Re: [Leica] Leitz and World War 1

[LP6@aol.com]

Alan:

1.  Your WWI comments are interesting.  I worked at a Department of Veteran's 
Affairs Medical Center treating WWII veterans for many years along with a 
Manhattan private practice.  

2.  In the course of my "tour of duty", in the above regard,  I' have 
developed a great interest in WWII and in the questions of courage and deeply 
felt emotions in the face of battle... that you refer to.  In this work I 
have not held a camera in my hand.

3.  I've had to treat the disintegration (which admits to degree) of 
personalities falling outside the range of  "what doesn't kill me makes me 
stronger"!  (The "formula" doesn't always work!)

4.  More recently, camera in hand, I have visited some WWII sites in Germany, 
including a memorable stay at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, and we all know 
where that is!   Here I had the pleasure of meeting, off duty, two American 
air force veterans with their wives:  two sisters!

5.  We got talking about our recent tour in the near by mountains and I 
shared with them something personal; namely, my research project that now 
takes so much of my time:  namely, that of writing of a book on the 
scientific study of values, valuation and morals. 

6.  I noted how my travel and photography in Asia and Europe has helped me to 
capture a "sense" of the many WWII stories I have heard from my former 
patients over nearly 30 years.  How such travel helps me relive, in part, the 
War and the distortion of human values taking place on all sides throughout 
that tumultuous period.

7.  Later, as I left this historic hotel one of them shouted after-me very 
vigorously-"and be sure to write that book"....for, he strongly held to the 
view that our general capacity to value (our "value vision") is tragically 
flawed then, and... now!  

8. I have seen many photographic images of WWII  "situations"; and, such 
images help me recapture the "voltage", and "scale" of "man's inhumanity to 
man" (without gender correction) and your sensitive remarks have refocused me 
on WWI, as well, and for that I thank you!   

Leon
LP6@aol.com