Does Uncle Same Want Us?

The journey begins to The Land of Promise.
My parents came to the conclusion that the future of the family could not be found in Germany or at best it was too dim to see.Dad's work in the forest did not show any advances or a challenge anymore.
Oma Pauline Fester had left for Canada and our Uncle Erwin Redschlag had applied for immigration to the USA and was on his way. Dad had considered immigration back in 1929-32 years but the depression years were just getting started. So here in 1951, he had a chance and the opportunity to  follow through with his young man's dream. Farm work and forest type work is all that Father knew. Factory work did not appeal to him for he could have applied at the Volkswagon Company.The reason for not applying at the factory was that housing for the family was not available. Maybe he felt that his education level of 8th grade was not good enough to compete on the factory floor.We never talked about the reasons to immigrate in detail. Years later when we all had a few at family gatherings, he did ask me..."Did I do the right thing for you by coming to America?" I gave him my straight answer..."Yes Yes Yes !!!". He seemed to be less agitated after that and the question was never raised again by him. I think he was finally at peace with his decision to immigrate. You see he had back-up too. His Uncle Christian Krebs ( his mother's brother) immigrated and his sister's family, Hulda and Martin Foerster immigrated to Canada.He also talked about a Kolewe cousin that left for Canada back in 1920s.
Mother was not happy in Harste,Germany.She had been a landowner and her own boss. The local people  made her feel like a second grade German.She knew more about farming then most of the local farmers in the village. Leaving Germany I felt was a blessing and a relief for her doubts about the future  for her family and herself. She was a smart and futuristic thinking woman.Of course she was my Mother and being landless was a pain hard to bear.You have to remember that she had a kingdom (her own farm) in 1939 that in the September of that year was taken away from her  by incompetent world politicians and generals that couldn't come to a peaceful agreement. My Mother did have a moment that created doubts in her mind about her decision to immigrate.The doubt arose in Texas when she saw all those barefooted migrant's kids,legal and illegals from Mexico, around a campfire eating tortillas and beans.Those Mexican families had been there for years and were still living in shanties and having supper by a campfire. This Land of Promise did not take care of its own people and is her family going to end up in the same situation? This life in Texas will be another story.
The papers were filled out and  the required pictures taken and the bundle submitted to the right authorities. Now the period of waiting began and plans were set into motion to be ready if the invitation comes for the interview by Uncle Sam.
The invitation came and off we all went to a camp that was isolated from the rest of the world for a closer examination of the history and well being of all members of the family.
The Germans do keep good  records someplace and the fire bombs had not destroyed them.The immigration authorities had everything my Dad and Mom had joined and signed.The examiner pulled out a document that had my Father's picture and signature.This document went back to the early 1930s when a nationalist movement arose among the Germans in Poland.Dad was single at that time and wanted to show that he was a good German even if it was Poland at that time. The examiner also had his military and POW records on hand. The question was "Did you belong to this organization?" My Dad answered "Yes...it was a church affiliated group!""Are you sure?" questioned the examiner .The room got tense and quite for my Dad had risen to his feet. At the same time another examiner leaned over to the questioning one and said something to him in English. Silence filled the room. " Okay, you are approved!"said the examiner.At that moment the direction of our destiny as a family was determined and set into motion. Maybe Uncle Sam was in that room too and had whispered into the examiners other ear "Don't be an idiot for I am getting a bargain which I will not refuse to accept".

After the American immigration officials had examined all information on the Kolewe family at this immigration camp facility near the city of Bremerhaven at the mouth of the Weser River in Lower Saxony,West Germany , and found us sound of mind and body and able to work and not be a burden for the taxpayers in the USA, we got the stamp of approval.

In the mean time the Lutheran Church World Relief Organization was looking for sponsors who would provide a job and housing for the potential new immigrants.Mom and Dad were given choices of different locations.They chose Texas.I am not clear how that choice was made but Texas was the biggest state in 1952.Maybe it was Uncle Sam's whispering during his days in the POW camp in Italy after peace had been declared .

While in the camp my 13th birthday came.Dad gave me some money as a present.At the camp's store I bought a big orange.That orange may have come from Florida but I don't remember a stamp or a label on that fruit.I shared the orange with members of the family but I don't recollect if that was willingly.
At the camp I also met other families who had made the same choice of leaving for America.One of the families had come from the same spot on the globe as I did,the Heinrich Wichner Family.Later I found out that they were heading for Kansas,USA.In later years I too went to Kansas during my college years as a runner to participate in the Kansas Relays.