Missing The Boat: War Stories of Thomas Alan Dirkin

50 hunter, saw his role very clearly as “the defender of the dead.” Wiesenthal’s work helped make sure that what happened to those exterminated in the Holocaust would not be forgotten. My father I think was bitter and he resented authority as a result of his war and post war experiences. Frankly, he was quite bigoted on the surface. Now I see that some of his intolerance was rooted in his life at war time life and his reception upon his return. However, he was also able to provide good council in many ways with a higher level of emotional intelligence. Did he meet the expectations of the dead? Did he live his life well? These are not my questions for my father, but perhaps the questions he asked of himself. His Respect for the Germans In my teenage years, we spent several summers on holiday in Germany. My dad would practice his German that had become quite rusty compared with his working knowledge during his days as a POW. My father would say that he liked the Germans, and he meant it. He took the standard line on disliking French men, but French women earned his respect