Fort McCoy

Good morning.

Hello, Mr Stirn.

Follow me, I'll show

you where your cabin is.

Okey dokey.

When I was nine years old,

My family moved from the banks

of the Mississippi river,

To the woods of Wisconsin.

It was the summer of 1944.

The war was being fought in

faraway places like Italy

And new guinea, and my family

wanted to help here at home.

My father was a barber, and we

were headed to the army base

And prisoner of war

camp called Fort McCoy.

There, he would cut the hair

of soldiers and prisoners,

And these strangers would

change our lives forever.

Through the fence

I saw prisoners.

Some were just boys,

not much older than I.

And others looked like no

one I'd ever seen before.

Sargent Dominic Rossi.

My wife Ruby, Gertie, Lester,

and my wife's sister Anna.

Ma'am.

And please call me Dom.

And if you folks

ever need anything,

I'm posted at the mp gate.

I didn't realize the prison

camp was going to be so close.

I was surprised to see them out.

Work detail.

And don't worry, ma'am,

they are well guarded.

How many are there?

We have about 3,000 Germans and

all the japs captured so far,

Including Sac Machi,

the first PW of the war.

Why are they bringing

the Germans all the way

To the states?

England ran out of room.

Plus, they wanted them here

because of all the rumors.

What rumors?

That Hitler was planning

on air-dropping weapons

To the German PWs in England.

They've been bringing

over every German captured

Since November of '42.

Let's go find Goldilocks.

It's all so much

bigger than I expected.

We always have around

35,000 of our guys in basic,

All ready to ship out.

So we definitely

appreciate having

A new barber on the base.

Glad to be of

service, in some way.

And a new operator.

It was nice meeting you, sir.

My pleasure, miss.

Do you think there might

be some work for my sister?

Travel pay office

always needs help.

I'll look into it.

Thanks.

I have to pee.

Then go.

There you are.

You all right?

Fine daddy.

Don't be running off like

that, you scared your mamma.

And your daddy.

What were you doing?

I had to pee.

There's a toilet in the house.

Darling, they're

going to love it here.

My dad fought for

Germany in the great war.

Before he came over.

He thought Kaiser was bad.

Now Hitler, Nazis,

something else.

I've got cousins over in

Germany, for all I know.

And why the japs

took their side?

My brother signed up the

day pearl harbor got bombed.

He got killed in Italy.

I'm sorry.

Herb got sent to the

south pacific, though.

My wife's brother bud

got sent there too.

Hey, I hope herb makes it back.

My dad's taking care of

the farm all by himself.

My dad tried to sign up twice,

but they said he can't fight.

But he's so strong,

he can lift me

And my sister in the

air at the same time.

Why don't you take your

brother over to the PX,

Get yourselves a treat?

OK daddy.

I'm, uh, 4-f. I've

got a heart murmur.

Sorry.

I need a bus ticket to

Chicago for the weekend,

And petty cash for three days.

Grab his file, honey.

Put his furlough pass in it.

Then you've got to type

up a travel pay voucher,

Get it over finance.

And then a bus voucher,

and get it processed.

And the tickets

will be sent here.

OK?

Oh great, first day?

It's her first client too, you

got a problem with that, bud?

OK, Sam Dolnick.

Aren't you violating

some child labor law?

I'm 18.

OK, that's it.

You'll just have to come back

once it goes through finance.

OK, well I'm leaving

tomorrow, so, uh.

Now we'll just

take that and put it

At the bottom of the stack.

That way he might have to

come back a few more times.

Ha ha.

Fort McCoy.

Please hold while I

connect your call.

Oh, darn.

I lost him.

Fort McCoy.

Please hold.

Fort McCoy.

About 2 o'clock, sure.

Right.

I think you have

a visitor, doll.

Oh, lunch time.

I'm so honored

you found the time

To slot me into your very

first lunch break, madame.

Nice joint.

Thank you.

Shampoo.

Eight cents.

There you go.

Thank you.

Why does her skin stick up?

It's her bosom.

Fort McCoy.

Certainly, one moment.

Fort McCoy.

Please hold.

Hey, my favorite

kids on the base.

We're the only kids on the base.

Looks like tank likes somebody

besides you there, slim.

Is this your dog, mister?

Yeah.

He adopted me when I got here.

That's because you

let him sleep with you.

Heard him barking inside

a tank down for repairs.

Don't know how he

got in there, though.

Kids, this is Texas Slim.

Like the comic strip?

Oh yeah, Texas Slim and dirty

Dalton, like in the funnies.

Yeah.

You kind of look like a

dirty Dalton, partner.

We have to pick up

our mom from her shift.

Say hi to her for us.

OK.

Bye, Lester.

I'm back.

Wondering if my ticket and

pay vouchers are ready.

I haven't gotten to it.

Heavy workload?

I was hoping to leave for

Chicago on the 6:00 am bus

Tomorrow, so I kind

of need it today.

You seem pretty anxious

to get to Chicago,

You'd think it was Shangri-la.

I'll send it over to

finance for processing.

Thanks.

Fine then, Dolnick.

These are purple cone

flowers, and those

Are black-eyed Susans.

See the dark middle?

What are the little purple ones?

Those are wild clover.

Monarch butterflies love them.

But these are my favorite.

Queen Anne's lace.

Every may my mother

put them in a vase next

To a statue of the virgin Mary.

Why?

Because may is

the month of Mary.

Aren't they pretty?

It's still may for

a few more days.

Yes, it is, should

we pick a bouquet?

Let's get home.

Come on, sweetie.

Next stop, Elkhorn,

And then on to Chicago.

A letter came from bud today,

he was on the island of Saipan.

Loose lips sink ships.

He's not there anymore.

Good.

Is uncle Bud gonna

kill some japs?

Honey, don't say that.

He told me today he wants

to grow up to be a soldier.

So?

So?

Darling, all boys want

to grow up to be soldiers.

I'm going to buy some smokes.

You need anything?

No, thanks.

Anna, can I ask you something?

Of course.

How old were you when

you first kissed a boy?

I was 15.

Why?

Just asking.

But don't tell your

mom or my mom, OK?

Why not?

Hang them out the window to dry.

Things are just a little

different nowadays.

Our moms are a

little old fashioned.

Aah!

Aah!

Mamma!

Aah!

Don't make me shoot you.

We got him locked down.

What was he doing?

The japs keep

trying to run away.

Either to kill themselves,

or to get killed.

They want to die?

For them it's shameful

to return home alive.

They all want to be kamikazes.

Ruby?

Oh, honey.

I heard.

Evening, frank.

Sargent.

Well, I'll let you

folks get some sleep.

And not to worry, we've

added two extra guards

To the Japanese barracks.

So if there's anything you need.

Thank you, we'll be fine.

Thank you.

They're trying to die?

I never heard of such a thing.

I have to show you something.

What the hell is that?

I bought it, to be safe.

I wasn't even going

to tell you about it,

Because I don't think

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