Book Review - Hunting Eichmann

"Hunting Eichmann" is written by Neal Bascomb. It is non fiction released in 2010, recounting how Israeli agents took down one of the most notorious Nazi war criminals. This book is awesome. The story is great and the author does a great job telling it. His extensive research is easy to see as the story comes alive from so many different vantage points.

Plot: The story picks up with Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann in the last few months of WWII. Eichmann was essentially the architect of the final solution of the "Jewish question" in the Third Reich. At the fall of the German empire, Eichmann is amazed and disappointed at many of his colleagues surrender. Eichmann has in mind that the SS should reorganize and hold the last line of defense. With the knowledge of Hitler's death and direct commands to surrender he goes into hiding.

He eventually moves to Austria under a new identity and becomes a logger for about five years. After this time, with the help of some former Nazis as well as a Bishop in the Catholic church he gets a new identity and moves to Argentina. The Argentine government at this time was full of Nazi sympathizers. He even takes the risk to contact his wife and children and they move to Argentina with him, and for almost ten more years Mr. Eichmann evades discovery and even holds down a job at a Mercedes Benz plant outside Buenos Aires.

The story of how his identity is discovered, then the meticulous plan by Mossad Agents to capture him are the highlights of the book. It all starts when one of Eichmann's sons is visiting his girlfriend's parents house in Buenos Aires for dinner. Embarrassed perhaps by his father's factory job, he tells his girlfriend's father (who is a judge) of how is father was a high ranking officer in the Third Reich. Little did he know that the German ex-patriot he was talking to was half Jewish. This got the ball rolling for Eichmann's eventual capture. The Argentine government did not know of the events until Eichmann was already captured and flown to Israel. The success of the events of his capture is a testament to proper planning and flawless performance by the Israeli agents.

In the writing of this book, Bascomb unearthed several documents that were previously undiscovered, namely the fake passport that Eichmann used to gain entrance into Argentina in 1950. Again, I will say this book is awesome! The author really takes the reader into the adventure. The fairness with which the Israeli agents treat Eichmann after his capture is inspiring. I will be surprised if it is not made into a movie in the near future.

In Memory of John Wooden

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." -- John Wooden (October 1910-June 2010)

Big Trip - Prineville, OR to Home!

This is the final installment of pics from our big trip this summer!
Dan kickin' back and discussing trains with Great Gpa Hagen in Prineville, OR

Aunt Kimberly and family came to visit (w/ cousins Matthew and James)

Family shot with the Greats' Hagen (Ken and Betty)

A super camping spot: Wildcat campground in Oregon

We stopped and visited one of Jamie's friends from Med school and his family in Idaho Falls, ID. Ben got a pony ride at their ranch.

Grand Teton National Park

Jackson, WY

Checking out the main gun of the USS South Dakota in Sioux Falls, SD. South Dakota was engaged in 13 battles in WWII and even survived a 550lb bomb dropped on the main deck. She was retired in 1947.

Dan w/ Great Gma Buller in Redwood Falls, MN.

Family shot with the Greats' Buller (Menno and Rose)

Big Trip Leg 2 - Creston, CA to Eugene, OR

Family pic with Grandpa and Grandma Mollett.

Boys with Uncle Ray, Aunt Connie, Jeremy and Heather.

We met Aunt Patty for lunch and some relaxing in the sun. Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco.

"Look Mom, Look Dad!...Alcatraz!"

This tree was over 300 years old when Jesus was born. And we drove thru it! Why?, well it was a 70's and 80's fad but the hole is still there, so why not!

Avenue of the Giants, Redwood National Park

Action Shot - Countless Rocks, a lighthouse, a few gallons of water, that's just a lot of fun Calif North coast near the Oregon border.

This is southern Oregon. Where is my kayak?

We spent the night with Uncle Ron and Aunt Marg in Eugene, OR. They have a very cool back yard.

Arts and crafts time with Uncle Ron and Aunt Marg.

Big Trip Leg 1

From May 29th to June 16th this summer, my family took a mega trip out west. We planned to visit all of Jamie and my seven living Grandparents and several National parks. It was a good trip. I will post a photo chronicle of the trip in three installments. This is the first.This is how we roll! Taking a break at a city park in Colby, KS. Notice the Big Wheel strapped on the back, very cool.

We spent the night with friends, Kris and Lori Bockting in Parker, CO.

Taking an evening hike near where we camped in Sylvan Lake State Park, Colorado

Isaac and I took a nice hike in Arches National Park, Utah. We stayed at a nice campground in Moab, UT near the entrance of the park.

The wildlife museum in our hotel, Majestic View Lodge. Springdale, UT.

I have a feeling I will return here someday soon for a backpack; taking in the beauty at Zion National Park

We enjoyed a wholesome dinner and fun at this restaurant in rural California. An added bonus was that a train flew by every several minutes.

Big 12

The conference expansion talk of college sports has really become a bur in my saddle; and my beloved Mizzou seems to be front and center in the wanna-be-drama. We are like one of the five virgins who ran out of oil, luckily we have been thrown a life line and will still survive in a slimmed down Big 12 conference. As my post from last fall put it, the leadership at Mizzou and the governor of Missouri had no business talking (or failing to squall the talk) about Mizzou switching to the Big 10. Writing this down just feels good, it's like therapy, so I am going to keep going. Thanks to our leadership, we are the married woman who went to the bar with the mini skirt on and the cleavage showing. But the gentleman at the bar left and went home to our family and married one of our sisters while we were away. And now all we have to show for it is clothes that smell like cigarettes and an ATM card that was maxed out from buying shots all night long (our buyout money goes to the already fat wallet South).

As Joe Walljasper from the Columbia Daily Tribune puts it "Clearly, this is confusing..........In six months, the idea of Missouri leaving the Big 12 for the Big Ten went from possibility to probability to certainty to oops. "..................."That won’t help Missouri’s new image, perhaps best summed up by cantankerous Oklahoma State sugar daddy T. Boone Pickens: 'I want them to shut up about trying to figure out someplace to go.'"

Thank you Mr. Pickens, I hope our leadership is listening.
Of course, the past is the past and things have a way of being forgotten. Now the Big 12 will be down to 11 and 10 in the next few years. The basketball Big 12 is actually now stronger. All teams will play on each other's home court and have we arguably lost the two worst teams. There is no denying that Big 12 football without Nebraska is at a loss a little, but the championship game is gone which most are in favor of.
There are two things that I think Mizzou is capable of and should do in the final year all members of the Big 12 are present: Win the conference football and basketball championship. What you say?? Not possible? Well, basketball is probably more likely, perhaps even probable odds-wise, but how about the football team come out and beat expectations. We arguably have the best QB in the league coming back. Maybe we can run it a little in the first half so we can open up the lanes a little. We'll see. M--I--Z

My family is on day 15 of a 19 day trip. Some have said we are awesome, some have said we are crazy to take such a long trip. However full your cup runneth though, there is no denying that day 15 has been a good one. The picture above shows the Grand Tetons at sunset. This is where we are, this is where we rest. The black lava rock formations still with pristine white snow in June, and beautiful green valleys below; God spared no expense when He created the Tetons.

On the general itinerary I had camping as the plan for tonight, but a 50% chance of thunderstorms pushed us to decide to "hotel it." The boys had three hours today playing with the four young kids of one Jamie's friends from Med school this afternoon. Their family lives in Idaho Falls, ID and we also went out and visited their ranch today. And now we are at the Teton Springs Lodge and Spa in Victor, ID. It was a gem of a find and a small upgrade at check-in has us in a full condo. Not bad, not bad.