SOLDIER RECALLS FRIENDSHIP THAT ENDURES FOR 50 YEARS

Not all stories from World War II are blood and guts tales.

Something good came out of the conflict for Robert Kahtz.

"A lasting friendship," said Kahtz, who "grew up fast" when he entered the U.S. Army at age 17 in Edwardsville, Ill.

Kahtz, now of Cape Girardeau, was pleasantly surprised Friday when he answered his doorbell at 1751 Cecelia.

"There was a bouquet of flowers," said Kahtz. The card accompanying the card read:

"A Day to Remember,

Ria Grispen Cremers,

Waubacherweg 12, 6471 SV

Eygelshoven, Netherland."

Kahtz and people the world over remember D-Day, the beginning of the end of the war against Germany.

Kahtz, who is now retired, also remembers Ria Grispen Cremers, although he has not seen her in almost 50 years.

"It was in February of 1945," he said. "I was on a three-day leave in Eygelshoven, a small village."

PFC Kahtz was a member of the Missouri 101st Infantry Division and had seen combat action in northern France, southern Belgium and southern Holland.

"This pass was sort of a `rest and relaxation' period," he said. "I needed to get away from the violence."

Walking along the street, he noticed a young Dutch girl scrubbing the sidewalk with a brush.

"I didn't speak the language," he said. "Maybe a couple of words, but I spoke, and she answered in English."

The American soldier was invited to the Cremers house, where he was fed and "treated wonderfully."

"I attended a movie with the girl," he said. "I spent my entire three day pass there."

A week after returning to his military post, Kahtz "borrowed" an America truck.

"I went into some vacant German houses and collected furniture, shoes, boots and other clothing," he said. "I also `borrowed' 50-pound sacks of flour and sugar."

All these items, he delivered to the Cremers.

"The girl was in school, and I didn't get to see her, but her parents were appreciative of the items," he said.

Three days later, Kahtz was on the front lines again.

This time, he suffered injuries, spent 10 months in the hospital and returned to the states.

"I don't remember being hit," he said. "But, I still have three of the five pieces of shrapnel with me."

Kahtz also has a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Twenty years passed before Kahtz decided to become reacquainted with the Cremers family.

"But, all was in vain," said Kahtz. "I wrote several letters, but they were all returned. I had no idea what had happened to the family."

About four years ago, Kahtz decided once again to attempt to locate the Cremers.

"I wrote to the Eygelshoven Chamber of Commerce," he said. "The chamber informed me that many street names had been changed, including the one where the Cremers lived. I sent another letter to the new street name, and this time they responded."

The Kahtzs and the Cremers have exchanged letters over the past four years.

"The parents died about a year ago," said Kahtz. "I last heard from Ria Grispen Cremers at Christmas. The flowers were a surprise."

Kahtz says he has hopes of revisiting the village of Eygelshoven and to renew acquaintance with the girl he met during the throes of WWII.

"My wife is familiar with the events," said Kahtz. "There was no romantic involvement -- Cremers is also married -- just an American soldier who was treated like a decent person by a family on foreign soil."