Walter Foertsch could not believe his eyes after unwrapping a gift from one of his daughters at Christmastime. Inside the pretty wrapping was a book that chronicled a major part of his life.

Michael Waters, a Texas A&M University archaeologist, had excavated the remains of Camp Hearne, an interment camp in Texas that housed 4,800 German POWs during World War II, and had written the book on the subject.

Walter remembers the day the war ended for him like it was yesterday. "We were out of food, water and supplies and completely surrounded by Montgomery's  8th Army," he said. "We received orders to lower the cannons on our tanks."

The former sergeant, who had been through many deafening shell attacks and once had a piece of shrapnel rip into his arm, complied. He soon was on a ship to Brooklyn, N.Y., and then on a train to Texas that went through Pittsburgh and Bismarck, N.D. It was during this long rail trip that he
said to himself, "One day I will live in America."
 
Walter considers himself a very lucky person. Upon graduating from two years of tank training, his class was divided into two sections. One half was destined  to go to the Russian front, while the other would be assigned to a tank division in North Africa under the command of Gen. Rommel, known
as the "Desert Fox.” Walter was in the latter group.

Now that he was far from the battlefield and  receiving good care, his only thoughts were of what awaited him in Texas.

Walter said, "The book is extremely accurate. We were treated very good and were fed well. I even worked at several jobs in the camp." He enjoyed working in the mess hall and describes how he would stretch a string down a row of tables and place the plates and cups along the string so they would
be perfectly aligned.

He was paid in script and was able to buy items from the camp store. "We could write a postcard every month," he said. "I would write home to let everyone know that I was doing well."

One day while walking around the camp he was told that someone in an adjoining compound was asking if anyone was from his hometown of Jecha, Germany. He went over to the fence and was surprised to see one of his father's friends standing there. He later found out that the family friend had become ill and was sent back to Germany by the Red Cross International.

After the war he was sent home via England, where by chance he picked up a listing of Catholic priests and discovered that one was from the town where his girlfriend lived. He contacted the priest to obtain her address. He managed to overcome many obstacles to get to her, as she was in the eastern
sector. They were married Sept. 13, 1947. He and Elfriede had two daughters while living in postwar Germany.

Walter kept his pledge that one day he would live in America. He and his family were sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Endicott, N.Y., which made it possible for them to immigrate to America. He was employed by the church and did all the maintenance there for almost 30 years before his
retirement, at which time he and Elfriede moved to the Ocala area.

In 1994 they visited Spruce Creek South and decided to purchase a home here. They are in  constant contact with their daughters and granddaughters in the Atlanta area and are excited that a great-grandchild is on the way.

Walter says, "Becoming a citizen and living in America with my family is the best thing I ever did."

His large American flag is always the first one set out in Spruce Creek South during patriotic holidays.