The Fall of the Berlin Wall. November 9, 1989. A Final Tribute to a True Hero. We again do not make any claims on the original Hogan’s Heroes characters. All other characters are ours. But again, those characters are free for anyone to use, if you so choose. (The Tender Loving Care requirement now includes the character of Hershey)

This effort contains strong language. Our rating would be PG.

Berlin, Germany -- A city divided in a country divided -- East separated from West -- The Berlin Wall constructed in 1961, further divided the city of Berlin. On November 9, 1989 the Wall fell. 28 years after its construction, the city's borders were opened. East once again met West. And then the borders that had divided the whole country were opened. The fall of the Berlin Wall signified the end of the Cold War. -- So that finally the Reunification of Germany could begin after almost 45 years.

Rear Admiral Michael Robert Hogan of the Judge Advocate General’s Corp just boarded a flight from Washington DC to Hartford CT. He had made this trip to his parent’s home many times in the past seven months. But this trip was going to be different. He couldn’t bring himself to admit that his father, Retired Major General Robert Hogan, was probably not going to live through his visit home this time. His mother’s anxious call to him this morning was enough to confirm that fear within him.

Michael Hogan glanced at the briefcase he carried with him. My father is nothing if not prepared. During all those trips home, he and his father had organized his father’s estate, updated his father's Last Will and Testament, organized all the charitable donations his father wanted to make, as well as planning his father's funeral. Nothing was being left to chance. I think he truly had enough of that in his lifetime. I also know he doesn't want mom to have to think about anything.

In addition, Michael sat with his dad while he dictated final goodbyes to those who meant the most to him. Those his father hadn’t wanted to burden with his illness. Those people -- except for my aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and own family -- were primarily my father's four longtime friends and war buddies. I guess. I could easily consider them my uncles as well, as I’ve known them all my life. They are all going to be so angry with dad. They would have all been here, every last one of them. To say goodbye, to help mom, and to be supportive. But dad doesn’t want them to worry.

Dr. Gunnar Steiger Hogan was just packing up to leave the office. He had gotten the call he'd been dreading from his mother today. His father, Major General Robert Hogan, was on his deathbed. Gunnar needed to catch a flight to Hartford CT within the hour. He needed to make sure he got there in time.

Elizabeth Anne Hogan-Walker just got off the phone with her husband Frank. She told him that she had gotten 'the call' and needed him to come home and take care of their two children, Kevin who was six and Charles who was only four. What ‘the call’ meant was that the boys’ grandfather was very near death. Major General Robert Hogan had been adamant about not wanting Kevin and Charles to know about his illness. He didn’t want them to worry about him.

Elizabeth had been running ragged since getting that call two hours ago. As a full-professor of Psychology at Brown University, she couldn't just leave without someone covering her classes. She was already on a lighter than normal schedule as she was seven months pregnant. She had just made a number of calls to the faculty staff. She had to let them know that she was going to take her maternity leave now -- starting today -- rather than two weeks from now. Her husband Frank was due home after his last class today. He would be home soon to take care of the boys. Then Elizabeth would be off, driving to Hartford to visit her father -- for the last time. - Oh Dad, I will miss you so.

All the activity and stress made Elizabeth feel a little lightheaded. God, I need to sit down. Being seven months pregnant takes a lot out of you. As she sat, Elizabeth felt the baby kick. She went to touch her stomach. Tears welled in her eyes and she began to cry. Oh Dad. I'm so sorry. You'll never get to see the new baby. I had so hoped you would. I hate to think of you not being here to see the birth of your sixth grandchild.

Vicktor Steiger Hogan just rolled out of bed. He and the members of his band -- Crossbow -- had pulled an all-nighter at the recording studio. They had been getting ready for an appearance on the Tonight Show. So, he had come home exhausted at 8:00am this morning and had gone right to sleep, never noticing the blinking red light on his answering machine.

Retired Major General Robert Hogan had just dismissed the Army nurse that had been assigned to him when his health deteriorated sufficiently to keep him bedridden. The nurse had been there 24 hours a day, everyday, for the past three weeks. Damn. I hate feeling so helpless. I’m so glad this is almost over. It won’t be long now. I can tell. My heart feels so heavy and I can’t even take a deep breath. -- I so just want to die in peace. -- I told the nurse to leave. -- I only want my family here. -- I know Michael, Gunnar and Elizabeth are on their way. -- Vicktor hasn’t answered his phone messages. -- Damn Vicktor. Please call. At least I will know that you know. -- Then I can let go. -- I really do need to touch base with you all. -- I so need to say goodbye. -- I’m so afraid that God has no desire for me in heaven. -- Not after all I’ve done. -- So, I expect that we’ll never ‘meet’ again.

Just then Beth Hogan entered the bedroom slowly, followed happily by Hershey, Rob and Beth’s ten-year-old chocolate Labrador Retriever. The Army nurse had banned poor Hershey from the bedroom. He only got to visit his ‘Dad’ when that nurse wasn’t around, which hadn’t been all that often in the past three weeks. A smile appeared on Beth’s face when she saw that her two ‘men’ were very happy to see one another. Hershey seemed to instinctively know how to be gentle. Right now Hershey had his front feet on the bed, whilst Rob was trying to avoid getting his face washed the ‘Labrador Way’.

"Rob," Beth said relieved. "I just heard from Vicktor. He’s on his way. He apologized. He said that after a long night at the studio he had come home, went to bed and never heard the phone." Beth was relieved that they had, at least, heard from Vicktor. But still she wanted to ‘throttle’ her youngest son for what he put them both through this morning. What goes around comes around with the Hogan boys, I guess. -- Children can certainly be a patience tester. -- Poor Rob -- I know he was distraught thinking that he may never get to see Vicktor before he died. -- At least Vicktor is on his way now. -- Poor Vicktor. He will never change. -- But I know Rob doesn’t want him to either.

Rob just smiled at the news. The tussle with Hershey had been enough to take his breath away. So you will all be here. Thank God. I’m so glad.

Beth had come over to the bed. She moved the pillow from behind Rob’s head and sat, using her lap to cradle his head. They both sat quietly for a few minutes while Rob’s breathing returned to normal. "I shouldn’t have let Hershey do that. I’m sorry Rob," Beth said sadly as she caressed her husband’s forehead.

Rob looked up into Beth’s eyes. He raised his right hand to stroke her cheek. "Don’t be. Hershey and I just got to say our ‘goodbyes’. That’s all." Rob comforted and then saw Beth’s face fall. He watched as she began to cry.

It was the first time during all this that Beth had let Rob see her cry. Beth started to get up. I so wanted to be strong for Rob. I can’t just fall apart. Not now.

Rob reached up with his hand and touched her face. He wanted to keep her with him, but he really wasn’t actually strong enough to stop her if she really wanted to leave. "Please stay," Rob said tears coming to his eyes as well. "I love you Beth. I so wanted to make this easier on you."

Beth stayed, repositioning herself under Rob’s head. "And I so wanted to be strong for you," she said her eyes still bright with tears.

Beth and Rob held each other for a long while. Both shedding the tears that had not come before now. Those tears would recede before their children arrived. They both needed to be strong for them.

Beth greeted her oldest son Michael at the door. "Oh Michael. I’m so glad you are here." Beth took her son into a big embrace.

Michael willingly returned the embrace and kissed his mother lightly on the cheek. "Hello Mom. How is he?" he asked nervously.

Beth broke the embrace and looked into her son’s eyes. "Be ready. Your father is very weak. But, he has been waiting for you, Michael. You need to know that he is ready to die. But that he is still completely of sound mind, so no pretending or placating. Okay?" Beth told her son. Rob won’t stand for coddling. I learned that a long time ago. Michael knows it too, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded.

"Okay," replied Michael as he headed for his father’s bedroom. He opened the door and was shocked at how his father looked. Damn. That much of a change in just two weeks. Luckily the shock never registered on his face. "Hello Dad," he said as he approached the bed. Michael took hold of his father’s proffered hand, while using his other hand to brush back the hair on his father’s forehead to give him a kiss.

"So you’re not too old to give your father a kiss. Huh Michael?" his father asked with a smirk.

"Never Dad. Never," Michael said smiling. He paused and then said, "You look like shit, you know." No coddling. But be careful how far you push. Idiot.

Rob Hogan burst out laughing or tried too. He at first couldn’t catch his breath. Rob saw Michael’s face fall. As his son started to panic, Rob held up his hand in a staying motion. It took a minute, but Rob’s breathing regulated. Rob smiled and said quickly. "Oh God Michael. It’s okay. That was the best almost-laugh I’ve had in weeks."

Michael was quiet at first and then said, "You know Dad. This hurts so badly. It would be a lot easier to pretend this isn’t happening. But I want you to know that I love you and I’m going to miss you. Kelly and Chrissie send their love too. I know you didn’t want me to tell Chrissie. But she’s a very sharp sixteen-year-old. Not much gets past her."

"You’re a good son Michael," Rob answered after a short intake of breath. "I wanted to thank you for all that you’ve done. Helping me close out my affairs. I know it had to be hard on you and for that I’m sorry. But, it would have been too hard for your mom. I love you Michael. Please make sure that Kelly and Chrissie know that I love them too."

A knock on the bedroom door interrupted them. Gunnar entered slowly. "Hey can I come in?" he asked sheepishly. "Or is this a private function?" Play it cool. Hold it together.

"So both my oldest sons think they’re comedians," Rob said smiling. "This function is open to the public."

"Hello Dad," Gunnar said and almost step-by-step repeated his older brother’s greeting. The kiss on the forehead and all. He too had been shocked by his father’s appearance. As a doctor, he knew enough not to react. Damn. Thank God, mom is playing interference. Doctor or no, I still might have just burst into tears.

"So you’re not too old to give your father a kiss. Huh Gunnar?" his father asked with a smirk.

"Never Dad. Never," Gunnar replied smiling. He tried to keep it light for his dad’s sake, but he just couldn’t. His expression turned sad. Gunnar knelt by the bed and grasped both of his father's hands in his, as if to pray. He then rested his forehead on them. "God Dad. I’m so sorry. I love you. I’m going to miss you so very much. Vicktor and I owe everything that we are today to you and mom." Gunnar smiled up at his father, trying again to infuse humor, "Although. Why you would want all the credit for Vicktor… I don’t know."

Rob smiled and extricated one his hands from his son’s grasp. He put that hand on his son’s shoulder to comfort. "Damn Gunnar. I love you too. Very much," Rob said. "But you need to realize, that you and Vicktor owe us nothing. Your mother and I always wanted to tell you how privileged we felt when you and Vicktor came into our lives. But it had always sounded, in our heads, as though we were thanking your parents for dying. And it also meant that we would be starting to distinguish between the four of you."

Rob paused to take a few short breaths and then used his hand to lift his son’s face so he could look into his eyes. "There is no difference in our feelings toward any of you. I know you know that. But, in my weeks of lying flat on my back here, I finally came up with a way to express that there is truly no difference between the four of you in our hearts. That you are all our children and that we love you all the same," Rob said pausing again taking a short breath.

"You need to hear this too Michael," Rob said glancing at his oldest son. "Your mother and I made a conscious decision to bring you Michael, and your sister Elizabeth into our lives. We never made that decision lightly." Rob then turned his gaze to his other son. "We made the same conscious decision to bring you Gunnar, and your brother Vicktor into our lives. And we never made that decision lightly either. We wanted all four of you in our lives," Rob said seriously as he looked at both of his sons.

Then after taking another short breath, he smiled and said, "The only difference that exists… is that I never had to live through your mother’s two additional pregnancies. What you probably never knew was that your father, the Major General, the Military Governor was a complete neurotic mess for those 18 months of pregnancies."

Both his sons began to laugh. Michael came over to stand behind his brother. He put his hands on Gunnar’s shoulders but addressed his dad, "Wow. That’s why Kelly and I stopped after one! I was a mess."

Gunnar turned and smirked at his brother. "I didn’t learn my lesson until after two!"

All three men were sharing a quiet smile when they heard another knock at the door. It was Elizabeth. Michael whispered ‘Frank hasn’t figured it out yet’ to his father and brother as she entered.

Elizabeth was not expecting the grins on her brother’s faces or her father’s for that matter. What were they talking about? Oh God, dad looks so thin and frail. "Hello Dad," she said as she approached the bedside. Her brothers had moved out of the way to let her sit on the bed beside her dad. Elizabeth kissed her dad on the cheek and immediately tears welled in her eyes. "I’m sorry Dad. I love you. And I so wanted to come in here and be supportive. I didn’t want to start crying," she said as tears streaked her cheeks.

Rob’s eyes became bright with tears as well. I could never handle when Liz cried. Big tough dad that I was, it got me every time. At least this time I don’t have to hide that fact. He reached up and wiped away the tears from his daughter’s cheeks. "It’s okay Liz. Really. At least you didn’t try to make corny jokes like your brothers," he said trying to lighten the mood a little. And then he changed the subject saying, "So how are you feeling? The baby must be kicking pretty hard by now." -- Oh God, I guess that was the wrong thing to say.

Elizabeth just completely broke down crying. So much so that both of her brothers came over to help console her -- and their father -- whose own eyes were also stinging with tears.

After a long moment Elizabeth said, her voice still not very steady, "Oh Dad, I’m so sorry. I so wanted you to see your new grandchild be born. Now you won’t be able too. I’m so very very sorry. I will miss you so much."

Rob was still fighting back his owns tears. He had to take a few short breaths to even begin to respond to Elizabeth. When he could he said, "Oh Liz. It’s the one thing I’ll regret most. Don’t be sorry though. Just make sure that child grows up knowing whom his or her grandfather was. That’s all I ask. Okay?"

Elizabeth could only nod. But as she looked at her dad, she saw his questioning glance at her belly. Oh no. He’s embarrassed to ask. Elizabeth smiled and took her father’s hand and placed it on her belly. It stayed there until they both felt the baby kick. After a shared smile, her father removed his hand.

Rob closed his eyes, took as deep a breath as he could and then sagged into the pillow under his head. God, I’m so tired. This has been so much harder than I expected. Vicktor please come soon. Almost before he finished that thought, Gunnar was at his side holding his wrist. Checking for a pulse. It’s still there son. It isn’t over yet. Rob opened his eyes slowly to see the distraught faces of three of his children. Damn. Is that what this whole thing is doing to them. I’m so sorry. He then saw how quickly the expressions changed to guarded sorrow, with a tinge of relief.

"Dad. Let me go get mom. Okay?" asked Michael now realizing that the time was fast approaching. Mom should be here. He started to get up and head for the door.

"No Michael," Rob said as loud as he could to stop his son. As his son turned back he said, "Your mother and I have already said our ‘goodbyes’. I wanted this time, alone with my children. Your mother understands. I only hope that Vicktor can get here before…" Rob never finished that thought, but again laid his head back on the pillow. This time not closing his eyes, trying not to cause the near panic of a moment ago.

His children let him rest. He finally was able to close his eyes. He knew Liz was still sitting on the bed holding his hand. Everyone was quiet for a long time. But then Rob heard angry whispered rumblings from the other side of the room. Gunnar and Michael.

Elizabeth saw her father open his eyes and she quickly made a shushing sound in the direction of her older brothers. They stopped their rumblings and approached their father’s bed. All three got an evil stare from their father.

Rob began in as much as a command tone as possible, which wasn’t much of one. "All right, I heard that. Knock it off. I want to see my youngest son in one piece when he gets here. Understood?" The tone at least got the point across. His sons’ faces dropped just a little. He took a breath then continued, "Alright. I know your youngest brother -- my youngest son -- isn’t the most ‘on the ball’. But his heart has always been in the right place. There’s a lot to be said for that. You three could benefit allot from his amount of heart, if you let it slip by those defenses. I’ll take the blame for those, because I spent a lot of my life building those defenses in you. Vicktor just never followed my lead. And I’m glad," Rob paused to take another breath and looked directly at his three children. "I’ve already forgiven him for being the person I could never be. You should too," Rob said almost as an order.

Rob watched as his children took the reprimand. Gunnar and Michael turned away. Elizabeth just squeezed his hand tighter. Of the three, I know Elizabeth understands Vicktor the best. I’ve always pushed the two boys way too hard. I know it’s not a bad thing to be determined and committed. It’s actually all I understood then. But I realize now, that having a free spirit isn’t a bad thing either. I wish I could have taught them all how to balance both equally.

It was then, that the door to the bedroom flew open and Vicktor burst in. Everyone was startled. For a woman seven months pregnant… she moves quickly, thought her father as Elizabeth jumped out of the way as Vicktor rushed to his father’s bedside.

Vicktor knelt down and grabbed his father’s hand. There were standing tears already in his eyes. He kissed his father’s hand slightly. "God Dad. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I wanted to be here for you. I’m going to miss you so much. I was so worried I wouldn't get here in time to say goodbye. I never wanted you to think that I would desert you -- now especially," Vicktor spouted nervously.

Rob smiled at his youngest son and said, "Vicktor. It’s okay. Just your being here now is enough… I love you too son. Don’t worry. I never would have thought that you deserted me. I just so wanted to see your face before I died. And now I have."

Vicktor sighed and tried to smile slightly. He continued to hold his father’s hand.

Rob turned to all of them and said. "I wanted to wait until all of you were here. I have one thing to ask of you all. I would hope that I would never have to ask this question of you. I know in my heart that each of you would follow through. But the Major General in me needs to make sure." Rob continued after a breath, "I want you each to promise me that you will take care of your mother. We’ve been married 44 years. It will be the first time she’s alone. I’m not sure how I would have dealt with it if your mother had died first. So I’m worried for your mom." Again he paused to take a breath. "Actually, she’s so much stronger than I ever was. She’ll probably be just fine. But I just want to know that you’ll be there for her."

There was a sudden burst of loud talking as Rob’s children expressed his or her promise to their father. Only thing was that they were all talking at the same time. Rob just smiled and said, "Okay. I’ll take that as a yes." Everyone stopped talking as their father’s head sagged into the pillow. Rob sighed but continued to smile at his children. God I’m tired.

Everyone was quiet for a long moment. Soon they all began talking softly and reminiscing. As time passed, all four children noticed that their father’s whole manner had gradually changed. He wasn’t joining in the conversation anymore, just listening. His whole body had become very relaxed. His breathing had gotten so soft, that you couldn’t hear it anymore. -- He was just waiting to die.

The solemnity was broken as their mother came into the room very excited. "Michael. Turn on the television." She immediately went to Rob’s side. "Rob you need to see this," she said as she sat to cradle her husband’s head in her lap. She then grasped his hand tightly and kissed him on the forehead. "You’re going to be so happy."

It took Rob a minute to focus on what Beth said. His eyes drifted to where Michael was fiddling with the television, but he still hadn’t completely grasped what was going on. When the television came on, he heard his four children gasp in astonishment. They had all moved closer to the television, but made sure their father could still see. Then they all started talking at once very excitedly.

"God Dad. It’s coming down," Michael said excitedly, with a quick glance at his father and then back to the television.

"All you’ve worked for Dad. It’s finally here," Gunnar continued, touching his father lightly on his leg, as he continued to watch the television.

"Damn. The borders are open!" Vicktor said unable to contain his excitement.

"Reunification can’t be too far away," Elizabeth said with a smile, almost relieved.

Rob tried to focus hard on the television, but the only thing he made out clearly was his wife’s voice in his ear. "Rob. It’s all that you’ve worked for. It’s beginning. The Berlin Wall is coming down. And the borders are opening throughout Germany. They are talking reunification." Rob smiled up at his wife and he grasped her hand tightly. Then he took a final look at his four children whose eyes were still glued to the television. He smiled once more at Beth. Then content, Robert Hogan closed his eyes for the very last time.

Beth tried to choke back the tears, but in trying, a heavy intake of breath occurred. Almost immediately her children’s attention was drawn to her and then to their father. They knew instinctively that he was gone. Each came to console their mother and give a final goodbye to their father.

Vicktor was the one to ask the question they all wanted answered. "Mom. Did Dad see what was happening? Did he understand? If he could have died knowing that all he worked for was coming true. It would make this awful day -- somehow survivable. Did Dad really understand?"

Beth smiled at her four children. "He understood. Believe me, he understood."

Beth was waiting on the entire Hogan clan to arrive for Christmas Eve. Michael and his family, Gunnar and his family, Elizabeth and her family, and Vicktor would arrive shortly. They had all planned on being here. But when I received four packages special delivery from Alfred Shultz and the Schatze Toy Company with a note explaining that each package was for my children and their families, I called each of them to make sure they were coming.

Beth sat quietly waiting. She stared at the boxes and started to cry. It’s only been six weeks since you’ve been gone Rob. All at once, it feels -- so long ago -- and just like yesterday. I miss you so. But this past six weeks has also been special for me. So many of your friends and family have been by my side, supporting the children and me. It’s been so wonderful...

The doorbell interrupted Beth. It was Vicktor. She smiled at her youngest son. He’d been early or at least on time for every function since his father died. Within minutes though, a steady stream of people started to show up. Beth had not told any of them about the packages from Alfred. She wanted to surprise them. So they had their traditional Christmas Eve celebration.

When everyone began to settle after all the food and festivity. She brought out the four packages and read the letter from Alfred to everyone. She gave the four packages to each of her children. Each package had a note attached that was not to be read until after the gift was opened. One by one out of the packages came -- teddy bears. But not just any teddy bears. These teddy bears were dressed in miniature US Army Air Corp bomber jackets and each had on a tiny Colonel’s cap. ‘Papa Bear’ was stitched onto each jacket pocket. And each was holding a piece of stone. Almost without opening the notes that came with the bears, everyone knew where the stones came from.

But for those skeptical in the group, the notes were read.

Each teddy bear carried a piece of stone from the Berlin Wall.

A Final Tribute to a True Hero