The Horse Adjutant

The Horse Adjutant

Nuns from the order of the Dominican monastery. The nun facing the camera may be the Mother Superior who helped Leon’s family.

child. We silently prepared the horse and wagon. Each step was slow and deliberate. Somehow, he knew what I was thinking, and was reluctant to allow me to go alone. I had to plead with him, “Father you must not go. You must take care of mom and my brother and sisters. You have to let me do this; it is the only way.” He acquiesced. We both knew the risk I was taking, but we also both knew his risk was far greater. I ended up taking my friend, Roman Blauner with me. He was only a couple of years older than me. We rode in the wagon the few blocks to the park in silence. It felt like the whole world was still, except for the wheels creaking on the brick pavers. Here we were, two boys riding a wagon on the beginning of another cold March late afternoon. It was still Winter, but no snow had fallen that day. The park was green. When we arrived, we were sickened by what we saw. This was the first time either of us had seen a dead body up close or touched a dead body. By the time the occupation was over, I would see thousands. Due to starvation, and our general conditions, I lost the ability to cry. The Nazis would not give any of them a proper and decent burial. The councilmen were heavy. It took both of us, to lift each body onto the wagon. We were lifting the town’s most prominent citizens. Red stained their fine clothing. It

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