13 Forgotten

By Gregory Quinn

Thirteen Jews, stowaways, made it to the coast of America only to be caught. They sat together on the deck of the old ship, land of the free in sight, knowing they would be sent back to communist Russia.

What would be waiting for them there? If they were lucky, a quick execution, probably ending up in a gulag, and working to the death.

Maybe, possibly, they could escape again. What would be the outcome? Execution? Drowning, prison? Nobody knew. One thing is for sure, they were not about to give up.

Two choices--escape or death!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662429613

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13 Forgotten

Gregory Quinn

Copyright © 2022 Gregory Quinn

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

Most of the names of people in this book are fictitious and do not refer to any actual person or persons.

ISBN 978-1-6624-2960-6 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88654-828-0 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-2961-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

About the Author

For my Sister

Diana Gail

Sis

When I needed someone to listen

You were there

When I needed advice

You were there

When I needed help

You were there

When I needed a hug

You were there

You're leaving broke my heart

I will never forget

My Wife

This project would not have been completed without you! Thanks for your guidance and for having confidence in me. I thank God every day for having you in my life!

Thanks, My Love

Chapter 1

Seventeen-year-old Bill Taylor was going through two huge events in his life, graduation and a birthday.

For three years now, Bill was itching to get into the war. Most of his friends had joined and gone overseas. Bill made a promise to his mother that he would graduate from high school before he enlists.

Bill was worried. He feared the end of the war is near and he won't get his chance to serve his country. Bill had his mind made up. A day after graduation, he was joining the navy; although he had never seen the ocean, even at an early age, Bill knew someday he would sail the seas.

The night before Bill left for the navy, his thoughts were on one thing only, his older brother, Tim.

Tim Taylor was the pride of Howard County, a star athlete, who led his high school in basketball, football, track, and wrestling. When it came to sporting events, Tim Taylor usually dominated. He stood six foot three and weighed one hundred and ninety pounds.

Growing up on a working farm, Tim was used to hard work. He was extremely strong and could run like the wind, but his strongest attribute was his intelligence. He was smart and used that to his advantage.

Tim was a spiritual man. Every Sunday you would find him at church. He would never miss a service.

If anybody in the community needed help, they knew Tim would be there.

Almost everyone in the county knew him and admired him.

His last year in high school was magical—the conference champ in football and track, regional champ in basketball, and runner-up to the state champion in wrestling.

All the girls in high school wanted to date him, but he had eyes for one only and that would be Katie, if you've seen them together, you knew immediately that someday they would be married and have a family.

The plans they made together changed on December 7, 1941. Tim decided right away that he would enlist in the Marines.

Day one found Tim at the Marine Corps recruit depot in San Diego, California. The first stop was the sick bay where nurses and doctors were waiting, inoculations, drawing blood and eye exams, a total physical.

Day two and off to administration, dog tags, ID card, service record books, and all-important service number; then off to the barber. Tim sat on the chair and watched his blonde hair fall to the floor. He couldn't believe how short they cut it, shaved was more like it.

They received their first issue of clothing and gear, new rifle, and personal items. They formed into platoons of between forty-eight and sixty recruits and then met their drill instructor.

The men stood at attention, frozen as the drill instructor walked back and forth looking over the men.

The drill instructor was a big redhead with piercing eyes. He had a permanent scowl on his face. His name was Sergeant. Jerry Sanders.

Tim thought he had to be the meanest, the foulest, and the most abusive man on the planet, and when he addressed the recruits, Tim knew he was right about the man.

The men stood at attention, frozen, waiting on the drill instructor to speak.

What a bunch of ugly, stupid-looking goddamn son of a bitches! Might be the biggest pile of puke I've ever seen! There is no way you goddamn sons of bitches belong in my beloved corps! I will break you! I will make you quit! It's my job to make sure you little girls are never marine!

Tim, standing at attention, used all the self-control he had, trying not to laugh as the drill instructor took turns humiliating the new recruits. Almost all of the troops were scared shitless of the Drill Sergeant. Tim thought he was hilarious.

Under the leadership of the Drill Sergeant, the platoon learned close-order drills, customs of the service, military courtesy, and entirely too much time on venereal disease prevention and a few hundred more different subjects. Most of these regulations were passed on by word of mouth. Nothing seemed too small or trivial for the Drill Sergeant, and he missed nothing.

Lessons of teamwork, attention to detail, and discipline were drilled into each recruit—sweat, dripping off their bodies, marching mile after mile under the ever-watchful eyes of Sergeant. Jerry Sanders. Soon civilian life ended, and Marine life began. The important weeks of recruit training came when the platoon traveled to the rifle range.

Chapter 2

Tim grew up in rural Missouri. Hunting wasn't a sport, it was a necessity. Hunting and shooting was another skill that Tim possessed.

He was by far the best shooter in his company. He had by far the highest score on the range.

Upon graduation, Tim was given the option of staying there and teaching new recruits how to shoot, but Tim didn't enlist to teach, he joined to fight.

Tim, with ten days of leave, couldn't wait to get home. When the bus stopped in Downtown, Glasgow, Tim was surprised. His whole family and at least half the town were there waiting, and when he exited the bus, there was a huge cheer. Tim was surprised and was not expecting anything like this.

They treated him like a returning hero, but the only thing he had accomplished was graduating from basic training.

Tim walked through the crowd, giving out handshakes and hugs, thanking everyone for the well-wishes. When he finally made it to the end of the crowd, there was Katie, with a big grin, standing next to her father's car. He gave her a quick hug. They jumped in the car and waved to the crowd, and they were gone.

Tim and Katie had a special place where they spent many hours there—a secluded place by the Missouri River. It was the first place and time they made love, and there was no stopping the young couple