“My Gutsy Story” by Esther Goodman
Holocaust Revelations
Mom kept over sixty years of her private war locked up inside her.
Mom is a survivor.
On one of my winter visits to NY, Mom and I decided to go through her bedroom closet to organize it.
I worked the top shelf since I was taller. I found a shallow, dusty, box wedged in the back. I took the carton to her bed, where inside I found a brown, worn leather portfolio containing photographs.
“Mom, come over and sit down with me for a minute,” I said.
Mom came to the bed, and that minute turned into four hours. Inside the binder were the only photos she had after WW2. I decided then to write Mom’s story.
One particular photograph piqued my interest—a man, wearing a uniform with Royal Crests on his sleeves. On the back, he wrote,
“Meiner Lieben Rozi,
Als Erinnerung.
Ernest Finch
Eutin, Marz 1946”
“Mom, who is he?” I asked.
“He’s the soldier who saved me.” There was an awkward silence for what seemed like minutes but was only seconds.
“Ernest Finch,” she said, without turning the photo.
“Please tell me what you remember about him,” I said.
“The Germans put us on a train. I don’t know where we went. Above us, I heard the roar of planes. Suddenly, our train was bombed. My cousins and I ran toward the woods. I felt the warm, sticky feel of blood on my neck. I ran as far as I could, until I couldn’t go on. Weak and barely able to breathe, I fell to the ground. I don’t know for how long, but when I saw soldiers. I thought, ‘they’ll kill us for sure’. Next, I remember waking up in a hospital. In the corner, sitting in a chair, much like in the picture, I see him.” Mom pointed to the photo.
“He told me how his troops found us. The day was May 3, 1945. Red Cross came and took us to a hospital. He sent soldiers to stand guard daily for my safety and a few years later, he arranged for my new life in New York.”
‘I must write her story down,’ I promised myself. Living three thousand miles away, I knew this would be difficult. Over sixty years had passed. What will she want to talk about? In years past, the Spielberg Foundation approached Mom for her testimony. She declined them several times. I didn’t want to interrogate her either.
One thought gnawed at me. I must thank Ernest Finch. He deserved that much.
The story I’d like to tell you now is about my journey doing research to get mom’s memoir written.
Once back in California, my research began. I posted a note to British Army Of The Rhine, and included Finch’s photo. I posted notes and photos to the British War Museum links. I sent notes to Holocaust websites. Months passed, and I didn’t hear back from anyone. Discouraged, I kept sending information to every website related to the war effort.
Finally, I received e-mail from someone in London, England. She told me Ernest Finch was her father. My heart raced: finally all these months of research paid off. The pieces fit until she mailed photographs. Clearly, he was not the same soldier. We bonded a friendship. Ms. Finch is still searching for information on her dad. I do what I can to help.
After many months, I found a book about Muna Lubberstedt, the slave labor camp Mom was in after Auschwitz. I contacted the author. He sent me his book, written in German. Rudy Kahrs has been invaluable. He sent me copies of letters, documents, pictures and interpretation of the book. Months later, I got a response from BAOR’s website administrator. Phil wrote me, “The uniform Finch wears in the photo shows he was a Warrant Officer. He’s someone very important in his Company. I’ll do more research and get back to you.” I heard nothing more for months.
Later, an Englishman named Alan emailed me with information and book recommendations. Alan confirmed what Phil wrote. Finch was a Warrant Officer, Second Class in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Alan’s months of research led to information that Finch was once ‘Ernst Fink’, a German who fled Hitler’s Germany to go to England. After hearing this, my cousin who was with mom through the war, confirmed Finch spoke German and was Jewish.
After Australia, ‘Ernst Fink’ went to England. England sent him to France and Germany. He stayed until 1948, serving his Army as an interpreter in the Deportation Camp my mother was placed in.
For a while, information slowed down. How was I going to find him? I wanted to thank him for saving Mom. I tried “Googling” his name but came up short. Alan helped, but came up short too.
Later, Alan found ship registries showing Finch left England for the USA in 1948. The registry listed Ernest’s wife. I decided to “Google”, and the first isting was an obituary. Mrs. Finch died in 2007. The obituary named two nieces living in San Diego. I used social media to send messages. Two days later, I got a response back. Ernest Finch was her Uncle. He lived in San Diego till 1972, where he died. I did what I set out to do and thank Finch’s family for saving Mom on May 3, 1945.
Esther Goodman and her mom
To think; Ernest Finch, the Officer who saved my mothers life lived an hour from me. Imagine, if Finch lived and I found him after 1989, the year I moved to California? Mom came every year to visit for six weeks. Imagine if Ernest Finch and Mom reunited? I wonder to this day if it would have been wonderful, awkward or uneventful given the fact that Mom buried her secrets for so long.
I thank everyone involved for helping me connect the dots to mothers past.
Hopefully one day I can ‘Pay it Forward’.
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Esther Goodman Bio:
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Category: Inspirational, My Gutsy Story, People
Thanks Esther for sharing your story on how you finally found the officer who saved your mother during WWII.
Thank you Sonia.
Great work!! Looks like you are winning…I am praying and cheering for you…you have Steven and I in your corner.
Thanks so much Charlene. It means a lot to gain your support.
I’m still astonished by all the heartwarming stories I read about the goodness in the heart of evil during WW2.
A lovely story. Even if the two didn’t meet up, I’m so glad you could thank his family.
Lady Fi recently posted..Signs of love
Thank you, Lady Fi.
Sometimes life seems so difficult and frustrating. Reading your story (and the story of your mothers’ survival) reminds me that all of life’s difficulties are just a matter of perspective. Our trials are trivial in comparison to what so many others have gone through. Great story Es. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Tina
What an amazing story of survival and kindness amidst all that darkness Es. To think your mom kept it to herself all those years. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you HBS.
Wow, Es, what an amazing story! I am so glad you took the challenge to write it ~ many will be blessed, for sure. I know this led you to write when it wasn’t on your radar before…but now that you have started, keep writing!
Lynne recently posted..Passion of the Christ
Thank you Lynne.
Glad to see how your story has touched people. That’s what I love about the “My Gutsy Story” series; each one shares an inspirational journey. Thanks Es.
Es, I am still here. Still regulary surfing the net for those elusive pieces of the jigsaw that we both haven’t yet found, which are missing from Ernst Fink’s/Ernest Finch’s life story prior to that memorable day in May 1945, when Ernst saved your Mom’s life from the train which had been mistakenly bombed by the Allies.
Alan Yates, Thank you again. I don’t know how I would have completed the story without you!
what an amazing story Es. The thoughtful intervention of one man means that we are blessed to have you here with us today. Life and survival are so fragile. This has stirred me to think again about a couple of incidents where my own existence might have been prevented. My Father’s Father was put against a wall to be shot by the occupying forces here but apparently one officer intervened and he survived. Also my Mother’s Mother’s family home was regularly raided and the victims of these raids were sometimes killed but thankfully she survived. Unfortunately other relatives of the time were murdered and so I can only wonder who is ‘missing’ from the extended family.
But enough about me, one of the most important lessons we can all learn is that ‘one person can make a difference’. Thank you for bringing this story to us Es. I am so glad that your Mom go thru’ those terrible times and lived to bring you to us. T.
Wow Tony, You have touched my heart again…first thru your songs and lyrics and now this. I know you have a story in you. Why don’t you enter your wordpress story too.
Your test comment on my blog worked!
Lady Fi recently posted..Signs of love
Awesome.
Thumbs up Lady Fi. I will subscribe to your blog.
Hey Es! This is a great piece! Im so excited to read your work and the story of your mom. Epic!
Hi Vimmy, Could you please vote for me? Thanks.
Hi Es…I love your gutsy story here and I think a lot of people would love reading this…
Divinne Grace recently posted..cars for sale in stroud
Thank you Divine.
How wonderful story this is. True to life! I really admire the armies. The bravery they always shows. This story should be spread.
Born27 recently posted..Best Video Conferencing
Thank you Born27.
Es, You’re really getting tons of comments for your great story.
I’m very happy for you.
Sonia, my friends want to vote but can’t find where to vote.
Your story is very much interesting. and by the way your website layout is cool
Carol recently posted..movers in Bristol
Thank you Carol.
I have never read any great story just like this Es. I salute you and you are my inspiration! Being brave is not ordinary to people so I am really inspired with this…
Alexarrie recently posted..Dealing With A Panic Attack
Thank you for your kind words, Alexarrie
Your story is very much interesting and by the way your website layout is cool I hope you can update your blog and for sure, we will be happy to read it. Thanks that you shared.I love this link up; so thanks for hosting!
Donald V. Smith recently posted..Buy Boilx
Thanks so much Donald.
You share a gutsy beautiful story..Thank you for sharing..I like this kind of link very interesting one..
Jazmine recently posted..South West Spas
Thank you for your kind words, Jazmine.
I am pretty amazed in every gutsy story, its nice to be inspire with different beautiful story…
Rose recently posted..Local Business Promoter
Thank you Rose. That’s my mothers name
All those gusty story was great its interesting story.
julia recently posted..Part of the range of 1.5 Miracle
Thanks so much Julia.
What a remarkable story Esther! And i really admire you, on how you found the officer that saved your mother. Thanks for sharing this to us and i’m looking forward on your next post!
Heidi19 recently posted..Arowana – a prized investment catch or …
Thank you so much Heidi19.
What an amazing story, Esther. Amazing for so many reasons….like your mum never talking about her past, like you finding the photo all because you wanted to help clear the closet, like you being detective in order to write your mum’s story and to thank the man/his relatives.
I think you have paid it forward in a way by writing the story, by contacting Ernest Finch’s relatives plus helping Ms Finch in England.
But most of all you make us remember that whatever we aspire to in life nothing is more important than kindness.
Maggie recently posted..A love story in 50 words including the title.
Maggie, Thank you so much for your kindness.
An amazing story. Your mom never talked about what had happened to protect you and move on. She is indeed a survivor. It is great that you found Mr Fink’s family, your story is a tribute to him, and this world needs more people like him!
MuMuGB recently posted..It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
MuMuGB, thank you for your kind words.
Hello! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to take a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Beryl recently posted..found this
Thank you so much Beryl.
I have enjoyed your kindness and music for quite some time now, Esther. It is wonderful to see this creative, courageous side of you, as well. Your peristance alone is an inspiration.
My father, as well, would not talk about his service in the war until his last few years, and then, that was just about all he wanted to talk about. All of our lives we did not know he spent a day and a night as a POW, and that they heard the bagpipes of the kilted Scottish “Ladies from Hell,” before they saw them come over the hill to the rescue.
All of his life, we did not know he was one of the soldiers that came to free the prisoners at a Concentration Camp. Why would he keep that a secret all his life? I would have thought he would have been proud.
“But he told me, “No honey, what I saw made me ashamed to be a part of the human race. I never wanted to tell anyone, especially my children.
It took courage to chase down your mother’s story, and I applaud you for that. I only know bits and pieces of my father’s, there was so much that he still chose to keep inside.
Cher, I am speechless, Imagine that! God Bless your father for the great deeds he did. Thank you for your amazing vote of confidence.
Thank you for sharing.This is remarkable.
Thank you so much Richard
Hi… Check out a Brand New Book out this may called
“The Final Mission” by Henry Supchak and Liz Hoban!!
Wonderful True World War 2 Hero Story …
Thinks it’s going to be a MOVIE!!
Good Luck Es
Whacky Zacky
Thank Zack, so nice to hear from you. How are you doing? Thanks for all your support.
Good Luck ES!! Let me know how you fair
There are so many incredible stories from WW2. My mother grew up in Nazi occupied Norway and her stories are amazing. Thank you for sharing your mothers story.
Siv Maria recently posted..First Loves
Thank you Siv Marie. Please write your mother’s stories down…it’s so important to keep that part of history alive…
[...] Esther Goodman (45%, 115 Votes) [...]
This post is truly inspiring, I adore this person who are able to stand as a role model to all of us…
Gwen recently posted..Los Angeles IT Support
Thank you Gwen.
What a lovely story, it was truly indeed…
Jhane recently posted..Photography in Miami
Thank you Jhane.
Intriguing and heartwarming story. As someone mentioned above, it shows how one person can make all the difference. I commend your detective work and look forward to reading all about it in your book.
Penelope J. recently posted..Never Give Up on Your Dream
Thanks for your support Penelope.
Thanks for all your comments Pennie. I agree with what you said regarding Es and her detective work.
Thanks so much Sonia. I love this website and I look forward to your book.