HEROES: Happy Ending

When they got back to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1945, Major Hans George Hornbostel was 64, his wife Gertrude was 54. World War II had treated them cruelly. Major Hornbostel, an ex-Marine officer who had been commissioned by the Army when war broke out, had fought on Bataan, had endured the infamous Death March and spent years in prison. Gertrude had spent three years as a prisoner in Manila amid the dreary terrors of Santo Tomas.

In San Francisco fate struck another terrible blow. Doctors found that Gertrude Hornbostel had contracted leprosy. Except for World War II, the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!