Posts Tagged ‘Dutch connection’
In 1944, during the height of World War II, a young American soldier found himself mistakenly separated from his Army unit. His mission had been to disable bridges throughout Holland so the German army could not retreat. However, the lines shifted, and the American soldier found himself stranded and seeking shelter from the dangers of the oppressive German occupation. The German army had advanced into the village of Susteren and set up a German garrison there. In the center of Susteren was a small Inn/Restaurant owned by Joseph Schulpen. The Schulpen family, risking their own safety, offered the American soldier refuge in the basement of the Inn where for six months he lived unsuspected by the enemy. As was common during the war, the Dutch secretly harbored those that the Germans sought to defeat. This American soldier was one of countless saved by the Dutch from falling into enemy hands. While secretly living among the German army, that American soldier met and fell in love with the Inn owner’s daughter, Josephine. Thus out of the horrors of war was born a remarkable love story whose ties are forever linked to the F L Chamberlain School. This is the story of co-founder and Executive Director Bill Doherty’s own parents. Read the rest of this entry »
