Background Context

• Interview conducted with Leah Zazulier on November 7, 1995, in Rochester, New York.
• Discusses experiences in the American Army during the Korean War and his life journey.

Korean War Experience

• Describes a sergeant's pep talk emphasizing a role as a goodwill ambassador while stationed in Stuttgart.
• Instructions to avoid fights and drinking.
• Arrival in Stuttgart:
• Traveled in an American-segregated train car with military police (MPs) present.
• Initial experience: Distracted by MPs playing blackjack, refused to join.
• Upon arrival, met by fellow GIs with a truck headed to the camp.

First Impressions and Settling In Stuttgart

• Describes the camp location, approximately 3.5 to 4 miles outside Stuttgart.
• It was a hot Sunday afternoon; feeling hungry around 4:30 PM.
• Informs about the procedures for getting bedding and meals.
• Notified that the mess hall would close early on Sundays and advised to go eat first.

Friendship Formation

• Reunited with David Carney, a friend from basic training, in the mess hall.
• Established a lasting friendship while serving overseas.

Post-War Life and Education

• Returned from the army; experienced uncertainty about direction.
• Worked at Kodak for nearly 35 years in research labs, focusing on electrophotography chemistry and physics.
• Educational background: Studied graphic arts and chemistry at RIT and attended courses in physical chemistry and physics at the University of Rochester.

Family Details

• Married in 1957; has three children.
• Oldest: MIT graduate, doctorate in solid state physics from Caltech.
• Younger son: Chemistry graduate from Oberlin, master's in French horn from the University of London, now pursuing doctorate in bioinorganic physical chemistry at Princeton.
• Daughter: Pursuing master’s degree in health sciences.

Experiences with the German Government

• Discusses trials with restitution from the German government regarding personal family experiences during the Holocaust.
• Father was reluctant to seek compensation.
• Application for restitution rejected due to bureaucratic reasons after the expiration of the statute of limitations.
• Attempts to rectify this denial highlighted an ongoing struggle for recognition and compensation for survivors.

Reflections on Experiences

• Expresses disbelief at the German government's refusal to acknowledge the extent of suffering endured.
• Emphasizes the importance of remembering history to avoid repetition of past mistakes.
• Advocates for active participation in democracy to ensure that individuals with dangerous ideologies do not gain power.

Survival Insights

• Attributes survival to a strong will to live and the need for food during dire circumstances.
• Shares a poignant story about finding food (eggs) amidst hardships and its significance for survival.
• Contrasts personal resilience with those who succumbed to despair, referencing figures such as Herschel Leipzig.

Father's Influence

• Credits his father as a crucial source of strength during their shared trials in camps.
• Shares a significant incident reflecting the bond they shared and survival instincts.

Historical Documentation and Heritage

• Believes in the importance of preserving the memory of the Holocaust as a moral obligation.
• Discusses photographs and memories of family taken before the war, connections established with relatives in America, and the significance of these family legacies.

Impact of the Holocaust on Personal Narratives

• Strives to communicate the deep personal impact of the Holocaust, emphasizing the need to learn from abhorrent historic events to foster a better world.
• References various photographs, places, and experiences in post-liberation Germany, further connecting his family’s past to the ongoing narrative of survival and remembrance.
• Highlights experiences in concentration camps, including Flossenburg, and illustrates the systematic brutality endured by the captives using a personal anecdote about his father's shoes.
• Encourages future generations to be vigilant and participate in social justice efforts as a means of preventing future atrocities.