In the summer of 1939 a brilliant high school graduate, Ted Sharron, from Tyler, Texas is taken to Poland by his uncle's fiancée, Chris Goldman, a child protégé. Ted is tutored by her as she has many secrets to learning. Ted's uncle, Aaron Jacobs, and his fiancée, Chris, had just finished their residency at New York General Hospital. Aaron takes them to their ship then leaves to give a dissertation at a medical conference. He is to follow in September. Once aboard the ship Ted discovers he has his uncle's suitcase instead of his own and must assume his uncle's identity. Germany invades Poland September 3, 1939. Ted and Chris are stranded and Aaron's trip to England is canceled. Ted is sent to a work camp in Germany, but is told by Chris to try to reach Berlin and to the medical school she graduated from. Ted makes a miraculous escape and makes his way to Berlin. There, he must assume his uncle's name as the German authorities are looking for him under his name. Ted is tutored by Chris and using his uncle's medical license becomes a doctor by working with Chris. Ted's stay in Germany is filled with intrigue and action as He is connected with the German resistance movement. His skilled hands are noted by the most noted plastic surgeon in Europe, Dr. Von Claus, and is brought under his wing where Ted makes his mark. The book laces a poignant love story with action and intrigue as both Ted and Chris make their way through World War Two.
A Doctor by War
By William J. PostAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 William J. Post
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4520-2111-9 Chapter One
A DOCTOR BY WAR
Cora Allen yelled, "Stay down, Ted!"
However, Ted Sharron rolled over on his stomach as the crowd around him yelled. He made it to his hands and knees and Fred Hicks kicked him in the ribs, hard. All the air left Ted's lungs and he went down onto his stomach again. He tried to get up, but his body just would not do what his head was telling it.
Usually, these fights occurred once a week, always with the same three boys who seemed to alternate fighting him. Fred Hicks was the biggest. He out weighed Ted by twenty-five pounds and was at least six inches taller than Ted's five feet two, one hundred and five pound body.
As the crowd dispersed Cora helped Ted to his knees and then pulled him up. His face was bloody, but he said, "I cut him a couple of times, Cora. I know I busted his lip good. I guess that's why he kicked me. His old man will ask him who kicked his butt, so he'll get it from his old man, too. That gives me a little satisfaction."
Cora said, "I can't stand to see you beaten so badly. Why must you try?"
"I can't let them ridicule me constantly without doing something about it. I just hope I will start growing. If I could just gain about twenty pounds I know I could take them. When I do, this will stop."
"What they say is true, Ted. You are as pretty as a girl and they're jealous of how smart you are, too."
I wish Fred hadn't marked my face. Dad will be livid again. It's all I can do to keep him from going over to their houses when I come in marked-up. Thank goodness he has respected my wishes thus far. I swear Dad hurts more over these fights than I do. He loves me so much that he can't stand to see them whip me. It's not that bad though, I get my licks in and that's enough until I can get bigger."
Just as Ted had predicted, when Ralph Sharron saw his son all the color left his face and he went white hot. Laura, Ted's Mother, kept her own counsel, but it hurt her dearly to see Ted beat-up again.
Ralph said, "I swear I'm going to do something about this. I won't interfere in your affairs out of respect for you, Ted, but I'm going to come up with something by God."
Laura said, "Please Ralph, don't blaspheme the Lord's name. I have prayed constantly about this. The Lord will give us direction. I know He will."
"You're right Laura, cursing will not help the situation, I'm sorry. What happened this time, Ted?"
"Just the same old thing, Pete started saying how cute I was to Fred and I said that they must be homosexuals to always notice. Fred then shoved me and I landed one right on his mouth and cut his lip pretty badly. He went crazy then and we slugged it out as long as I could stand."
The next day at his machine shop Ralph was telling his foreman, Bob Swanson, about the fight and how he wished he could give his son an even chance.
Bob put his hand to his chin as if in thought then said, "You know, Ralph, when I was in the navy I was stationed in China during the Boxer Rebellion. The Orientals had a method of fighting where size didn't seem to make much difference. I once saw a Jap take on two Marines. He nearly beat them to death and he was only half their size. I would have helped, but I didn't think one more man would have done any good, so I just watched. You know I kind of enjoyed watching that little guy beat the crap out of those Marines."
"What kind of fighting was he doing, Bob?"
"I asked him what it was called and I believe he said it was called Jujitsu."
Ralph left the shop and went straight to the county library. He asked Linda Albright, the librarian, to help him. He told her it was of the greatest importance. She did not understand Ralph's urgency, but did help him. He read all he could find on Jujitsu, which was not much. He sat there thinking how he could get Ted that training.
He asked, "Linda, do you know where the greatest population of Japanese are located in America?"
She thought for a minute then answered, "I believer it would be either San Francisco or Los Angeles."
Ralph thanked Linda for her help and went back to his shop. At his desk he wrote a letter to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce asking if there were someone in San Francisco who taught Jujitsu. Three weeks and two fights later a letter came from a Mr. Kohora. The letter was on stationary bearing the title, "The Academy of Martial Arts." Mr. Kohora's reply said that he taught a school where martial arts were included in the curriculum for a fee of twenty-five dollars a month. There was a telephone number on the stationary so Ralph called Mr. Kohora.
"Mr. Kohora, my name is Ralph Sharron. I have a fifteen year old boy who I would like to enroll in your Academy. Would you take him as a student?"
"Do you live here in San Francisco, Mr. Sharron?"
"No, we live in Tyler, Texas so you would have to board him also. Could we make some arrangements?"
"I'm not sure. I would have to interview you and your son. Will you be in the Bay Area sometime this year?"
"Let's see, it's May now and my son's school is out the eighteenth. We could be in San Francisco the first of June. Would you see us then?"
"Yes, could you be here at nine o'clock in the morning?"
"That will be fine. I have your address, so we will see you then. Thank you, Mr. Kohora."
Ralph was ecstatic, but knew he must sell both Laura and Ted on this. That night at supper Ralph said, "Laura how would you and Ted like to go to San Francisco on a vacation this summer?"
"Can we afford it, Ralph? You know we are saving for Ted's college and we still have that mortgage payment on you mother's farm."
"Don't worry about the money, Laura, we can afford it. We will just be there a week. We haven't been on a vacation in thirteen years except to New York to see your folks. We need to treat ourselves to a little fun."
"Ralph, this isn't like you, there is something else isn't there?"
Ralph did not speak for a moment, then described in detail about Mr. Kohora's Academy. He quickly added that if it didn't work out they would still have a great vacation.
Laura was enthusiastic about the vacation, but apprehensive about Ted going off to school.
Ted had not said anything so Ralph said, "What do you think, Son, would you like to learn this? Mr. Kohora said that martial arts are only part of the curriculum, and I know you like learning new things."
"Dad, I'll do it more for you than me. I know it kills you when I come home beat-up, but really it isn't that bad. However, we can look at it and if it fits me then I'll do it."
* * *
When they arrived at the address given on the stationary Ted spotted the name, "The Academy of Martial Arts."
Mr. Kohora explained, "Jujitsu is taught, but it is only the physical education part of the school. Our curriculum is directed to a perception of life that honors all men through service to others and to find peace with one's inner being. To do this I feel one must acquire the knowledge of ones own body. I require each student to commit to memory every bone and muscle of the body. We also study each organ and how it serves the whole of the body. We teach how the blood serves the heart and lungs and how the nervous system reacts to put all the other body members into motion. If one has the knowledge of his own body he can then understand much of life."
Ralph said, "It sounds like a medical school."
"Many of my students pursue that vocation once they leave, but it is their desire to serve others that draws them to that endeavor. Jujitsu is an art of the control of one's body. Its use is only for self-defense and the defense of the helpless. If you have come to make your son a warrior, you have come to the wrong place."
Ralph then explained to Mr. Kohora what had transpired with Ted and his classmates and that Ted just wanted to be able to defend himself.
Mr. Kohora said, "Ted, I would like to know how you feel about the fights you have. You must hate these boys."
"You would think that," Ted replied, "But they're just bullies and if they weren't picking on me it would be some other boy. I can take it better than most as I understand their home life isn't so great. Their fathers beat them a lot and I think they have to strike out at someone. Unfortunately it is me. I will confess though when they ridicule me I won't take it. So I always end up in a fight. As far as hating them, I don't think so. It seems some people are always at war, if not physically then within themselves."
After Ted had finished Mr. Kohora said, "I will accept your son Mr. and Mrs. Sharron. I feel Ted is already a philosopher beyond his years. I shall enjoy working with such a boy. Within a year Ted should be able to defend himself adequately providing he has the aptitude. There are no guarantees, though. Ted will learn much more edifying things than the art of self-defense. We do not neglect other areas of education such as grammar and literature. One must be able to speak correctly and know something of the great works of others before he is complete.
"Ted will progress at his own rate of learning. I feel other schools miss a very fundamental concept of teaching as no two individuals learn at the same rate. Just from talking with Ted, I can tell he is very bright and will progress rapidly. The more he can learn, the more that will be required of him."
All of the Sharon family were impressed with Mr. Kohora and arrangements were made for Ted to stay fifteen months. Ted would be granted two weeks at Christmas to return home. Mr. Kohora took them on a tour of the Academy and explained that all of the students were Oriental except for Ted. He explained that Oriental parents seem to require more from their siblings than Occidental parents.
Thus began a fifteen month learning period that changed Ted's life. He was the only student who stayed overnight as the others were day students. Mr. Kohora boarded him in his quarters at the academy. He became quite fond of Ted and spent much time with him.
At night after their evening meal Mr. Kohora would talk philosophy with Ted for about an hour. One evening the discussion was about different religions. After covering several beliefs, mostly Oriental in origin, Ted asked Mr. Kohora what religion he followed.
"I honor all religions. Most of the concepts are along the same thread. To honor your ancestors along with the concepts of Judaism's Ten Commandments. Do you have a religious preference, Ted?"
"Yes, I do Mr. Kohora."
"If it is not too personal, would you share it with me?"
"I would be honored to. I believe God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth for the redemption of our sins. Before Jesus came the only way to atone for sin was for a priest to kill an animal so that by this death it would be a substitute for the death of the sinner and atone for his sins. When Jesus came and died on the cross he took all the sins of those who believe in Him upon Himself and died unto them. So if you believe in Jesus, God has promised that He will forgive all the sins you have committed and all those you are going to commit."
"But God will remember your sins," Mr. Kohora stated.
"You would think that, but God said in His Holy Scriptures that if we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness He will forgive them and erase them from His memory forever. When we enter heaven to be with Jesus, God will see us as unblemished as a fresh snow."
"I have heard that Christians believe that Jesus died and then rose from the dead, how do you know that is true, Ted?"
"Because God said so in His Holy Scriptures."
"How do you know that these Scriptures are true?"
"Seven centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet, Isaiah, wrote that Jesus was coming and that by His death, He would take away the sins of the world. He described the exact place Jesus would be born, the way He would die and that He would rise again in three days. There were over five hundred witnesses who saw Jesus alive again after His death."
"I see that you have studied the Bible quite thoroughly, Ted, but how can you be sure that Jesus was not just a mortal man?"
"I would like to tell you why." Ted paused and waited until Mr. Kohora turned his head and looked into Ted's eyes. He then said, "Because He lives within me, and I know Him as a personal friend who is with me every moment of each day."
"I am impressed, Ted, I believe you. I will start studying your Bible and see if I am able to understand your Jesus as you do. It will be enlightening at the least."
On weekends Mr. Kohora would take Ted to many historical sights. One weekend they took the newly opened Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County on highway 101. He then turned onto a gravel road. Mr. Kohora had been telling Ted about the naturalist, John Muir. He then said, "The place we are going is named after John Muir. It's a forest."
"What kind of trees do they have?" asked Ted.
"I don't want to spoil it for you, Ted. You'll just have to wait."
Ted was in awe when he saw the giant redwood trees. Many of them were over ten feet in diameter and over two hundred feet in height.
Ted asked, "How old are theses trees?"
"The mature trees are said to be over a thousand years old."
They spent the afternoon there and it was dark when they returned.
As Ted and Mr. Kohora's relationship progressed, Ted learned that Mr. Kohora was a linguist and spoke nine languages. German was one of the languages. Ted knew German as his father and mother both spoke it and had made sure Ted knew the language. Ted further learned that Mr. Kohora was a master at mimicking people's voices. He had studied voice inflections and could mimic just about anyone's voice. This fascinated Ted and he asked Mr. Kohora to work with him to master that also in their time together.
"Ted, I have never met a youth with such passion to learn as you. You really have a penchant to educate yourself. That is very rare. It is an honor to teach you."
The next few months Ted worked intensely to master Jujitsu. Ted was extremely quick and soon could best most of his peers. He was also adept at learning to mimic people's voices. He actually liked this training more than Jujitsu.
One Saturday Ted and Mr. Kohora were eating crab legs from the steaming concrete barrels on Fisherman's Wharf when near them three sailors had two women up against a building and wouldn't let them leave. They were using vulgar language and beginning to touch them when Mr. Kohora stepped up and said, "Please take your leave from these young ladies, Gentlemen."
"One of the men said, "Who's going to make us, Slant-eye?"
"Of course I will if you persist," answered Mr. Kohora.
"You talk pretty big for your size. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to stuff those crab legs your eating down your throat then I'm going to throw your butt into the bay."
"You can try, but I must warn you I will hurt you badly if you don't just walk away right now."
While the men were looking at Mr. Kohora, the two girls ran away.
Mr. Kohora said, "There is really no reason to continue this conversation as the young ladies have left now."
"You're not getting off that easy, Slant-eye. I'm going to have some fun with you," and stepped forward to grab Mr. Kohora.
Mr. Kohora's movement was like a blur to Ted. As the man reached for Mr. Kohora, Mr. Kohora took his arm and used the man's momentum to throw him six feet into the air. The man hit with a thud on the concrete and never moved. Mr. Kohora then turned to the other two sailors who moved back with wide eyes.
Mr. Kohora said, "A word of advice, never underestimate your opponent. I hope you will learn from this experience and never assail the helpless again. It is not only bad manners, but I'm sure your parents would be embarrassed if they knew of your actions."
Ted was very impressed and thought Mr. Kohora was one of the most wonderful men in the world.
Mr. Kohora said, "I'm hoping these young men learn from this unfortunate exercise. I detest using bodily force and will only do so as a last resort."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Doctor by Warby William J. Post Copyright © 2010 by William J. Post. Excerpted by permission.
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