The short version of the story: He was an Engineer in the 5th Army in the Apennines Mountains somewhere north of Rome. He was well behind the fighting lines to the north, alone, working on a water purification system for a village in the mountains when a German Army Lieutenant with a small company of soldiers came down from the surrounding mountains and surrendered to him.
He had been with the 5th Army throughout the invasion of Italy, and he had seen a lot of fighting, but he said he was never so scared as he was when that German Lieutenant and his soldiers marched up to him.
I was surprised a few years ago during a visit to Nepal that the Swastika was everywhere. Apparently for Hindu people it's a sacred symbol that means 'well-being'... that got quite turned around here in the West. Thanks for the story, Tim.
