This was lovely! Such a sweet story of friendship and patriotism. (at first I hoped that they would come down the tunnel entrance to everyone listening... but I'm with you... they MUST have a way of recording stuff down there!). A sweet story appropriate for anytime of year. Thank you for sharing this!

More than a few times they used their special sewing basket gizmo to alter recordings so I don't see what they can't have used the same set up to make recordings. I loved this, and what a lovely moment of triumph when Newkirk got the good news. I'm also delighted at the morsels of culture that you pepper through your stories.
Love it!

This... This is definitely one of the best Hogan's Heroes stories I've yet read on this site. Most heartfelt one by far.

How did they get a printing press? Native craftsmen, of course! Klink himself gets on them about making sure they do enough voluntary activities!

I've sat down and read most of your HH stories in one fell swoop - I should probably leave reviews on all the others as well! - and I just wanted to drop in and comment. I've enjoyed them (and this one!) immensely and, imho, you have the *best* characterization of Newkirk I've seen in any fanfic anywhere. This is amazing, it's lovely, it's poignant and just a touch irreverent (because, really, it wouldn't be Newkirk in the story if there wasn't some irreverence.) I'm a greedy reader, who will devour whatever you decide to grace us with; you write wonderfully.

So much here that someone not familiar with British culture would understand and as Newkirk talked to Carter you were able to educate us about a part of his worldview. Yet, the heart of this story, I feel, is something that is universal - the desire to know that you are not forgotten that your struggles and work are serving a purpose. So I really like that you put this towards the beginning of the operation when those days when the operation wasn't happening weren't that long ago and the ways in which you show the POWs are, and should be, remembered because they are POWs and because they are the Unsung Heroes. The scene at the end was perfect - you didn't overdo it, but showed Hogan's care (and Kinch's for bringing it to his CO's attention) in a way that resonates. And you stop right as the speech begins, showing that it isn't the words that were as important as much as the fact that they were said. Really good job with this one.

I like this little piece a lot. It's not easy to find Newkirk's softer side without tipping over into sentimentality, but you've done an excellent job of keeping the acerbic edge while still showing a depth of feeling which is both convincing and moving. What impresses me is that you show Carter's feelings as well, without going to his point of view; it's entirely through Newkirk's observation that we gain that insight.

Newkirk's wish to hear the King's Christmas address as a motivation is a clever way to create a sense of urgency in an essentially static situation, which makes the apparent disappointment, and the final surprise, all the more poignant.

Very well done.

This story resonated with me so profoundly. I first read it while visiting with my father in Florida over the holiday. (it's very hard to leave a decent review on an Ipod) While there, I taped him speaking about his war experiences, including what it was like growing up in London in the 1930's. We spoke about the King, the home front, the Blitz and the East End.

You have a remarkable understanding of human nature. The focus on the prisoners' fears of being forgotten, and the use of the ritual of the speech as a catalyst for the plot, combined with the characterizations of both Carter and Newkirk, and the development of their friendship is beautiful.

The compassion and caring the prisoners show for one another is a highlight. The care they give the returning men, to the accommodations shown to the Jewish prisoners, and the recording of the speech is very touching. (FYI, if this is 1942, Chanukah was in early December that year.)

I do think Newkirk would be familiar with a menorah. I believe he is from the East End, which was heavily Jewish back then. Chances are, he would have seen one.

I love how the story brings about a growing insight from Newkirk into his new friend's mind and abilities - the weather for example! And Carter's intuitive understanding of Newkirk's feelings (even if that sounds a bit soppy...).

The best lines in my opinion:

Every letter was reassurance that the world had not, in fact, forgotten them.

And the already mentioned line about the advantage of happy surprises when being a pessimist LOL Yeah, that's one way to defend it!

But I'm glad he got to hear it after all, and it's great that Kinch and Hogan have understanding for its importance.

Cool; I'd never thought about how much that would mean (I guessed that Churchill's speeches were the more important). It really does a great job of showing the friendship between them. I loved the little touches about their Christmas traditions, and Newkirk's shock at them eating ornaments was great!

Great story! Really enjoyed it!

I can't say what I enjoyed most about this - a little of everything, I guess. Newkirk and Carter in the cabin are excellent together, and it was interesting to read their interactions even though this story has Carter as being a somewhat newer friend to Newkirk.

The fact that Hogan recorded the message is great, and how calmly he tells this is super in character.

I too have wondered about the printing press. The wonders never cease. :)

CUTE? It wasn't cute. It was smart, thoughtful, even profound. Put a little thought into your reviews.

That was a cute story. I enjoyed it!
And I'm glad Newkirk got to hear the speech after all. :-)

Two stories from one of my favorite FF authors in just four weeks - and what a nice Christmas present this one was! Thank you for this insightful portrait of two of our heroes and their budding friendship. Your Carter is intelligent and intuitive - traits that get underplayed in many portrayals of him. I like his confidence, both in understanding what the weather might bring and in traversing the snowy terrain. Your Newkirk is complex, conflicted, and three-dimensional. Even he is puzzled by how important it is to him to hear the King's speech. "Sometimes being a pessimist meant being happily surprised" sums his character up about as well as anything I've read!

Brava, brava, brava!