German SS Trooper

A place called the Falaise Gap. The Canadian Army captured hundreds of troops in this little valley, the Falaise Gap. And, of course, I was there. They had many vehicles there to haul these people. I was there on a motorcycle as traffic control at that time. So, they passed some time while all these people were being paraded out of the Gap. I took a little road, I can see it yet, a little clay road down the side of the gap. I hadn’t gone very far, I seen a young SS officer laying on the side of the road in very bad shape. So, I stopped to see if there’s anything I could do for him. I said, first, of course, “Do you speak English? ” He said, “A little bit.” He said “I’m dying.” I said “Oh, do you want a prayer? ” “No, no prayers, no God, not for me, no God. I want water.” So I took my water bottle off and passed it to him, told him to help himself. I asked him again, a few minutes later, he was sinking fast, this boy. I’ll never forget that scene either. I said to him again, “Are you sure you don’t need a prayer? ” “No, I don’t believe.” “Okay.” So I stayed with him and left him my water bottle and stayed with him until he died. I went back to where the troops were. But that was an episode of my life that never left me.