A 'Thank-you' to Americans - by Horst Max Cerni

Since the United States is celebrating its 250th Anniversary, it seems an appropriate moment to remember my good American experiences.

My first “contact” with Americans was in 1946. We had just escaped from the advancing Soviet army, and now lived in the British Zone in Northern Germany. We didn’t meet any of the occupying forces, and certainly no Americans.

But one day, “out of the blue”, we received a package from America - a Care Package, which the Red Cross decided should go to our family.  It contained some cans and cookies and other eatables. Whatever was sent, seemed ike a miracle gift. Why would far away people care about us - the former enemies?

There was a return address: Mrs. Simpson, Wichita, Kansas. We didn’t have any atlas to find that place, but it sounded exotic, way out of our world. Why would a Mrs. Simpson in Kansas be concerned with the well-being of German refugees?  We were very moved by this gesture. I was the only one who had started to learn English, and it was very basic, of course.  Anyhow, I wrote a thank-you letter and included a photo of us.  It was a difficult correspondence, but it was obvious that Mrs. Simpson and her two daughters really cared for us.

My next contact to America was in 1955, when I learned of a special immigration program for refugees to the USA, and so I applied. I felt uneasy about Germany and had a guilt feeling about all the horrors of destruction and hate my country had caused.

So I wanted to explore another country. I was informed that a Baptist Pastor in Cleveland was sponsoring me. I had to go to the US Consulate in Hamburg for a formal interview. I think it was all in German, and they were mostly interested in my health and mental stability.

Then in 1956 I boarded a US Navy ship which had taken soldiers to Europe and now transported some 3,000 refugees from all over Europe to New York. We got daily lessons in English and some cultural information and got to see two Western movies. One was “Count three and pray”. I landed in New York and took the train to Cleveland, where I was met by somebody. It might have been my “sponsor”, but he was mostly concerned to get me to my new “home.”

The Clark family welcomed me with open arms, gave me a nice room and food, and introduced me to American life. I was immediately considered a friend. The younger boy wanted to play “football” with me, but I had never seen such a strange ball and threw it sideways, The older boy loved drag races, which I didn’t care for at all.  Mrs. Clark helped to correct my English and make me write the American way.

Once I started studying, the University offered foreign students the chance to stay with an American family, in exchange for light work. I was welcomed by a Jewish family and helped care for the very sick father, who unfortunately died while I was there. I attended the funeral service in the Synagogue, which was very moving. I became friends with the teenage boys. Again, I was amazed how everyone considered me one of them. There were no bad feelings about my nationality.

Soon, I moved to Los Angeles and again I was fortunate to be invited into the homes of two very nice families. I was very impressed that nobody showed any hatred towards me as a German.

I got many American friends over the years, especially among UNICEF colleagues. And I married an American woman. Actually, Isabel is a Virgin Islander and only a “territorial American” without the right to vote in Congress or for the President. Nevertheless, she has become my guarantor to keep the Green Card. We live on the Caribbean island of St.Croix - not a typical American location (and by the IOC and FIFA considered independent).

Despite all the goodness I received in the US, I feel uncomfortable about the MAGA goals, ICE, visa restrictions and the unnecessary tariffs. I never felt the need to apply for US citizenship. I always wanted to be a citizen of the world, and our life style continues to be international. But all our relatives and friends are good Americans - some are naturalized. It’s also worth to remember, that the first Secretary of the Treasury and important Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, spent his formative years (11 to 17) on St.Croix. He is a daily reminder on the 10 Dollar bill of our connection to the USA.