Watercure USA - February/March 2021

IN THE KNOW FOR for Feb/Mar 2021

FROM PRISONER OF WAR TO U.S. MERCHANT MARINE, PART II Horst Rediscovers His German Hometown After WWII

In our last newsletter, I shared the story of Horst, a German helmsman. I met him during my first tour with the U.S. Merchant Marines on a World War II vintage ship that was staffed by mainly WWII veterans. I was 21 years old at the time, the youngest crew member on board. You can imagine that as a young man, even if college educated, I felt out of place among WWII veterans. Horst was the second youngest on crew, in his mid 40s, when he told me the incredible story of what led him to work on an American Merchant Marine boat. He’d joined the Merchant Marines when he was 18 years old, back in 1940, but became a prisoner of war (POW) while in Norway. After traveling across Europe as a prisoner, he was later sent to Canada where he was treated fairly well and was eventually transferred to a German-speaking family farm to work. As the years went by, the war eventually ended — not in Germany’s favor. Meanwhile, Horst had grown accustomed to his new life in Canada, so it was surprising when the government officials summoned him to be transferred back home. “We may forget it from time to time, but it’s deep in our history to overcome boundaries of nationality and allegiances to help one another.” That’s where our story last left off, and, at that point, Horst was 21. I was completely blown away by that. It was clear that my life story was very different from his. Also, I felt far more hopeful for my future than Horst did at that point in his life, having been isolated from his home for many years. After Horst left the Canadian farming family that had taken such good care of him, he was told on the train that he’d return to a POW camp in Nova Scotia for a short time. Then, they’d be given back to their “Fatherland,” Germany.

going back into an area that was deeply devastated, which brought many health risks. So, Horst received every type of vaccination he could get. He was led to a ship that stopped by several German ports, letting off men based on where their homes were. In the briefing, the Canadians made it clear that it was up to them to find their way back home. However, not too much was said in the briefing about the difficulties that’d present themselves in Germany. They made it clear that a lot of rebuilding was in store, not only within the country but also within families.

Each and every one of those men would soon discover that in their own way.

The destruction in Germany was worse than Horst could’ve ever imagined. He had many happy childhood memories at the port with his father in Hamburg, but the memories were completely destroyed by his arrival. The ship couldn’t tie up because all the docks were destroyed, so a small boat transported Horst and a few others into the rubble of the docks where he climbed and crawled to reach dry land. Horst then described the skyline of Hamburg very clearly to me — it was completely flat. Any big buildings that used to be there were now rubble. He couldn’t believe it. Was this really his home? The U.S. Army had set up a few medical tents and different ports of entry into Hamburg. At the ports, they took entrants’ names and photos and gave them information about the requirements and curfews that were still in effect. Although Horst didn’t tell me exactly when this happened, it must have been around 1946. The U.S. also provided civilians with food and intermittent shelter, but Horst most cared about finding where his home had been. Although he’d walked thousands of times between the port and his home (only a 15-minute walk), it was nearly impossible to discern where his house had once stood. A few people were able to describe where certain landmarks used to be, and that’s how he eventually found his home after a few hours.

As part of the process, Horst and the other POWs were inoculated against any sickness or disease; the authorities knew these men were

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A Simple Way to Improve Your Day! THE CALENDAR OF ‘THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO’

Many families have faced disappointment in one way or another. Since early last year, countless activities and events have been canceled, and people had to skip many family vacations and get- togethers. Though it is a new year, it’s still going to be a while before normal activities and events will be scheduled, meaning there might not be a whole lot to look forward to, which can be disheartening. So, why not change that and give yourself and your family something to look forward to? A great way to improve your day — or week, month, or even year — is to write down things you’re excited about. In an article on Lifehacker.com, one mom talked about how she improved the overall mood of her family by creating a calendar of things to look forward to every week. In a post on Facebook, she wrote, “I wanted something for me and my kids to look forward to each day, so I posted a list to my fridge of the

days of the week and one fun thing each day. (Like Taco Tuesday, Takeout Thursday, Dance Party Friday, Movie & Popcorn Sunday.)” It’s an idea anyone can easily implement. Create themed days (like game night or park day) or create a schedule of fun things. Write down when the next show or movie you’re interested in will be available to stream. You can do the same for a new book or video game that may be coming out and apply the concept to virtually anything. The important thing is that you write it down on a calendar so you can see it. When you or your family glance at the calendar and see what’s coming up, it elevates your mood and boosts your day. And the more things you’re looking forward to, the better! Give it a try and get everyone in the family involved. When you need a little extra joy in your life, this is an incredibly simple way to achieve it!

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Yet, he also had another ambition: He wanted to become an American citizen. He’d been tremendously impressed with the U.S. Army and how they treated the German people after the war. When he found out that the Americans desperately needed Merchant Marines, Horst didn’t think twice. He joined the U.S. Merchant Marines with temporary seafarer’s documents, and they helped expedite his process to become a naturalized citizen. Of course, he didn’t have a college education, so he couldn’t join the officer ranks. That, Horst told me, was how he ended up on this ship with a 21-year- old like me as his superior. I told him, “We’re on board a ship of WWII veterans. Hasn’t anyone given you flack for being German?” But Horst said he had truly never been accosted. That stunned me. We may forget it from time to time, but it’s deep in our history to overcome boundaries of nationality and allegiances to help one another. It’s why I believe, with all my heart, that American history will ultimately be remembered as a story of forgiveness. Thank you for reading Horst’s tale. If you’d like to read more tales on the sea, I have a memoir titled “Turbulent Seas,” which is available for purchase on Lulu.com for $15. I’ll chat with you all again soon.

Then, he began to hear about what happened to his family. His father and brothers had all been killed or taken to a prison camp in Russia. To great relief, though, he also learned that his mother lived — she worked for a U.S. Army soup kitchen that fed locals to get them back on their feet and prevent disease. When Horst first saw his mom again, she was in her mid 40s — but Horst mistook her for his grandmother at first because she’d aged significantly from the horrors of war. He felt ashamed that he didn’t recognize her, but he was deeply relieved to see her healthy and well. There was one thing, however, that’d eventually lead to Horst leaving Germany — there were almost no other men. All men, young or old, were either dead, were crippled, had lost a limb, or were disfigured in some way. As you can imagine, this led to hordes of local young women pursuing him. Even some older women pursued him, like his mother’s best friends who made advances. Horst worked for the U.S. Army for about a year and a half after his return, but the growing pressures of the female society were overwhelming. Everywhere he turned, a woman wanted to settle down with him and start a family. Horst decided he needed to leave, and his mother agreed. As life would have it, he ended up traveling to Spain, where he met his future wife. He desired to start a life with her in Canada, with the kind German family that had offered him peace and tranquility as a POW.

–Captain Lance

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DREW: 716-946-3598

LANCE: 716-912-9939

BALSAMIC ROASTED VEGETABLE PASTA Inspired by TheFullHelping.com

Winter is still here, which means it’s time to curl up with a bowl of delicious comfort food. This seasonal vegan pasta dish does the trick!

HOW UV LIGHT CAN MAKE YOUR WATER SAFER Hospitals, warehouses, restaurants, and many other businesses worldwide are using ultraviolet (UV) light to kill off bacteria and the COVID-19 virus from every surface, but did you know you can use it to treat your water? Watercure USA has provided water purification solutions to Buffalo and Western New York for over 30 years, and we have seen many improvements in filtration and treatment methods over time. We’re thrilled to offer our residential and commercial clients UV-light water treatment, one of the most innovative purification methods available today.

Ingredients

• 1/2 tbsp

• 1 red onion, chopped • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 shallot, thinly sliced • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 8 oz uncooked pasta • 1/2 cup vegetable broth • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 handfuls arugula • Salt and pepper, to taste • Nutritional yeast, to taste

grapeseed oil

• 2 1/2

lbs mixed vegetables of choice, chopped into 3/4-inch pieces (parsnips, turnips, carrots, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, etc.)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine grapeseed oil, root vegetables, and onion. Toss until evenly coated, then spread the mixture across two foil-lined baking sheets. 3. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper, then roast them for 35–40 minutes. While vegetables are roasting, cook pasta according to package directions.

UV-light water treatment is a highly effective way to eliminate bacteria from water. It offers several advantages to other methods, including:

• No chemical additives • No change in water PH • Cost-effective

4. When vegetables are done, heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots and garlic for 4–5 minutes. 5. Add the root vegetables and onion, pasta, vegetable broth, and vinegar to the pot and stir until warm. Add the arugula and cook until wilted. 6. Serve with salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast.

How does it work? First, the treatment system will remove the “umbrella” bacteria in your water. Umbrella bacteria are the largest bacterial contaminants that have the potential to hide smaller bacteria.

Second, it’ll go through pre-treatment, which rids your water of any minerals that could potentially damage your UV equipment, such as chlorine and sulfur.

Finally, UV light will be applied to the water. UV light destroys bacteria by demolishing the bacterial DNA structure, leaving you with pure water.

The Good News

Of course, at Watercure USA, we’re not product-first — we’re YOU-first. When you choose Watercure USA, we always start with a FREE water test to ensure the best solution to your water problem. We understand that each new customer brings a welcomed opportunity to solve a unique water problem. We take pride in designing custom, long-term solutions that provide our customers with pure, healthy water. Call 716-946-3598 to learn more about our UV-light water purification systems or other solutions we can offer your home and business.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

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INSIDE This Issue

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From Prisoner of War to a U.S. Merchant Marine, Part II

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Improve Your Day With This Simple Life Hack

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How UV Light Can Make Your Water Safer Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Pasta

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Can Mountain Air Actually Improve Your Health?

The Benefits of Spending Time in the Mountains

In the famous Swiss novel “Heidi,” a little girl recovers from her fragile health — both physically and mentally — by spending time in the mountains. There are plenty of anecdotal stories about the medicinal effects of mountain air, but how much is supported by research? Here’s what there is evidence for so far: CLEANER, POLLUTION-FREE AIR One basic but important benefit of getting to a higher altitude is the escape from city pollution. It may surprise some city dwellers that air pollution is linked to asthma attacks for those with sensitive lungs and also to more serious conditions. Research suggests that prolonged exposure to air pollution may lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other lung diseases.

even found that living at a higher elevation is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that include high blood pressure, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol.

Even more interesting, mountain air may passively improve your weight loss journey as well.

NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS One German study followed 20 obese men who lived in an environmental research station below the highest peak in the country. The subjects reached the peak effortlessly by railway or cable car, and they were allowed to eat as much as they liked. By the end of the week, however, each had lost an average of 1.5 kilograms or 3.3 pounds. Two factors are thought to have contributed to the weight loss: A naturally decreased appetite from the altitude (the men ate nearly 700 fewer calories than usual) and an increased metabolic rate. While there is still more to learn about the potential benefits of spending time in the mountains, these three studies give the greenlight for more high‑altitude adventures.

George and Zoe

Up in the mountains, you’ll likely be able to breathe a little easier.

REDUCED RISK OF OBESITY AND HEART DISEASE People who spend more time at high altitudes may also experience a decreased appetite and lower risk of obesity. One study from 2017

Veronica, Brigitte, Candace, and Jeremy

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DREW: 716-946-3598

LANCE: 716-912-9939