The Holocaust remains the epitome of mankindıs darkest acts unto one another. So many were virtually wiped off the face of earth in a fashion too cold blooded to even imagine. Only those fortunate few who endured and persevered through the death camps of World War II truly know what loss is.

Jack Van Der Geest spoke to Gallup area residents on Oct. 18 about his ordeal in the death camp of Buchenwald. This special event, hosted by Western Bank, was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. Tickets were $20 and all proceeds for this event went to the upcoming Gallup Veterans Memorial, still being planned.

Van Der Geest was born in the Netherlands in 1923. His amazing story began on May 10, 1940, when Hitler invaded his homeland. He said no one even imagined that Germany would ever want to occupy the Netherlands. Shortly after this catastrophe, Jack and his father began participating in the Dutch Underground. They would sabotage Nazi troop movements throughout Holland. However, they were given up to the Gestapo. Jackıs father was shipped to Dachau where he perished. Jack was sent to Buchenwald.

Jack spoke of the atrocious hardships and wickedness he witnessed at Buchenwald. He spoke of cruelty, despair, and the unbelievable strength of people enduring the most hellish of circumstances. Perhaps the most chilling testimony of his ordeal was his escape from Buchenwald beneath the dead bodies of other prisoners. Only eight people ever were reported to have escaped Buchenwald. Jack is the only one still alive in the world. Unbelievably, Jack became a member of the French Underground Resistance helping allied paratroopers shot down over France evade capture by guiding them to Switzerland.

Jack then left the Continent for England where he became an interpreter for the 101st Airborne, since he could speak seven languages. On the eve of D-Day (June 5), Jack was dropped with the 101st into occupied Normandy. ³I can remember during the Battle of the Bulge how great the American Armies were in combat. ³It was so cold the machine guns froze so the American soldiers urinated on the barrels to thaw them out. ³American ingenuity!² This comment, funny, yet powerful, filled the atmosphere with patriotism.

Jack spoke very proudly of the Americans in World War II. Other people in the world like the terrorists who caused the WTC-Pentagon attacks are just jealous of American prosperity. In his perspective he believes that Hitler killed the European Jews because he wanted their money since the vast majority of the German population were poor and divided. The Jews were united and powerful at the time. Most would agree that Jack is entitled to his opinions of what happened. His accounts were quite compelling.

³Enjoy your freedom,² was his main theme. We live in a time of abundance and security. We can buy what we want and choose what we want to do with our lives, something that billions of others donıt have. The gathering that came to hear his story respectfully listened and thanked him for sharing the treasure of recollection. Jack Van Der Geestıs story was certainly powerful.