On Saturday May 12 2001. My friend and comrade Franz-Josef Hawran-exmember of the Kriegsmarine in ww2, passed away. He was a very nice man who served on the U-boats in ww2. Franz-Josef was an NCO while serving with the U-boats.
He will be sorely missed by his family and his comrades. It an old tradition dating back several hundreds of years, is how his burial will take place. He is going to be buried at sea on Friday May 18th 2001 at 3:00 PM.
This man was someone who you would easily like the moment you would meet him. I am truly sorry that I never saw him in person but was lucky enough to send and recieve letters to and from.
There are now only 10 men of U 181s original crew who are still living. There are two new additions to their crew living as well.
With special thanks to his grandson Daniel, who was very kind for sending me a photo of his Opa in uniform, manning an MG-34 on the conning tower of U 181.
He will now be in much better company including shipmates Josef Dick, and Johann Limbach.
Thanks for leting me speak my piece.
[ 17 May 2001: Message edited by: C.Evans ]