What Iron Men

It is hard to believe that it’s been a year since 30+ of us KMHS Members were fortunate enough to attend the 75th Anniversary Memorial in Friedlos, Germany. Once again, it was a big deal in Germany as it is every year. All the speeches in honoring the fallen, the reconciliation spirit of the Memorial, and the hope for a better world as part of the program. The Kassel Mission Memorial is truly one of a kind. How much our world has changed in just one year, this event could not have taken place today, at least not nearly at the level we enjoyed last year. I am thankful for all who participated, to be there first hand, as well as thankful for the KMHS Board and Members that supported the event.

I had the opportunity just today to listen to the most recent podcast which was created, organized, and delivered by Aaron Elson and Linda Dewey. This latest podcast, just done this week, is a captivating interview with Doug Collar, son of Bombardier George Collar. It was George and Bill Dewey that were the 2 most influential (US) individuals who created, organized, and delivered the Memorial, the Kassel Mission Memorial Association, and now the Kassel Mission Historical Society. Now their children get to share a bit of the story with their respective father’s common vision, passion, and energy with many remarkable details you just cannot find in a history book. Doug does a wonderful job of telling his dad’s story with Linda and Aaron weaving it into the meaning of September 27th. Take a walk and listen!

Listen Here

About ¾ of the way through the podcast you hear Doug and Linda state – “What Iron Men”.  Nothing could be more true, for those that passed that day and the 121 who were spared and eventually made it home to restart their lives after the war. My father often spoke of George who not only survived the battle, as my father did but also had to survive a severe beating at capture and then endure a forced duty of having to pick up the bodies of many of his fallen comrades - loading them all on a German hay wagon. Every survivor has his story and George’s was a difficult yet extraordinary one for certain. Many times, I recall my father saying “that George Collar, he was one tough cookie.”  

There are many parts of this podcast that, alone, would make a remarkable scene in a Hollywood movie and, as Aaron suggests, surely capable to bring a tear or two to all in the audience. Tears of sadness from unfortunate events as well as tears of pride from one's heart-warming statements or actions. The parents of those who did not find out for certain until many months after the war that their son was killed in action on September 27th and then responding with sincerity in their appreciation for getting closure. George finding the body of a young 18-year-old radioman face down in an open meadow who had previously flown on his plane but with another crew that day. Comments from both George and Bill Dewey later in life putting life’s struggles into perspective of what “bad” can really be like! These Iron Men demonstrated amazing valor on September 27th, then continued with courage in living with the memories of what they experienced, and then late in life showed their pluck once again when they began their quests to put it all together and better understand what happened that day as more information began to come forward in 1985-1990.

Today we are seven months into the full brunt of the COVID pandemic and, like during a war, lots of uncertainty, no end in sight quite yet, and the whole world feeling the impact. We can only hope that our leaders and us, as individuals, can demonstrate the courage and resilience of these Iron Men – do your duty, cooperate and make the best of a difficult situation with courage and dignity. As noted in the podcast, George Collar would likely say… it’s just another mission!

Take a few minutes today, pause and think of our Iron Men and be thankful for all we have. September 27th, 2020… not just another ordinary day.

Jim Bertram
Chairman, KMHS