gets to continue his torture on people. That bastard!

---------------

LeBeau knocked on Colonel Hogan's door. He didn't want to disturb him, but he needed to give him the message that Schnitzer had passed when he changed the dogs. There was no answer, so LeBeau knocked again.

"What is it?" came the testy reply from inside the office.

"Colonel, sorry to bother you, but I have a message from Schnitzer for you," LeBeau replied.

"Come in," Hogan said from behind the door.

LeBeau entered the room and found Hogan sitting at his desk, trying to write a letter. He could tell that his Colonel was not in a good mood, and he couldn't blame him. I would be upset too if I didn't receive any mail for two months.

He walked across the office and handed the message to Hogan.

"Um, Colonel Hogan," LeBeau said tentatively.

"What?" Hogan replied testily.

LeBeau was taken aback at the tone of the response. "Uh, nothing sir, sorry to bother you," he said and started towards the door.

Hogan sighed. "LeBeau, wait," he said. LeBeau stopped and looked at Hogan. He could see the concern in the Frenchman's eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little tired today," he said softly. "What is it you wanted to say?"

LeBeau tried to smile. "I just," he started. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry that you are not getting any mail. I know it must be tough and wanted you to know that we're all here for you, sir."

Hogan didn't respond. He kept looking at LeBeau, who was standing nervously by the door.

"Thanks, LeBeau," he said finally, giving the Corporal a big smile.

"I'm sure it's just a mix up somewhere," LeBeau said helpfully. "You know how the military is."

Hogan snorted. "All too well," he replied.

"I'll let you get back to your letter," LeBeau said. "Sorry to bother you."

"LeBeau," Hogan said, "Thanks for your concern."

LeBeau smiled at him as he shut the door and left Hogan alone.

Hogan read the message form Schnitzer.

Something happened near Hammelburg last night. Gestapo is very active now. Use caution when traveling to meeting tonight.

Hogan wondered what happened last night. He knew that Erich was going to have someone scout the facility that the Germans were turning into a fuel depot and tonight's meeting was supposed to be for Hogan to receive this information. Could something have gone wrong near the facility? He hoped that none of Erich's men were hurt.

He sighed. Oh well, I guess I will find out tonight. It can't be anything good if the Gestapo is active. Something had to rile old Hochstetter up, and that's never a good thing.

He pushed aside the letter that he had been trying to write for the past hour. Actually, it wasn't much of a letter. He looked at the page, which was blank except for "My dearest Lisa" written at the top.

Well, at least I wrote something, he thought as he left his office.