Chapter 15: Life or Death

Finally November arrived. The trials would soon start. As Klink's court date drew near, he grew more and more nervous. Soon the question as to weather they would find him innocent or guilty would be answered.

Klink's trial finally arrived. Maria and Hogan dressed in their dress uniforms and accompanied Klink to his trial.

"What do you mean we can't testify on his behalf?" Hogan yelled

"It wouldn't look right General. Why don't you go back to Stalag 13 and we will call you when they turn in the guilty verdict." General Whimbly said calmly

Hogan narrowed his eyes. "Are you not getting ahead of yourself…General?"

"What is wrong with you? Why does it matter weather or not this Kraut is found guilty or not. You would think since he was your captor, you would want him found guilty."

Hogan could feel his temper rising. He took some deep breaths trying to calm himself. "General, I know what they are going to try and do. It is wrong. If Colonel Klink was abusive or deserved the punishment, I would not have risked our lives by having him placed into our custody and I would not want to testify on his behalf."

"Do you think that you will really make a difference in the out come?"

"I don't know, but I want the chance to try."

"What about if we explain the situation to the rest of the people who were prisoners and see if any of them would be willing to testify on his behalf?" Maria asked

"You can't order people to say that he was a nice Kraut."

"I am not talking about ordering General."

Whimbly looked at the two officers standing in front of him and could see the desperation on their face to at least get the opportunity to testify. "As long as you don't order anyone to testify or threaten them in any way. I will allow it."

"Thank you sir." They said in unison

They contacted everyone they could get a hold of. Klink's trial had been going on for three days and things were not looking good for him. The probability of him being found guilty, and then executed were very high. Hogan and Maria sat outside the courtroom waiting for their turn to testify. Soon Carter, Kinch, Newkirk, LeBeau and Misty showed up. "Thanks for showing up fellas."

"Your welcome sir. I was never a big fan of Klink's, but what they are trying to do to him is just wrong." Kinch stated

"I agree. He never mistreated any of us." Carter added

General Whimbly walks out of the courtroom. "Is this all that showed up?"

"Yes sir." Hogan answered a little down hearted

"I hope it is enough. Are you sure you want to go through with this? The way things are going for him, I doubt that anything you say or do will change their minds."

"Yes sir we do." Misty answered.

"If you will follow me." Whimbly lead the group into the courtroom "These men and women are here to say a few words on Colonel Klink's behalf."

"Very well, proceed."

Hogan stepped forward and was lead to the whiteness stand.

"Raise your right hand and do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

"I do."

"For the record, please state your name, rank, and what qualifies you to testify on the behalf of Colonel Klink."

"General Robert Hogan United States Air Corps. Former Senior Prisoner Of War at Stalag 13.

"General Hogan, in your own words, how would you describe the way Colonel Klink treated the prisoners?"

"Colonel Klink was a fair kommandant. The harshest punishment he ever gave was thirty days in the cooler. In all dealings with the prisoners, he followed the Geneva Convention. Whenever he wanted a work detail, the prisoners were compensated for the work. There were many times when the Gestapo would come to question me without authorization and Colonel Klink would intervene and stop them. Even when faced with punishment himself. I have also witnessed the Gestapo, who did have authorization to transfer two prisoners from Luftwaffe custody to Gestapo, abuse one of the prisoners. Colonel Klink stood in the way to prevent any more abuse."

"This is interesting. I am sure though the thirty days was probably for a minor offence."

" No sir. The thirty days were for an escape attempt."

"I thought most kommandants shot the escaping prisoners to prevent any further escape attempts."

"I have heard other prisoners who were transferred to Stalag 13 mention that is what happened in the camp they came from. However, Colonel Klink has only punished escaping prisoners with time in the cooler."

"Have you ever witnessed Colonel Klink abuse or order the abuse of another prisoner?"

"No sir I haven't. Any time he would question a prisoner who broke a rule I was always present."

"No further questions. You may step down. I would like to call Colonel Maria Hogan to the stand."

Maria walked to the stand and placed her hand on the Bible "Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

I just hope they don't ask the truth about my lies. "I do."

"For the record, please state your name, rank and what qualifies you to testify on Colonel Klink's behalf."

"Colonel Maria Hogan, former prisoner at Stalag 13."

"Colonel Hogan, in your own words, how would you describe the way Colonel Klink treated the prisoners?"

"When I was a prisoner there, Colonel Klink went out of his way to protect me. While I was unconscious, he placed a guard outside my door to prevent anyone else from entering and taking advantage of me. He created a hand off policy to make sure no one tried anything. I saw how it affected Colonel Klink when Berlin made the cutbacks. It saddened him to have to take stuff away from the prisoners who already didn't have much."

"I see that according to the file here that you saved his life once. Why would a prisoner save their captors life?"

"A plane was shot down and it landed in camp. I agreed to help the camp medic take care of the wounded. We were treating both prisoners and guards. It was common knowledge that if something happened to Colonel Klink that the Gestapo would take over Stalag 13. Also for everything he has done to help and protect the prisoners, I had to do what I could to save his live. He has saved mine a few times."

"Thank you no further questions. You may step down"

They attorney's questioned Misty and the rest of the men and all of them basically said the same thing. When they were finished, the JAG Judge asked "Are there any more witnesses?"

They looked around the courtroom Klink looked nervous. "I guess no one else chose to see Klink for who he really was. I still wish he would let me tell them how he worked for…" Hogan started to say but was interrupted.

"Sorry were late. Got lost." Major Williams said as he and a large group of men entered the courtroom. They were all of the former prisoners of Stalag 13. The men filled the courtroom and the overflow was standing out in the hall.

"We don't have time to hear every one. Since everyone basically says the same thing, I am going to have the court recorder read the testimony of General Hogan. When they are finished, if you agree with what General Hogan has said, raise your hand. I will then call for those who disagree. If you disagree raise your hand. I will then ask is there anything anyone would like to add. If so please step forward at that time. Is that understood?"

"Sir yes Sir." The crowed answered

The court recorder read the testimony. "Who agrees with General Hogan's testimony?"

Every hand in the group went up. A big smile came across Klink's face. No matter the verdict, he was happy in knowing that all of these men took time to come and testify on his behalf.

"Anyone disagree?" No hands were raised "Anything anyone would like to add?"

"I would Sir." Sergeant Hopper stepped forward.

"Yes Sergeant?"

"I am Staf SergeantDewey Hopper. Before I was transferred to Stalag 13, I was at Stalag 4. The kommandant there would choose a different prisoner every day to take his frustrations out on. Most of the time the prisoners were on half rations. You didn't dare lay on your bunk during the day either. If you did, you had to stand at attention all day and night. During roll call the following day you were whipped in front of the prisoners until you could not stand any more. We didn't have camp medic, so medical treatment was scarce. Most of the men ther died from infection that were treatable. When I came to Stalag 13, I was sick and in pain.I expected Colonel Klink to treat me the same way. But he didn't. He made sure I received medicine and extra rations until I got my strength back up. No one was punished for lying on their bunk during the day. And not once did I ever see him strike a prisoner or order the beating of a prisoner. I never saw him lift his hand in anger against anyone either. All I can say is thanks Colonel Klink for being our kommandant. Thanks for being kind and humane. I had reached a point at Stalag 4 were I couldn't take the abuse or pain any more and I was thinking about ending it. Your generosity saved my life and I can never repay you or say thanks enough."

Everyone remained silent for a while after the sergeant finished. "Anyone else want to add anything?" The judged finally asked. No one answered. "We will adjourn while a verdict is being reached.

When they were dismissed, Klink was lead back to his cell and Hogan and Maria walked up to Hopper. "We appreciate you coming and saying what you did. All of us were lucky to have Klink for a kommandant. As you pointed out, it couldhave beena lot worse."

"No problem General. Any time."

Time seemed to stand still as everyone waited to see what the verdict would be. Klink knelt on the cell floor facing his bunk and prayed. "Lord I tried to live a good life and to treat others as I would want to be treated. I have seen others rely on you when there was no hope and you gave them strength. I ask for that strength now. If this should be my last, I pray that when I stand before you, you will show me mercy. I believe in Your Son and accepted himlike You said to. In Your name. Amen.

A guard opened the cell door. "Colonel its time."

The guard led Klink back to the courtroom. Everyone had packed the courtroom waiting for the verdict. The judge stood up. "Colonel Klink please stand for the verdict." Nervously Klink rose and stood at attention. "It has been deemed by this court that on the account of the use of slave labor or ill-treatment of prisoners of war for which you were tried, you are found not guilty. It has also been deemed by this court that you cannot be held accountable for the actions of the other kommandants. Therefore the rest of the charges have been dismissed."

Everyone in the courtroom cheered. Klink let out the breath he didn't realize that he was holding.

"This trial is over, everyone is dismissed."

Klink walked up to Maria and Hogan. "Thank you very much for your efforts. I don't know how I can repay you?"

"You did by being the best camp kommandant you could be. So what are you going to do now?" Maria answered.

"I don't know. I might go home and relax then look for work some where."

"You know that Shultz ought to be getting his toy company up and running again. You could ask him for a job."

"That is a thought, but the idea of working under Shultz, I am not sure about."

"I could always ask if you could work at Stalag 13 with us?" Hogan asked half joking half serous.

"I think I would rather work under Shultz." Every one laughed as left to go on their separate ways. Klink thought to himself, Now I know how Hogan felt standing in front of Hochstetter all the time not knowing is this was going to be it or not. I am glad it is over.