The Wall Crossers

Onkel Richard

Lizet's Perspective

Here is one quite important truth I wish to share with you, Dear Reader: my großer großer Onkel (great great Uncle), Richard Young, served in the big war with the First Infantry Division, and those who so served—they were certainly changed forever. He jumped from a small landing craft into the water off France in juni 1944, fought his way through France, getting wounded twice, and as came the zomer of 1945, by then he had liberated the city of Berlin. This Onkel, he lived his full life early and after?... he could not find again such heart of victory, no not ever.

My Oma, Olivia, was his niece, although he knew her as his nephew, which is Tragödie (tragedy). And Onkel Richard, it was he who had a so very gloomy life in many respects: war-related injuries, disabilities, Ja, mental and physical, alcohol, difficulties with the employments.

But he was a scout and led the way in the war. And he was a scout for my Oma, since he preceded her to Berlin.

I would love to have met him... and just to talk together. I am certain he would be fascinated with my story and his heart be fully amazed to learn his part in it! Because he, and others with him, established their force in the Stad (City) and were never dislodged, but rather imbued in the Stad such legacy of freedom, which ultimately became Walled in, which led to the escape plan of... Horst, which... led to me.

For... if it were not for the fact of Horst's story of escaping, of his long-planned-and-prepared-for attempt at the Wall, my Oma Olivia would never have met Oma Leida. Nee. My life depended on this truth. And as my husband, Lennert, he is always sure to remind me, "Er is een beter leven als er naar de waarheid wordt geluisterd (Better life there is when truth is heeded)."