---During the introduction to “Hogan’s Heroes” there is a solemn, military press sequence that contains six thrusts before it is broken into a circus atmosphere upon the seventh.

It is to those (six) that I dedicate this story.

Word had come for most via scuttlebutt, in small whispers, passed American to American, German to German. An ashen-faced Sgt. Washington had entered Colonel Hogan’s afforded quarters and woken him.

“Colonel, Colonel, Colonel Hogan, sir!”

Hogan woke from sleep and dreams to discover his communications chief stock straight.

“Washington, what is it?” Something had happened. “And why are you at attention?”

“It is over, sir.”

Chapter 1

“Hogan,,, Colonel Hogan, you will of course accept my quarters as yours henceforth?”

Commandant Klink was holding court.

“I will have Sergeant Shultz move my belongings to the guest quarters.”

“Wouldn’t hear of it, sir.”

Hogan drew heavy on the cigar that Klink had offered him.

“The guest quarters will suit me, sir. With your permission, of course.”

The sharp crack of Klink’s jack boots engaging each other resonated. The framed picture of Hitler masquerading the listening device that had enabled the Heroes to direct war efforts for years caught Hogan’s eye. Everything had been cleaned in the minutes after Washington’s report.

“It’s been confirmed,. No doubt exists, sir.”

Washington once again at attention this time in the prisoners general quarters.

“At ease, Sergeant.” He laid his hand upon him, Washington’s tremors eased. Hogan’s grip tightened.

Their eyes met. “What is the code, Sergeant?”

Without hesitation: “xxxxxx, sir.”

“Repeat it, Sergeant: “xxxxxx, sir.”

“Again.” The same.

“Go, now!”

Hogan directed bleary eyed Newkirk and LeBeau to “clean” Klink’s office.

“I expect you back in five minutes. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.” They were back in five.

“Everything?”

“Yes, sir.”

He cited his French brother:

“Louie?”

The Frenchman’s eyes were glistening with tears, though none had crested and fallen.

“I am returning to France, Colonel, qui?”

“Qui, Louie, we’re all going home. It is time.”

“Uh, Mr. Hogan, uh, sir?”

Sgt. Andrew Carter, demolition man for the group, his comedic moxie rising to the specter of freedom.

“Carter?”

“Should I destroy the tunnel and apply the seal, sir? Blow it up!”

They’d made arrangements that enabled the team to destroy all components and seal the HQ structure below in such an event as this.

“We’re going to wait. Be ready. What is the code?

The Heroes in unison: “xxxxxx.”

“Repeat it.”

Chapter 2

“Hogan, dahling!”

Shultz had retrieved him from the guest quarters where he was coordinating the departure of his men.

“Shultz, you are going home, soon?”

“I must stay, Colonel Hogan, as his Sergeant I must remain and be cleared by the Geneva Convention team.

“I will vouch for you.”

“Thank you, Colonel Hogan, I was going to ask, but, you have saved me the embarrassment.”

Hogan was surprised to find the white Russian, Marya, replete in full length mink coat in Klink’s office. Klink, all smiles, his hands clasped in unabashed joy.

“We are victorious, Hogan! I came at once, dahling.”

She hurriedly crossed the space between them and fell into Hogan’s embrace.

“I will come to you, dahling, tonight, while you sleep, my precious one. You will love Marya at last.” Her whispered hiss precise.

She separated from their clasp.

“You will take Marya, Hogan, dahling? You will take me with you when you go to the States, to the America, to the Palm Springs, it is always warm there, yes, Klink?”

She spoke to Klink, but, her eyes remained locked with Hogan’s.

“Oh, of course it is. We must all go there, at once.”

Klink unclasped and rubbed his hands together briskly.