F/O Pierce 05.03.45 Freedom Duration: 2 days.
The train out of Poland could only take us halfway to Barth, Germany, because the tracks had been blown up. The plan, which we came up with by majority consensus rather than direct orders, is to start walking in the morning. We’re bunked with no gear in dark, boggy conditions under a grove of trees. The rain has turned into a continuous downpour. So far, freedom is physically less comfortable than being a Kriegie but, despite the cold and damp, there is a calmness about my fate that I haven’t felt in years.
F/O Pierce 05.04.45 Freedom Duration: 3 days.
Walking cross-country towards the river through the flooded fields took much longer than it should have. The first bridge we came to was washed out, so we continued fourteen kilometres out of our way to cross on a flimsy pedestrian rope bridge. After some conflicted debate and disagreement, half of us decided to occupy a barn and several outbuildings for the night. Even though we are sheltered from the weather now, my clothes are still soaked through. We haven’t eaten since we left Anastasia and Raina’s apartment. Some of the other fellows are becoming irritable with the conditions and the disorganized leadership. Not me. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am unrestricted and at liberty to make my way home, which is all the motivation I need to continue to endure hardships.
F/O Pierce 05.05.45 Freedom Duration: 4 days.
We abandoned the original plan to follow the railroad tracks and instead kept to the roads, which made travelling faster, but now I have worn through what remained of the sole of my boots. We’ve split into groups since not everyone can walk at the same speed. Gordie and I are in a mid-paced group because my legs are weak and I can’t keep up. He could have joined the faster-moving group, but he chose to stay with me. I don’t know why. I’d be running if I had the strength he has. I ate some flowers I found at the side of the road. Hopefully they’re not poisonous or anything.
F/O Pierce 05.07.45 Freedom Duration: 6 days.
I spent twenty minutes climbing a steep hill only to stumble near the top and roll halfway back down. My arms and face are raw from the scrapes. My legs are shaking from both the fatigue of the effort and the lack of sustenance. Goddamn, if it weren’t for Chidori I’d prefer to stay here and wait for death. But enough moaning. Gordie is sitting at the top waiting for me, so off I go to try again.
F/O Pierce 05.09.45 Freedom Duration: 8 days.
We have finally reached the railroad tracks that lead into Barth! Waiting eagerly for a freight train to hop.
The train whistled as it entered the corner. Twenty of us hid in the bushes and waited for it to slow down. I stuffed my journal into my waistband and stood next to Gordie. He shoved me to make me go first. It took every ounce of energy I had to run and grab the handle of the freight door. I hoisted myself up and kicked my leg into the car. Gordie ran alongside the train, waiting until I was safely inside. He grabbed the handle and swung his leg up, but missed. His legs dropped back down and dragged on the ground dangerously close to the wheel.
‘Give me your hand,’ I shouted and reached for him.
The train sped up and his grip on the door handle loosened.
‘Come on, Gordie. Reach!’
He flung his free arm again, and I leaned out of the car to clasp his hand. His grip tightened around my fingers, but the momentum of the train pulled his weight away. We clung to each other for probably close to a quarter-mile but his grip began to slip. His eyes locked with mine in an apologetic way before he let go. He hit the ground and rolled several times before lying motionless on his back.
‘Shit.’ The terrain passed increasingly quickly below me. ‘Shit. Shit. Shit.’ Without pausing to think of the consequences, I closed my eyes and jumped off the train, then flipped with a painful thud into the ditch.
It took a good while and wore holes in the knees of my trousers, but I eventually crawled back to where Gordie still lay on his back. He stirred and groaned when I shook him. ‘What the hell, Pierce?’
‘Sorry. I wasn’t strong enough to haul you in.’
He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. ‘No. What the hell? Why did you jump off the train?’
‘I wasn’t going to leave you behind.’
He grumbled and shook his head incredulously at how idiotic that was. ‘Well, great. Now we’re both stranded.’
Gordie and I knew there was no point trying to jump another moving train, so we made our way along the tracks to the next town. The locals mumbled things that sounded at best unwelcoming and at worst downright hostile as we passed them. When I noticed we were being followed, we picked up the pace and ducked into an abandoned shop. We hid until it got dark, then slipped through the streets and crawled under the train station platform to wait for the morning train to arrive.
Gordie snuck out at dawn when the first sound of passengers creaked above us. He stole clothes from unattended luggage and tickets from an elderly couple who had left them on the bench. I felt a pang of remorse about stealing from old folks who likely had little money themselves, but they’d have a better chance of talking their way onto the train than we would. And it certainly wasn’t the worst thing I had done over the course of the war.
We boarded and sat in the passenger compartment as if we belonged. A few people gave us dirty looks, but since we didn’t speak English in front of them, they left us alone the entire way to Barth.
F/O Pierce 05.12.45 Freedom Duration: 11 days.
Evacuated 11:00 hours. B-17 Flying Fortress.
Although battles in the Pacific and Asia are still being fought against Japan, the war in Europe is officially over. We won. Germany signed the surrender and we are officially going home. The American airmen were flown to France to board a ship from there. The Brits and anyone who had been in a POW camp since ’41 were the first to be flown out to London. Gordie and I spent two nights sleeping on the ground at the Barth airfield, waiting for our turn. We’ve arrived in London now and we’re bunked up together in tent barracks again. I don’t think I’ll actually believe anything has actually changed until I’m home on Mayne Island and holding Chidori in my arms.
Gordie wrote letters to his parents and his wife to let them know he’s back on friendly ground and will be home soon. I’m afraid to write in case I jinx something, but I did finally drop a letter in the post for my parents. I asked them to inform Chidori when she returns. Once the government releases her from the internment camp, she will surely beat me home.
The government gave us a pamphlet titled ‘Canada in the Last Five Years’. I’m reluctant to read it, but I suppose it’s better to know what I’ve missed.
F/O Pierce 05.20.45 Freedom Duration: 19 days.
I can’t sleep, but this time it’s not from nightmares or the feeling that something terrible is about to happen. It’s from the anticipation. It’s possibly mixed with the frustration of having to wait around. Gordie and I have done some sightseeing in London to expend our unused leave, but the only sight I want to see is home. Mercifully, we board the cross-Atlantic ship tomorrow.
F/O Pierce 06.17.45 Freedom Duration: 46 days.
The ship finally arrived in Halifax last week. It feels a relief to be on Canadian soil, but I’ve been informed that it will be another week or so before we get sorted onto trains to take those of us from BC across the country.
Gordie’s assigned to a train that leaves for Winnipeg later today. He’s been talking about his planned reunion with his wife non-stop for three days. It is torture to be this close to Chidori and still not be able to slide my fingers over the silky smoothness of her skin. If she has fallen in love with someone else, this might be the last time I ever write.
‘All right, Pierce.’ Gordie raised his glass for our farewell toast at the pub. ‘I can’t say it’s been a blast. But I can say there ain’t no other fella I would have rather gone through hell with. I’ll still always have your back; all you need to do is ring me up. Pals.’
‘Pals for life.’ I clinked my pint to his and took a sip of ale. I was too choked up to say more, so I set my glass down and gave him a hug.
He swatted my back. ‘Don’t forget to invite me to your wedding.’
I nodded and swallowed the emotion.
‘Well, I need to get over to the train station. I guess this is goodbye for now. Safe travels home.’ He stood and shook my hand.
‘I’ll walk you to the station.’
He agreed and we left the pub. I was terribly uneasy at the thought of not having Gordie around, but I was glad for him that he was getting to go home.
When the train pulled into the station, we embraced once more and he picked up his kit. As he walked away, I shouted over the sound of the engine, ‘Gordie. I owe my life to you several times over. Thank you for everything.’
He grinned and saluted.
‘I’m going to miss you.’
He stepped up onto the train and hung out the door, holding the bar. ‘Save the mushy stuff for Chidori. I’ll write you.’ He waved and disappeared inside.
F/O Pierce 08.06.45. Home.