December 16, 1941: They Have Destroyed

Letter to the Editor in Kansas Collegiate by Opa

Transcription:

The Collegian's Student Forum 

Dear Editor:

A fair criticism was made in this column last week. A statement is worthless if it is not backed up by a personality. However, it is certainly easier to take your stand under your own colors if your ideas are as popular as the belief in war seems to be today, than if you belong to a small minority which is looked down upon.

In order to satisfy our critic's requirements, I shall introduce myself. I am a refugee student from Germany, who came to this country two years ago, because I did not believe in the military system in Germany nor anywhere else. I do not know what reasons the young lady who was mentioned in last weeks article, based her convictions on, but I do agree with her in one thing: I, too, am opposed to war. I have all reasons to dislike Hitler and everybody in his gang. For they have destroyed not only my family life, but also the honor and reputation of country. As important as it might seem to defeat Hitler, a more important job is to defeat the misconception that international problems can be solved by force. A defeat of Hitler by means of force is only going to cause new hatred, new feelings of revenge and eventually, a new Hitler, as much as the defeat of Kaiser Wilhem II caused the present Hitler.

Analogies work only to a small extent, thus I prefer to answer on the analogy of the pepper thrower with the real thing. There is absolutely no use in "fighting back." This is only going to cause the other fellow, the other party, the other country or whatever it is, to take the first chance to reply with even more drastic means, which will have the same effect on your action. Thus things turn into a continuous process of stronger and more extensive armament, which no defeat and no peace treaty will be able to stop permanently. Instead, let us take a lesson from history, which showed us that defeat of a dictator or a tyrant causes a new dictatorship, which grows out of those who first fought against the dictator. The French Revolution, fought against the autocracy of the Bourbons, caused Napoleon. The Prussians, after defeating Napoleon, started the Prussian militarism. Or, let us take more modern times: The Russian farmers and laborers in 1917 got rid of their Tsar, only to create a dictatorship even worse than that under the Tsar: Bolshevism! Let us learn something from these historical facts and turn to a new way, a way worth taking by men, the way of reconciliation and understanding. Now, since it is too late to stop this war, let us get prepared to avoid a next war by applying to the relations between nations those ethical and moral principles and standards which Christians strive after in their personal relationships: the principles of humility, helpfulness, truth, and love!

Thomas W. Doeppner

I am in awe of Opa's pacifist stance, especially in light of his background. He said it best himself: 

I have all reasons to dislike Hitler and everybody in his gang. For they have destroyed not only my family life, but also the honor and reputation of country.

Hitler and his followers have absolutely destroyed - to ripple effect- generations of families. Opa's hope is that humanity can rise to a new standard, a new way of being that no longer uses force in response, but creates a new process for peace.

He has some good arguments, that often the fall of one power by force creates space for another power of equal or greater oppression to fill. This is not new information, but we do often fail to remember it when we are angry and in hopes to retaliate a wrong done against us. We think that we can subdue with fear, when fear almost always creates a vacuum for revolt and abuse of power. 

I appreciate that Opa recognizes that now that the US is at war, the focus must shift. 

I do think that whether someone is a strict pacifist or a fervent believer in Just War, that most logical people can agree that war is not something we should strive for. 

It is hard though, because we are such a broken world, with such complicated and messy webs of conflict, it seems it is impossible to achieve what we fantasize as "world peace." However, I hang my hat on Opa's conclusion, that the least we can do is try with "the principles of humility, helpfulness, truth, and love!"

December 16, 1941: Be Merry

Article in Kansas State Collegiate (College Newspaper)

Transcription:

Churches Start Christmas Fetes

Methodists Will Mend Toys for Needy Children

With Christmas coming so soon, church groups are planning various activities in keeping with the season.

"Santa's Toy Shop" is the theme of the Methodist party Saturday night at 7:30. Old toys will be mended, and refreshments will be served. The annual Christmas dinner will be Sunday evening at Fellowship Cafeteria, in charge Ellen Krippen and Tom Doeppner. Phil Meyers and Jean Alford will lead the games. At Wesley league the subject, "Idiosyncrasies of the Bible," will be discussed by Harold Fox, Herbert Michael, Bob Singleton and Bob Leonard. At church school Sunday morning at 9:45, Margaret Collins will give a vocal solo, with Elaine Rohrer at the organ.

Opa has become an active participant in the Wesley Fellowship- a Methodist organization on campus. He continues to jump in to groups head first, looking for places to have intelligent conversation and make some sort of dent in the problems of the world. 

Pearl Harbor is behind them, Christmas is in front. Does Opa feel light years away from his time in Berlin? I can't help but think he does. I appreciate that he keeps plodding ahead, connecting with this peers, doing what he can to help others. It reminds me of the ecclesiastical saying to "eat, drink, and merry" even in the tough times.

December 15, 1941: Visa Update

Letter from Byron Uhl of INS to Opa

Transcription:

U.S. Department of Justice 
Immigration and Naturalization
Ellis Island, New York Harbor, N.Y.

December 15, 1941

Mr. Thomas Walter Doeppner
Kansas State College,
Manhattan,
Kansas.

Dear Sir:

Replying to your letter of December 4th, I suggest you wait until about January 15th before making application for further extension.

If your status is not changed, application should be made to this office as before. If it is changed to that of a student, applications will have to be made direct to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Washington, D.C.

Very Truly yours,

Byron H. Uhl
District Director
New York District

Another correspondence to remind us that Opa is never really able to relax in his status as a visitor of the US. The positive thing about this note from Byron Uhl is that he seems to be open to the idea that Opa's status could be changed to that of a Student visa. No idea why this is all of a sudden feasible when it wasn't before. But Opa is staying on top of it, because now he really has no place to go- he must stay in the US.

December 12, 1941: USA at War

Diary Entry from Herb Michael (Opa's roommate)

Transcription:

Friday, December 12, 1941

346th Day - 19 Days to Follow

The U.S. has declared war on Germany and Italy.

Tom remarked after our "foodless banquet" (F.O.R. fast) tonight that it seemed so useless.

It does in a way and yet to me, I think that there is more of a feeling that now, more than ever, we pacifists must stand up for what we think is right. 

Herb and Opa are continuing their fast for the Fellowship of reconciliation. A fast to raise funds for their pacifist club and to bring awareness to pacifism. On this day they skip a meal for pacifism. The US declares war on Germany and Italy. Opa echoes my feelings exactly: it seems so useless. What do you do when the thing you are fighting against is inevitable? 

I admire Herb's stand, that now is an especially good time to stand up for what they think is right. However, I think Opa's thoughts open up a better question: what is useful now? 

When war is a reality, peace must change strategy. Opa is thinking less globally at this moment probably more specifically about his family and friends. How can he help them, now?

December 8, 1941: World Keeps Turning

Letter from Office of Registrar to INS 

Transcription:

Kansas State College

of Agriculture and Applied Science

Manhattan

Office of the Registrar    December 8, 1941

                          Refer to File No.

                          99503/254

Mr. William H. Marshall

Assistant District Director

New York District

U.S. Department of Justice

Immigration & Naturalization Service

Ellis Island, New York

My dear Mr. Marshall:

This is to certify that Thomas Walter Doeppner matriculated at Kansas State College September 8, 1941, and is enrolled as a junior student in the Division of Engineering and Architecture, curriculum in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Doeppner is assigned 17 semester hours of college work.

Yours very sincerely,

(Miss) Jessie McDowell Machir,

Registrar.

This goes to show that even in war time, in the aftermath of an attack on American soil, everyday life must continue. Opa gets his letter from the registrar to prove to the INS that he is in fact a full time student. He's taking 17 hours, likely most of those classes are engineering classes. That is a really full load! Hopefully he will be considered for and finally get that student visa he's been hoping for.

December 7 & 8, 1941: Pearl Harbor

Diary Entry from Herb Michael (Opa's roommate)

Transcription:

Sunday, December 7, 1941

341st Day - 24 Days to Follow

Tom was to have charge of Cafeteria tonight with Ellen Crippen. Lee and I helped, but I was late in getting down because of the League program.

When I came in, Tom said, "Did you know that the japs have bombed Hawaii?"

The Japs bombing Hawaii. It seemed so incredible.

But Rog's radio, adding its bit to the kitchen noise, confirmed the news as occasional flashes came through.

Japan attacking the U.S. 

Diary Entry from Herb Michael (Opa's roommate)

Transcription:

Monday, December 8, 1941

342nd Day - 23 Days to Follow

Snowed under again: When I get time I'm going to write something about the U.S. - Japanese war.

Tom has stayed home from school and from work today to write letters. He expects the mail to and from Germany to be closed very soon.

It has happened. The day which will live in infamy. The date that we knew as history students was coming for the Americans- forcing them to make a decision to go to war, when really they had been leaning towards it for a year or more. 

I cringe at the vernacular "Japs" - which may not have been so negatively viewed at the time, but holds a pretty negative vibe now in retrospect. Either way- the shock of the attack is felt in the diary entry as Herb tries to process it. He even writes it out to see it "U.S. - Japanese war" but can't write about it just yet in his shock.

Then we hear about Opa: he takes the whole day off school and work to write letters. He knows. War is coming, and all communication may soon be cut off completely. I can picture him sitting at his desk, feverishly writing all day long. Are his relatives doing the same with the same news? A letter to Patti perhaps, a letter to Gisela and Anni, a letter to his Dad maybe? I know he made sure he wrote his mother. What did he say? What would I say in a letter to my family, if I wasn't sure if they would have a chance to get another one again? 

I would tell them I love them. I would list the reasons why I am grateful for them. I would tell them to keep positive, to hope, to hold on until we can see each other again. I would tell them I am good, safe, with good opportunities that I won't neglect. I don't know, how do you say goodbye without saying goodbye? How do you make sure your love is felt without sounding like you're writing a eulogy? I think you just don't care at this point and you tell them "thank you, I love you." 

December 1 & 4, 1941: Rebuttal

Letter from WM H. Marshall of INS to Opa

 Transcription:

U.S. Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Ellis Island, New York Harbor, N.Y.
December 1, 1941

Mr. Thomas Walter Doeppner,
R.F.D. #1,
McPherson, Kansas

Dear Sir:

The Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., has granted you an extension to February 1, 1942. During this time please submit a certificate from the proper official of the college which you are attending to the effect that you are enrolled in full time day classes, if this is a fact. When this has been received, consideration will be given to changing your status to that of a 4(E) student. 

Please submit this certification as promptly as possible.

Very truly yours,

WM. H. Marshall
Asst. District Director
New York District

Letter from Opa to Annelise Thieman of AFSC

Transcription:

Manhattan, 12/4/41

Miss Annelise Thieman

American Friends Service Committee

20 S. 12th St.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Miss Thieman:

Today I received a letter from the Dept. of Justice, in which they granted me an extension to February 1, 1941, and said that a change of my status to that of a 4(E) student will be considered as soon as they have a statement of the college that I am fully enrolled. I arranged for this statement immediately. I am rather pleased with this development, for I know that nothing can be done at this time about my immigration matters.

I may not have expressed myself clearly in my last letter to you. I did not refuse to register for military service, I simply answered the question whether I am conscientiously opposed to war with "yes," and I would assume that you as a Quaker can understand that I could not do differently and still be honest to myself..

About my mother's matters: I am still trying to raise money for the Cuba affair, but because of the uncertainty involved, nobody wants to help. I wrote my mother that I am still working on "certain plans," but I myself have just about given up hope to get her out before this war is over.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Doeppner.

Well, Opa gets his rebuttal. Let's start with that and go back to the main part after. I love the way he sort of starts with the classic debate technique of "Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, or else you'd understand." He rewords her original argument that he refused service when no one asked him to serve. He says that instead, what he did was answer a question honestly: are you opposed to war?- Yes. Then he tells Annelise he assumes that she as a Quaker would understand his need to answer honestly in opposition to war. (Quakers are historically theological pacifists.) Now- Opa didn't see the memos in response to his last question asking their opinion when it became clear that they were not all Quakers. However, I do think if he did see the memos he would have been even more irked as they didn't end up giving him any advice other than to do what he felt was right- and then Annelise chastised him for what he chose to do. I'm curious if Annelise will respond to this argument of Opa's.

Ok so to the main point of the letters: Opa's temporary visa has been extended to February 1, 1942 (Opa misquoted in his letter 1941)! This is great news- also the fact that Opa might be considered for a student visa, which would extend his approved times further and provide the ability to work in a steady job (I believe). So this is an exciting possibility for Opa to have more stability and less paperwork.

Opa's final remarks are sad, and go to confirm the feeling I have had over the last several letters and news about Ella's situation..."I myself have just about given up hope to get her out before this war is over."