Ben Heisler Shoah Foundation Testimony

When you see me look at my watch, it's not because I'm bored, it's just because I'm trying to keep time with that tape so that my questioning doesn't run out. January 22, 1996. Interview with survivor Ben Heisler, H-E-I-S-L-E-R. My name is Ben Nachman, N-A-C-H-M-A-N. Interview is conducted in Omaha, Nebraska in English. Can you give me your name, please?

Lewis Ben Heisler.

And how do you spell your last name?

H-E-I-S-L-E-R.

And was that your name at birth?

Yeah.

Did you have any nicknames?

No.

And what is your birth date?

November 23, 1910.

And what is your age?

85.

Can you tell me the city you were born in?

At that time they called the city Mukachevo. And it was also called Munkatsh, because that's Hungarian, because Hungarian lived down there, and Czechs, and Slovaks, and so on. Also Germans.

How do you spell the name of that city?

M-U-C-K-A-M-U-K-C-O.

Was this city in what country at your birth?

At that time it was Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia.

Can you describe your growing up in that city?

Well, it was a city. People were very friendly. Jews and non-Jews had no problem. There was a little anti-Semitism, especially by the Hungarians, not the Czechs, the Hungarians. In fact, it was one time, my father always got up very early and went to synagogue. And going to the synagogue, he was beaten up by a postal clerk. The guy was Hungarian.

Why was he beaten up?

Because he was a Jew.

Can you tell me, did you have brothers and sisters?

I had a twin brother and two other twin brothers. They are two years younger than we are. So two sets of twins.

Two sets of twins, yeah. And your mother and father, that was the immediate family.

Yeah.

Did anyone else live with you at that time?

There was a time when we had a nice size house and my aunt and their family lived there. And their father deceased, so we lived all together.

Was that for a very long period of time?

Not too long, no. Not too long. And my uncle had a delicatessen store in the main street. And my father had a little delicatessen store. And my mother had a little restaurant in the back, four or five tables. The farmers came in to bring their produce early in the morning. So I stopped and ate and bring them out. They liked meat in the morning for breakfast.

Was your family a religious family?

Yes.

Did you have a religious upbringing?

Yes.

Had your father and mother lived in this area for a long period of time?

Well, my father actually comes from a smaller, like a village, not far from Munkacs, Mukacevo. And I don't know exactly when he came to Munkacs. I don't know. And my mother, as far as I know, she was longer there than my father, yeah.

In growing up, did you have a large family living in this area?

Not too large, medium sized family.

Cousins?

Cousins, uncles, yes.

Also living in the same town?

Yeah, yeah.

And were there a large Jewish population in this town?

Yes. The town had about 30,000 people and 50% Jews.

Did the Jews live in a specific area of the city?

No. No.

They lived all over?

Yes.

And did you have many synagogues in the town?

Oh, yes. We had. 3. It was a... [Unclear] There was a famous rabbi, Rabbi Eliezer Shapiro. He was a chief rabbi. And he has very good relations with President Masaryk. He was a famous man.

Was this rabbi the chief rabbi of the city or of the... Just of Munkacs.

Just Munkacs, yeah.

And did you belong to a specific synagogue in that city?

My father did, yeah.

Do you remember the name of the synagogue?

It's called Bais Ha Midrash Hagadol, the big synagogue.

Yeah. And do you remember the rabbi at that synagogue?

At that time, we did not have a rabbi. We had a dyer, which was a judge. Very learned. So he was the charge of that particular synagogue. He had a cantor, a very good cantor. He was kind of small but husky. A very, very strong voice. On Rosh Hashanah, the High Holidays, with davening, you know, he, at the end of the service, he really raised his voice, you could hear him outside. Small guy but husky.

Did you attend services regularly?

Yes.

How often did you attend the synagogue?

Well during week, Sunday, maybe twice a week. But every Saturday, twice, in the morning and afternoon.

And you grew up in a religious home?

Yeah.

Where you had the Shabbos?

Oh yes, strictly, strictly Shabbos, kosher, 100%.

Did you have any dealings in your normal daily life with the non-Jewish community?

Not much, occasionally. Not too much, not too much, no.

How was your life during those years, as far as economically speaking?

It was very difficult, very, very difficult. And that's the reason why we had to leave. And that's the reason why we had to leave. There's no future there, no future. So my brother preceded me to Berlin, Germany.

Were- was it- you lived in a house rather than an apartment?

Were- was it- you lived in a house rather than an apartment? Where? When you, in growing up? In a house. In a house. The apartments were not too popular over there.

Not in this area?

No, no, no.

When you, what was your daily life like? Just routine life?

Well, every day of the morning, we went first to, around six in the morning to, it's called cheder, okay? to, it's called cheder, okay? And ched was cool, okay. And I went down there at six o'clock. In fact, in wintertime, we carried a lantern to the Hebrew school. And we started to stay down there until about nine o'clock. And then we went to the secular school.

And how much secular education did you have?

Well, we had public school. In about two days, it's called, two years, it's called the Gymnasium, like a high school.

And did you finish the Gymnasium?

No, no, I didn't finish it. You go down there four years, I only did two years.

And that's when you left this area?

Yeah. I was going to say that my brother preceded me and he found something to do over there. And then he said, he told me to come.

He had gone on to Berlin, is that correct?

Yeah, he was there first. But before he went down there, we had a cousin who she went, she went back and forth. She went back and forth. She bought some from Munkacs to Berlin, some spices. And that's why she went back and forth from Munkacs to Berlin.

And she was responsible for your brother going to Berlin?

No, no, no. There's nothing with my brother, no, no.

And your brother went to Berlin, how did he get to Berlin?

Well, on a passport, we, the Czech citizens, didn't need a visa. You can go and come, just a passport without a visa. And our passport stated all over Europe except Russia. So when I was, as a salesman in Germany, I was close to, let's say, Holland or Denmark. I went there and it was just a passport. And I had a couple of friends, which occasionally we what, we traveled together. And they couldn't go in to the place like Holland or Denmark without a visa. So they stayed behind. We stayed on dinner for a while. And then you got back.

What kind of work did your brother do when he was in Berlin?

Well, see, we were not citizens, as German citizens. A German citizen, it was not a, a foreigner couldn't get a job, not without somebody else. Independently, yes. Like a salesman, you could. But getting a job as a Czech citizen, you couldn't.

What was...

Because you quit taking away a job from a German guy.

What kind of work did he do then while he was in Berlin?

He traveled with a linen textile, so forth.

Was this someone that, from your home?

That part was in Berlin. We traveled many different cities.

You did the same type of work your brother did?

Yes, but I had different accounts.

Selling textiles?

Yeah.

Were these textiles that were to be fabricated into clothing?

Yeah, like linens for shirts, and material for suits.

How long were you in Berlin? Acting as a salesman. Well, Berlin as a salesman.

Well, I arrived down there, I think, from 1929. I really thought it was exactly when. And, let's see, and I started to do the same thing my brother did. And we made a nice living. every week, we sent money home to subsidize their income. We... That was very much appreciated. Excuse me.

How long were you in Berlin as a salesman? Do you remember how many years?

From 1938... I'm sorry, from 1930 till 1937.

During those years where you're starting to see a difference, a change in attitude in Germany?

Not, not very much. Occasionally, he said 'jude', as trouble, but we did not take it serious.

Did you notice any difference after the Nuremberg Laws were put into effect?

Oh, every difference.

Can you tell me about those times?

We were traveling, in the evening we were looking for a hotel. Hunde and Junden verboten. Jews and dogs, not permitted.

And what other things did Jews have happen during this period?

One time, my brother and I came off the train. I remember the city. It's called Holler and Zoller. We went proceeding going where we had to go. And a Nazi, in uniform, saw us. So he made sure that you go back to the train station. We had to do that. They were authorized to arrest you.

Did you live in a Jewish community when you were in Berlin, within a community?

Yes, once finally, Jewish community. Yes, yeah. Synagogues, kosher butcher shops. Yeah. Jewish-owned grocery stores, yeah.

Was the economic condition better than it was in your home at this time?

It was a struggle. In those days, here you go in a grocery store, you buy a pound of butter. People over there at that time couldn't buy a pound of butter. Maybe half, things like that. So we made a living, but it was not easy.

Was food available, if you could afford it?

Oh, yeah. Food was available. The farmers brought in twice a week, produce, chicken, all kinds of different produce, vegetables.

Were you and your brother living together at this time?

In Munk- where?

In Berlin.

In Berlin? Yes.

And you did your own cooking and so on?

Well, we had an aunt over there. Well, we had an aunt over there. The mother, when the lady told you, she went back and forth. And that's what we ate.

Oh, you ate your meals with your aunt?

Yeah, yeah. And on the road, we took along sandwiches, kosher sandwiches. And in the, breakfast you had in the hotel, wherever you were, in the hotel.

And how did you travel around while you were in Germany?

By train. By train. Interesting story I tell you. One time in Hamburg, Germany, I had friends, two friends, they were also traveling salesmen. [Unclear] Altona. And I was in a, I stayed in hotel in Hamburg. And we had a – the previous night, I told them, we're going to meet you in Altona, and it was just like Omaha and Council Bluffs. I meet you at 8 o'clock. I get off at the hotel, there in the corner, stood a man in the - in similar clothes. He asked me, 'Was machen sie here?' 'Bin ich geschaftlich.' I'm here for business. 'Haben Sie permission, certificate.' I says, yes. And I showed him. He looked at it, gave it back to me, and said to me, 'Verschwinden Sie,' disappear. So I asked him - why. I came here for business. Just because I asked him why, he grabbed me by my sleeves, take me to the police station. Arrested me. That is going to Altona to meet my friends over there. My friend wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. I'm not there. He calls the hotel. [Unclear]. He couldn't figure out, we had to go for business. He called the police department. I'm not there. He called the hospital ambulance. I'm not there. Nobody knows. Disappear. Finally, my boyfriend's girlfriend, in Altona, called again in the evening, the police department. Told him I stayed in that hotel. He was supposed to meet at a certain time. I didn't show up. So they told her, 'Er lebt noch,' He's still alive. So they had an idea that I'm in here. So being a Czech citizen, Czechoslovakia and Germany at that time were friendly relationships. So they know that I'm a Czech citizen. So they called the Czech consul in Berlin, in Berlin, yeah, and told them the story. The American consul got in touch with the police department in Berlin to check my records. And they did, clean. So the Czech consul intervened and said, there's no reason why my citizen is under arrest. He requested me to, to release immediately. It was in half an hour I was free.

Did they ever give you any reason why you were detained?

No reason whatsoever. Because I was a Jew, that's all.

How long did they keep you until you were released?

From the morning to the next afternoon, day and a half.

And how were you treated while you were under arrest?

Not bad. There was no sitting in the jail, that's all.

What did you do after you were released from the jail?

Well, I told my friends and told them the story. But from then on, I could no longer, I have no longer permission to stay in Germany.

What year was this? That was, I would say, in 1936, in 1936. We had to renew our certificate every year, year by year. So when the time come to prolong my stay down there, couldn't get it. My brother did, I didn't. And I was ordered to leave Germany within a week or so. But I didn't leave. I stayed there. Going home, there's no future there. And I actually traveled under the protection of my brother. Because his papers were okay. And he still had permission to stay. And, of course, I'm not a person who's very scared. I'm not scared. So I kept on going. I mean, I didn't think that I had no permission to stay there. Just did my daily routine, routine, routine.

Did you have your brother's papers at this time?

No, no. No, no. He had his. And I have mine.

But as long as no one stopped you, you were all right.

That's right.

How long did this continue?

Well, from 1936 to the end of 1937.

You lived in Berlin during this period?

Yeah.

Did things worsen as these years went by?

Yes. Day by day.

Can you give me a description of what was taking place at that time?

And that is across the Jew or so. ' Jew, get out. 'Jude, raus.

Were they starting at this time to close up any of the businesses?

At that time, no. But they had to. Because the ... the Nazis urged the people to boycott Jewish stores. ... the Nazis urged the people to boycott Jewish stores. And many did, and many didn't.

And how was your business in selling the textiles?

And how was your business in selling the textiles? Did it continue? Yes, yes. We had very good accounts, and we had no problems. The people were very nice. They bought what they need, and that's all.

So you continued to make a living?

Yeah, yeah.

Now, can you go on and describe what took place after this in your life?

Now, the way I got to Germany, no, the way I got to the United States. One morning, I went to synagogue, and there's a guy who said to me, there's a woman who has connection with the American consul, and she could obtain a visa for me. Very good news. She wanted 300 Reichsmark, big bargain. I was wondering why this guy didn't go, why he told me. So he was a married man. Like my brother was married, too. So he didn't just take off like I did. Oh, he told me with that woman. I got the address. I looked her up. And I didn't have faith in that. The appearance didn't appeal to me. She lived kind of in an undesirable place, and so on. And we talked about it. I thought, well, I'll think about it. So I went home and told the story to my brother. I told him, Nate, I don't believe in that. I don't believe in that. I cannot understand that she could have contact with the American consul. It would be a kind of a sophisticated woman. Lives in a nice apartment. Maybe I could understand. But it just didn't appeal to me. So I said to my brother, I'm going to the American consulTuesday myself. I went Tuesday. I made an application. He asked me various questions and I answered. Fill out some papers, which I did. More and more questions. So he asked me, why do you want to go to America? Now I told him I'd been in so many countries already, as well as my desire to visit the United States. I'd like to go over there for one week. One week. As a tourist. So he wrote down anything I said. He said, come back in about two weeks. So I could hardly wait for two weeks. Okay. I got on there, additional questions. I said, okay. Sit down at the hall over there. He went in his office. I waited for about 20, 25 minutes. He calls me in. Then he tells me, you have to have a return ticket back to Berlin. I said, okay. No problem. And I got a visa on my passport.

Was this just a tourist visa you were trying to get?

Just a tourist visa. Yeah.

Mr. Heister, your tourist visa was just for one week in the United States?

One week. One week, yeah.

And did you quit your job then to come for this visit?

Well that was an independent job, so you could even come and go.

Then after you received this visa, how soon after that did you come to the United States?

Well, I had to make a, I had to book passage over in, for the United States, and I couldn't get passage until November 1923. 19... 1937. 1937, sorry, 1937. And, okay, I had to wait, no choice. So I went home to see my folks.

I stayed there for about three weeks. And my mother was heartbroken. She knew, we won't see each other again. It was a rough time. Excuse me.

You were at home for three weeks?

Yeah. Excuse me.

And then you returned to Berlin for the trip to the United States?

I first, from Munkacs I went back to Berlin. And I worked to, to, probably the last week. I had bought my ticket to New York and back to Berlin.

And you sailed on...

I sailed... In fact It was on my birthday. Yeah, before, the night before. The night before. We had a big party because it was my birthday at that time. And so the next day I took the train to Paris. I stayed in Paris overnight, in a hotel. The next morning I went... I sailed from Le Havre, France, to England. It was at port, I forget. Southampton, Southampton. To take the boat to New York. And... and being, showing that I was a wealthy man. I had to travel second class. This is called tourist class. Because there was a third class, That was, for poor people. So I had to act as a big shot.

And how long did that trip take?

It took only... I think four and a half days.

From Southampton to New York.

Yeah, it was a very nice, very nice boat.

Did you have any family in the United States at that time?

I had an uncle, which I had never seen. He's been here a long time. In fact, he made it for me in Ellis Island. And he took me to his apartment. Got into his apartment. This was just another apartment. And his wife wasn't there. I don't know what happened to her. She wasn't there. And he had one daughter. So I stayed there a couple, couple days. And then he asked me, asked about some more relatives. So he gave me their address. I went down there. And I stayed down there. Board and room. I paid for it. Bordered room. And I don't know exactly how long I stayed there. Then I moved into another place.

With family? Were you with family all the time?

Yeah, kind of distant cousins. But this is the main story here. I had to have somebody to sponsor for me. So I wouldn't be a burden on the government of the United States. They have their own problems. So my uncle was not a very rich man. But he knew, that we have some rich, well to-do relatives. He gave me the address. One was an optometrist. So eyeglasses and all that. So I went to him, to his store, do this myself. He changed his name from Heisler to Eisler. He was, his father was my father's uncle. But we had a language barrier. That was tough.

He was speaking English? And you were speaking?

Yeah. And very, very little Yiddish. So I told him my story. That I need somebody to sponsor for me. So he listened. Then he said to me, there's another, another, relative, he gave me his name. He lived in a beautiful apartment. Beautiful apartment. He has a very nice wife, and we sit down. And I talked. They listen. But again, a language barrier. So they contacted their lawyer and explained to him about this. He knew, he knew, very familiar to him these stories. And he talked to my, either second or third cousin, I don't know. I don't know. Explain to him what I want. And Dr.Eisler, what about his name? What was her name? Tip of my tongue. Anyway, and they sponsored for me.

Did all this-

Oh oh, oh before that, I had to go to Ellis Island and prolong my stay.

That's what I was going to ask you. Did you accomplish all that in the one week?

No, no, no. I had to go about three or four times to prolong my stay.

Did you have a problem with doing that?

No, no.

And this all took place in what year?

Well, I arrived in New York, December 2, 1937. Then from 1937. So that took place in 1938.

So then you had family that were in agreement with sponsoring your immigration.

Yeah, yeah.

When you were in Germany still, when you went to the American embassy, did they indicate that there would be a possibility of you being able to immigrate to this country?

No. I couldn't even mention that.

You came strictly as a tourist?

If I had mentioned then they would know I have intention to stay. You didn't mentioned that. Just a vacation. That's all.

Now, continue with that story. It's very interesting.

As I said, they sponsored for me. And the American law may be so today. If you come as a visitor, and you have obtained papers and immigration visa, the law is you have to leave the country. You can go to Cuba, to Havana, Cuba. You can go to Canada. So they send the papers. I choose to go to Havana, Cuba. So they send the papers to the American embassy in Havana, Cuba. And I stay there approximately six weeks.

In Cuba?

In Cuba. Luckily, I got my visa, and I went back to New York.

You came in then as a legal immigrant?

Yeah. From Cuba, I had my visa.

When you were in Cuba, did you have enough funds to maintain yourself during this period of time?

No, I didn't. I didn't. Because all I could take along from Berlin, only $50. There was not a lot more to take. So the American... American Committee of Jewish Women, we call them, they helped me out.

In Cuba?

In Cuba, yeah. And also, also in the United States. And they paid for my trip to Cuba, and back from Cuba. Oh, yeah.

When did you return from Cuba?

I think I left for Cuba around the 15th of May. And so, I think I have here the papers, I don't want to get up. And returned by the end of June, something like that, as a legal immigrant.

So this was in 1938?

It was 1938, 1938, yes.

And what became of your brother during this period?

My brother stayed in Berlin. He was a married man, and he stayed down there until Kristallnacht. You know what that is?

Yes.

Yeah. And he escaped to London, England, he and his wife. And then I had the two brothers in Mukacevo. He took them over also to London, England. And he worked as a diamond cutter, got a job as a diamond color, with nice living. Nice living. And then ... So he stayed there until 1947. And I and the other two relatives I mentioned to you, they sponsored for him, too. And he came in 1947. And he settled in New York. I told him, Nate, why don't you come? To Omaha. It's not too crowded. Easy to get a job here. But I stayed there. So he came. His wife. But a small town was not for him. He came from Berlin, to Omaha. Berlin, three, four million. So he went back to New York. Let me just recall what he did. What'd he do? What did he do? What did he do in the first few weeks? I think that he worked at a grocery store. A grocery store. And a while later, he and a partner bought a grocery store, a moderate-sized grocery store. They made a living. That was in a border park in the Jewish neighborhood. And the partnership lasted for two or three years. And the other partner wanted to get out. So my brother bought him out. So he was, so he owned the store by himself. Made a moderate living, yeah.

And then what did you do when you came back to this country from Cuba? What kind of work?

Well, in New York, I couldn't find anything. So they suggested there, New York is very crowded. It's not easy to get a job. The middle west has more possibilities. If you don't like it, you can leave. So I came to Omaha. And I stayed here. I stayed here the first time, just before the High Holidays.

Of what year?

Of 1938. That was September 1938. So I went a week or two before the High Holidays.

Well, how did you end up in Omaha? Was there any reason for that?

They recommended it. It's a nice size town. Not very crowded. And I should be able to get a job over there. So what do I have to lose? I have nobody there. I have nobody here. So I went. And I stayed here with a family. It's called Rifkin. He was a Hebrew teacher. That was in 23rd and Charles Street.

How long did you stay with them?

Quite some time. But that was September. And let's see. The end of October, I went to apply to a job, to Brandeis. That was the biggest department store here. They hired me in October. And they put me in a stockroom in the toy department. And my salary was $14.50 a week. Not bad, is it? I don't know. So I made a very nice living. And believe it or not, by the way, I paid $7 a week. I bought a room. So I could still send a few dollars home. And I start saving. I put $1 on the bank every week. And I was laid off, laid off after Christmas, around middle of January. So I had no job for a while. Then my next job was at Omaha Driving Company. That was on 15th and Davenport I think, yeah. I worked there in 1938. So I stayed there until I got greetings from the President of the United States to register for the draft.

When was this, Mr. Heisler?

That would have been 1942. The war had already began. The war began in 1941. December 7, 1941.

When the war began with this country, had you heard any more from the family in Europe?

Let's see. Yes, yes. We corresponded with my brother, with my folks, yeah. I did. Yeah. See, so I stayed with Nebraska Furniture Mart. I worked there 'til I was drafted. See when was I drafted, I think it was 1942, 1942. And my first station was... No, first I went to... here in Omaha, what was that place now. We have Bellevue's now. What was that place called? And anyway, there was a military establishment. So I had to go there first. And they shipped me to... to Tennessee. Tennessee. See, what was the name of that little town? Don't recall. It wasn't far. It wasn't far from Nashville. Got my military training over there. And then... So we got about two months of basic training. Uphill course. Hikes. First five miles hike. Then 10 miles hikes. And more and more. To condition the soldiers. Kinda started us off kinda of push-ups and all that. Every other day we had to get up at five o'clock, for reveille. And they counted the soldiers, to see if they're still there. The barracks were nice. And the food was good here. But I didn't eat any meat, vegetables, bread, things like that. Potatoes. I could live on that. And I had some soldiers in my barracks. There was something why I didn't eat any meat. I didn't eat any meat. So a guy behind me took my portion. And we become good buddies. Porks, and all kind of meat. He was a big eater, that guy. He was from - husky guy - he was from Detroit, Michigan After we got through our basic training, we were shipped by troop train to Seattle, Washington. And more training. And more training. Over there we walked as far as 20 to 25 miles a day. A full pack, rifle, ammunition belt, and all that. And also a forced march, which means you have to run. And we stayed down there in Nashville. Occasionally, I went on a weekend to Nashville to have a kosher. There was a kosher restaurant. So I went there. On the weekend pass. And I had a chance to, even on a Saturday, visit the synagogue. And the rabbi took me to his house. A nice Shabbos meal. And then Sunday, I went back to the barracks. Okay. So we stayed down there. Stayed down there. I would say about three or four months. Then we were notified. We are being shipped to the Hawaiian Islands. So we sailed to the Hawaiian Islands. And on the boat, they gave us Atabrine pills, preventing malaria. And they were very, very bitter pills. Very bitter. Pardon me. Almost everybody, vomited. So we got to, so we sailed for the Hawaiian Islands. Took about, was a slow boat. Took about eight days or so. The Hawaiian Islands were more, very, very rough training. And we were supposed to go to the European Theater operation. So that's why they sent us to the Hawaiian Islands to get desert training. There's a big desert over there. And we stood guard over there, because they were afraid Japanese may sneak in. I was night guard several times on a mountain. Look out by the ocean. To spot any boats from Japan and so on. Any boat. Whatever it was, you have to report. And over there in the Hawaiian Islands, believe it or not, 30 mile hikes. The desert. Hot. And full pack, rifle, ammunition. And they had to train us not to use any water from the canteen. Just an emergency. So in case there's an emergency, you have water. I by nature was quite disciplined. So as long as I don't need it, I won't drink it.

Mr.. Ben Heisler reel three. You were telling me about the hikes in Hawaii Ben. Would you please continue with that?

Well, I kind of got ahead of myself. I didn't mention my wife was reminding me about the Hawaiian islands, and then we went from the Hawaiian islands, to Seattle, Washington and then to Hawaiian islands.

Where you underwent further training?

Yeah, further training, yeah. No when we went to Hawaiian islands, the orders were already changed, instead of going to Europe we were scheduled to go to the. The American operation in Europe. The Pacific, the Pacific war. And that's, see where did I, where did I stop...

Where did you go after the Hawaiian Islands?

We went to Seattle, Washington.

Back to Seattle?

No, no, no. You see from from Tennessee we went to the Hawaiian Islands and from the Hawaiian Islands, from the Hawaiian Islands to Seattle, Washington and from there, we went to the Hawaiian Islands, it was just in reverse.

I see, where did you go when you left the Hawaiian Islands did you stay in the Pacific?

Yeah, yes. Yeah.

Any other islands?

The island that was called was Kauai, that's the only only island you're stationed at.

You stayed there how long?

Hawaiian Islands... approximately five months

And then where did you go?

From there we were shipped To Dutch New Guinea... that was a jungle, jungle warfare.

What was you job in the army?

An infantry man.

And you were in-

-Foot Soldier

You were in Dutch New Guinea how long?

In Dutch New Guinea we were... well it was some time there... about 6 months.

And you continued in the Pacific at that time?

Yeah, it was hot over there, hot and dry. It was hot during the day. Day was dry. But in the evening it was cold, couldn't get enough blankets to cover up. They didn't have very many. And every morning reveille, and some more calisthenics, training. And something else, you know, the army its crazy. You police the area. You can't see anything. It's dark. But you police the area. That's what it is.

How long did you stay in the Pacific before you returned to the United States?

Ok, I was in the Untied States, 27, see it was all together is was 45 months in the army. 20 27 months in the United States It was 25 months, I don't believe it was that long, I don't believe.

But when you to returned to the United States was it to be discharged from the service?

Well, from the, from the Dutch New Guinea, we went to British New Guinea. To more training and all kinds of stuff. See they conditioned us for combat. That's why you were drafted of course, okay. You stay there for number of months and then the order came, now you are ordered, you were ordered by the general to assemble, to assemble. In a certain a certain field not far from the barracks, the whole battalion and he gave us the news, he said he received a memorandum from the War Department, that they scheduled to move out and then they said we were ordered to leave. Where you're going, I don't know. If I would know, I will tell you. And we went even not knowing where we were going. We were heading for the Philippine Islands Philippine Islands and there, that was Luzon. First we went- first we were in, in... what's that island called, got away from me. Got away from me. If you would ask me I would know. What was the name... The Capital of Philippines.

Was the war ending at this time, winding down at this time?

Not, no no, for us it was just beginning. We were northern Luzon, And that was real real fighting, real fighting. It was jungle fighting, you didn't see the enemy. Where was firing, we don't know where, from where, and we had to stay low so we don't get killed. Overnight we had to dig slit trenches to stay overnight. We had hand grenades also and next to my next to my slit trench, about six feet away, a soldier accidentally, accidentally discharge his hand grenade. I spun around, so he got blown up. His body was all over. Okay. Yeah, okay. He couldn't walk, he couldn't walk. So you call the medical people, they took him away. Another time there's another guy, who got hurt and he was calling, see the medic the, one of us the medic soldier and the guy knew his name is called Joe Moore, Joe Moore, Joe Moore. So another guy and I took that guy and try to take him to the, to the first aid station, and here we all dig in and the order was you see anybody anything moving, those of us open fire. And how do I know that? Now here here we are taking the wounded soldier to the first aid station. See we're in danger of our own troops. Could open fire at us. We were howling in the loud voices the other soldier and I, friendly troops, taking a wounded soldier to the first aid station. Taking a wounded soldier to the first aid station. We keep the hollering until we got there. Fortunately, we got on there safely.

When the war ended where were you?

In Japan. In Japan then. Yeah in Japan.

And then when you return to the United States, how long did you serve until you were discharged?

All together, see all together from the day I was drafted 'till the day I was discharged was 45 months, all together.

And you returned to Omaha after your discharge?

Yeah, I from, took a long time from Japan to get Back to Seattle, Washington. And from there they sent us, they send me, because everybody was sent to muster out to different places. I think it was a fort in Colorado It was Fort [Unclear] in Colorado. Stayed out there I don't know how many days got discharged, and, shipped back to Omaha.

And after you were discharged, what kind of work did you do in Omaha?

As I mentioned my first job was at the Brandeis department store. That was my first job.

Now when you when you came home, what were you doing- return from the service?

Well, went to see my girlfriend. Before I went home I I called there I've arrived. We just went to I think take a haircut or something? Was that it? I I think a haircut.

Were you married shortly thereafter?

Yeah.

And you returned to your job that you had before you went into the service?

No, no. Now the reason I didn't- I was going back to my job; And by the way that job at... at Omaha Drying Company wasn't easy. From 7 in the morning, to 7 in the evening. Wall paper, paint. So I made a living. Over there I made much less money, I made only 10 dollars a week. And he, asked me to come in Sunday. So I got in Sunday from 8 to 12. And he gave me two dollars for that. Fine, no problem.

But after the war, this was after the war-

That was after the war.

This was after the war?

Oh yeah, that was after the war, yeah, after the war.

And you where did you go from that job?

I was already married then.

When did you marry? What year?

December 9th, 1937. 19-1945.

1945 after you got out of the service?

Yeah, December 9th, 1945.

And what were you doing for work at that time?

Nothing, I just got home, nothing.

And what job did-

My father-in-law and my girlfriend, now my wife, preparing for wedding. For a simple wedding in the house. A few of their acquaintances. People they know, friends. I was all out of this. In my family there was nobody here.

At this time in your life your life. Had you heard anything at all from any of the family that remained in Europe?

No.

Had you heard about them?

I didn't, I didn't even know, that my brother was in England at the very very late, for some reason.

And he had the two younger brothers with him?

Later on, he took them out- not to Germany, not to German, they were not in Germany. They were still in Mukacevo.

And he was able to bring them-

Yes.

What year, do you recall?

That must have been, I would say... uh 1948, 1948.

And who was left at home, at that time?

My mother, my father, cousins, uncles.

You never heard of any of the family after this time?

Uh. No. But I come home I know my mother died. I know that in 1938 she died.

From natural causes?

Natural causes, yeah.

And your father?

Remained in Munkacs.

And you didn't hear any more about him?

No and I was I was always wondering why my brother in England took my two brothers out not my father. I was always wondering. A satisfactory answer until today, up 'till now, I don't know. And I really didn't get... My brother probably thought maybe after they are there, he take out my father. But it didn't happen. So my father was of the, of one of the 6 million.

Have you ever returned to uh your home?

Not after the war. Never have returned. No, no no. And my uh brother was still able to send money to my folks at at home at Munkacs. Every week from England. I was a diamond cutter, made a living and uh we know we have an obligation.

And how large how large is your family today? Your children.

My family?

Yes.

Well thanks god, to have a good wife. And uh 9 grand children.

And how many children?

Children, we have- I have 3, we have 3. We have two sons And a daughter.

And do they live here in Omaha?

No, no. They went here to uh school and college and to get their further training the oldest son went to went to uh, St. Louis Washington No... what am I talking about, St. Louis, St. Louis, St. Louis. What was it...

Washington University-

Washington! St. Louis Washington.

Washinton University?

Yeah Washington University, in St. Louis, Washington yes.

St Louis, Missouri.

Pardon?

St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis, Missouri. Yes St. Louis, Missouri.

And you have how many grandchildren?

We have 9 grandchildren.

If you could leave a message for your grandchildren.

First of all, the saying is Jewish, die a mensch. Be good person, get your education, and start from there. And the oldest urge to our children, from early on, to marry within our faith. And they did.

And do have any message you would like to leave to the world... Based upon your experiences?

To be very very careful. It can happen again. You're familiar with with that uh Nazi in Lincoln, Nebraska? He's now in jail. And uh, Germany You know that? Okay

Mr. Heisler-

No he had 50,000 followers. 50,000 lots of people.

I would like to thank you. Mr. Heisler for allowing us to come into your home and to talk to you about your experiences over the years and thank you on behalf of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation.

Thank you very much. Thank you for coming.

Mr. Heisler, can you tell me about this photograph?

Yes. This was was taken and uh Mukacevo. Uh returning back for out home vacation, see our folks and uh getting ready to go to the station to go back to Berlin.

Who are the people in the photograph?

On the left the man with the beard, that's my father. Next to him is my twin brother in the hat, and next to him is his wife and other brother. The one with the bike is a cousin.

Can you tell me about this photograph Mr. Heisler?

Yes, this is going from Munkacs, to the railroad station. Take the train to berlin.

And who was in the carriage?

In the back is my sister-in-law. In the middle is my mother, the guy standing up that's my twin brother and uh in the back are my two brothers. And that's all.

Can you identify this photograph for me?

Yes. On the left, that's a friend of mine they lived in Altona, Germany, close to Hamburg. And next fellow is his brother and the next one is my is my twin brother and that's me.

And where was this taken?

In Berlin.

And what is that I see in the background.

That is the parliament. The general parliament.

And what was it called In Germany?

Yeah, it's called the der Reichstag. Reichstag. Reichstag. And, after the fire Uh I Visited the Reichstag, people standing in line, hundreds of people going to see it. So I was one of them there too.

Can you identify this document for me?

Oh yeah. Oh, yeah This is what they called in the German language [Reisegewerbekarte - unclear], traveling permit. And this you have to have, as old as you can travel.

This is when you were working as a salesman?

As a salesman, my brother has one just like it.

Can you explain this for me Mr. Heisler?

Lets see is that the... Is that that return portion of the...? Oh yes yes And this is uh, my return ticket from New York back to berlin.

When you came over as a tourist?

Yeah. Of course, I had no intention coming back.

Can you tell me what this letter is?

Yes, uh. This, rather I got from Ellis Island to prolong my stay. That's what this is.

Mr. Heisler, can you introduce me to this nice looking young lady next to you?

Sure, my good wife Eva Heisler.