June 7th 1942 Erna, Elfriede’s sister, marries Lawrence Hiesterman.
Like millions of other American men, Lawrence joins the Army ending up with the 12th Army near Luxembourg, Belgium. PFC Lawrence Hiesterman completes his obligation when he is killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge.
This poem was inspired by Erna & Lawrence’s story.

Belinda’s Bible

‘Just after the war Belinda got diphtheria and
darn near died,’ Hazel sighs.
‘It was right at the start of harvest and 
there was no one to go take care of her….so 
off i went.
            I’d just got laid off from building B-29s
            at the Boeing plant.  The Army now had more than
             enough to win the war. 
When i got to Belinda’s 
Ol’ Doc Baker had me boil everything in the house and 
everything i couldn’t boil i had to burn.
I boilet all the dishes and clothes and sheets and
i burnt all of Belinda’s hats and furs and papers and 
letters from her fiancé who was killed in The Battle of the Bulge.  
            but….
Belinda just plain refused to let me 
burn her bible.
So, 
i put it in the oven and 
baked it all day at a real low temperature.
I baked it with
a post card from her fiancé.
Belinda finally got over the diphtheria and
lived to be 96 and 
she never did get married nor
never missed a day of readin’ that bible and 
markin’ her place with that postcard.’