Day 3-Boston

I awoke today by the smell of wonderful homemade fruit cereal. Mrs. Vogel was making homemade fruit cereal. After sitting down for Breakfast with the Dr. and his wife we started discussing Berga and Bernard “Jackie” Vogel, Martin’s brother. At several points Dr. Vogel teared up talking about his beloved brother who was only one and half years his senior. As I was looking at him, I saw the man before me, well accomplished, become vulnerable almost 60 years after the death of his beloved brother. The Vogel’s left for their morning exercises, Ms. Vogel at the Boston Sports Club and Dr. Vogel in the gym downstairs. In their 80’s they still read three newspapers everyday and are very aware of the situation in Washington as well as other political and economical affairs. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit with this inviting couple.

At 11:30 I went to Fedex-Kinco’s and made copies of newspaper articles regarding POW’s from Berga dated from the 1940’s. Secondary sources are over flowing now. Also I came across a diary which was submitted to Dr. Vogel’s Uncle, Charles Vogel during the trial of Metz and Merz, the guards whom held the prisoners of Berga. This contained the names of all the men at Berga and the death dates of 20 of those whom perished. I also grabbed lunch at Au bon Pain, a local café, umm chicken salad croissant, and a peach tea. I also visited Feline’s Basement, where I can proudly say I walked away spending nothing. I returned five blocks back to the Vogel Residence.

After numerous conversions between me and Dr. Vogel we got out a map of Germany and began to look for the site where Berga once stood. Well after numerous minutes… Jackpot… It was located. I expressed to him that my passion is to educate people on the atrocities of the trial and to bear witness of what those whom served endured. The time I have spent with the Vogel’s is priceless.

At 11:00 this morning I expressed my desire to meet the world famous Elie Wiesel to Dr. Vogel. He stated that as a professor at Boston University Medical he would call his office and explain who I was and my desire to meet him as well as his. So we are awaiting a call back for a time and place. This has been an unbelievable trip and a chance to meet Mr. Wiesel would be the cherry on top.

At 5:18 I got a strange call from Wayne Drash, at CNN. He told me that Anthony Acevedo’s iary from when he was held in Berga was being donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on my Birthday! So of course I am going and best of all Tony Acevedo agreed to have dinner with me on the 12th so that I can hold his diary in my hands. I might be one of the last people to hold it before it is archived at the museum. So thrilled! So the moving date has been moved up to October 1st. I will be moving there on the 1st now and then going to the city for the dedication on my birthday. Also Norman Fellman and his wife as well as the Vogel’s are planning to attend, a once in a lifetime experience for all these wonderful people to be together in one place. My trip in February to California has been cancelled due to Tony Acevedo coming to DC. When I thought my career was taking off I was under estimating that I am living my dreams every moment of everyday. So DC bound once again I am.

Day 2: Boston

Day 2: After sleeping 9.5 hours we hit the streets again before catching our flights out. Me continuing to Boston and Tim returning to Jacksonville. As we were out on the town we visited Battery Park, ate at my favorite Amish Restaurant and China Town where we shopped (no I did not buy an knock off purses!) and Tim cat called the people, “Gucci, Prada, LV,” I was so embarrassed. Once arriving back at the hotel at 3, we scurried off to the airport, where something interested happened. Once arriving at my gate they called my name over the loud speaker. When arriving at the service counter, they informed me that due to several seats on the flight being broken, they were bumping me up to a non-stop flight to Boston at no charge. I jumped on the chance to arrive at 8pm instead of the original midnight. Well the flight was wonderful, no motion sickness. After arriving at baggage claim, my bag was nowhere to be found. THEY LOST MY BAG! So I filed my report and headed to the only place I knew was inexpensive, Target. What would we do without Target. So the taxi waited on me to flash through the store picking up soap, jammies, clothes, etc. After spending $160 I returned to the car. Once I arrived at The Vogel Residence I was astonished. They live walking distance from Boston University and in a unbelievable condo in the middle of the city. The concierge took my bags and rang them to let them know I was arriving upstairs. After arriving to the residence I was greeted by the most wonderful people. They wanted to know all about my passion and why I was studying Berga. After all without Dr. Vogel’s Uncles influence regarding his brother’s (Bernard Vogel) death at Berga, the guards at Berga would have never been brought to Judicial justice. He started showing me all the court documents he had on the case from 1945. To say the least I have my work cut out for me in the following days. I am so excited about this trip. He also holds a prized possession… (drum roll please) Another copy of the silence pamphlet the men of Berga were forced to sign. To the other historians whom cannot confirm nor deny the existence of these “silence pamphlets” I have news for you, they exist and I have three of them in my hot little hands. Unbelievable milestone on that account. Mitchell Bard, Flint Whitlock, and Michael Hirsh the three Historians who have written about Berga, I hope to one day sit down with you and share this precious artifact with you. Also without the encouragement of Michael Hirsh, author of The Liberators, I would not have fed this passion on Berga the way I have by traveling the US meeting all these wonderful people. One another note Dr. Martin Vogel told me that he teaches at Boston University and said he might be able to help me meet Elie Wiesel, the man whom I feel like I know and whose words will linger with me the remainder of my days (not to mention I have them tattooed on my left foot!) “For the dead and living, we must bear witness”-Elie Wiesel

Well Mr. Wiesel your words ring true to me and I will spend my life telling others about the men of Berga an der Estler!


Tomorrow is filled with excitement as I hold the documents that I will compose my Master’s thesis with. There is no telling what discoveries tomorrow will bring. Wish me luck!

New York City-“The Big Apple”

Day 1: After taking the cab from Basking Ridge to Penn Station Newark, then to Penn station Newark to Penn Station Manhattan, we arrived. Checking into the Hampton Inn at Madison Square Garden. The room was beautiful. King size bed, down comforters, huge television mounted on the wall. We quickly checked in and took the Metro to Chevy’s (our favorite place in Times Square) for flaunta’s and Fajitas. I miss that place terrible since ours closed in Jax in 2002. After that we visited the Empire State Building, Ground Zero (because during 9/11 every year they have spot lights that shine up into the sky where the twin towers once stood, amazing sight to see), and Rockefeller Center. After all this walking we were exhausted. Hotel bound!

9/10 and 9/11 2010

Today I am thoroughly exhausted. After taking two days nonstop on the streets of New York City, my feet hurt. As I am sitting at the airport in Newark I am playing this past weekend in my head. Little did I know that the Old Mill Inn in Basking Ridge New Jersey has hosted famous stars like Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Rob Lowe, and the Baldwin’s. It was a magnificently beautiful place. I stayed there only one night due to my desires to continue onto NYC by train.

New Jersey... and NYC

So yesterday I checked my bag and arrived at the gate. After confirming for the one hundredth time that I was in the right place after much prompting of my mother... I relaxed at the gate and started talking with a man regarding why I was traveling. I explained to him that I was traveling all around the U.S. meeting POW's held in a concentration camp called Berga. He said, "When I think of concentration camps I think of Jews from Germany not our own men." This just reaffirmed my desire to write a book to educate people what our own GI's endured. My flight from Charlotte to New Jersey was delayed and I arrived at 2:45am. This morning I arrived promptly at the restaurant and Tim video taped the entire lunch. Now I have digital memories I can later recall in my life and be so thankful they were caught on tape..

During the lunch Peter Iosso and Norman Fellman and their lovely wives shared memories they had of Berga an der Ester. I was in awe that I was sitting here like a fly on the wall listening to these men talk. Norman made me laugh several times. He said without laughter he wouldn't be alive today. I firmly believe him. Above all Norman gave me his copy of the silence pamphlet no other historian who has studied Berga has, I am the only one. So now I can confirm that yes they signed these pamphlets and a major milestone was accomplished. Also I was told of two other Berga POW's contact info as well. So more traveling is about to begin.

At the spur of the moment we decided to go to NYC at 3pm. I went online and priced a hotel in Manhattan and got an unbelievable deal. So at 5pm we will be shuttling into the city to spend the night and spend all day tomorrow in NYC until our flights out to Boston and to home for Tim.

The adventure has taken me to different routes but overall it will be a blast to be in NYC for roughly two days especially for September 11th.

Departing....

Sitting at the airport waiting to board which seems like an eternity. The first of my travels begin.. A little nervous and filled with excitement. I started journaling the minute I arrived at the airport. I was told that one day I would have these entries as a keepsake when I am old and gray. Some how I think they are right. Newark here I come. Lunch tomorrow with Peter Iosso and his wife and Norman Fellman and his wife Bunny. Basking Ridge New Jersey here I come!

Confirmation of Destiny

Today I ran into someone whom I haven't seen in years. When they asked me what I was up to I found myself going off on a tangent and explaining to them my passion for learning and discovering new details regarding Berga an der Estler and meeting the wonder POW's I have met so far. After they walked away I felt this passion erupt in me about my subject once again. I thoroughly needed that today. I leave tomorrow for New Jersey and Boston... I'm packed and confirmations have been made. I am ready to board the plane.... Now impatience of waiting of one more day.