Missing The Boat: War Stories of Thomas Alan Dirkin

25 Firing Squad One conversation, with no particular introduction, was about the time my dad was put up against a wall to be shot. I suspect this incident occurred in relation to his time in solitary, but it may have been a random selection. The Germans marched my father and several other prisoners outside and stood them against a wall. The men stood to attention. “Ready, aim, fire!” This time the Germans used blanks. They had conducted the process with full Germanic theater. Every so often, some prisoners were executed. You did not know your outcome until the play was over. So, dad, what were you thinking? While I am sure fear was present, anger was conveyed in his answer. Most of all, he conveyed that he did not want to show