Meet The Character (10 Question Interview)

Meet the Character
-A 10 Question Interview with Tony Henriquez.-

Tony is the main character in the upcoming book, "Air Bridge Berlin" (Book 2 in the Occupied Berlin series).

In the story, Tony Hernriquez is a Corporal with the US Army. He is an Infantryman that is assigned to head a detail of nine men that are tasked to guard the various gates at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany during the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949).

This fictional interview was done about two weeks before the story in "Air Bridge Berlin" begins.

1. Hello, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself.

Hello, my name is  Tony Henriquez. I am a Corporal in the United States Army. I am a 22 year old native Texan. I am from the real South Texas. When you hear people say that they are from South Texas they mean that they are from San Antonio. If you have ever seen a map of Texas you will see San Antonio almost smack in the middle of the state. That is not south Texas, that is central Texas. Don't get me wrong San Antonio is a nice place and all but it is not the true South Texas.

2. So you weren't in the Second World War?
No. I was 15 when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. I was ready to go then but they were not looking for 15 year old kids. I was 19 when the war ended and I was not called up (drafted). So I went and signed up.
 
3. What made you want to join the Army?
The war and doing your duty was a big part of my life. My family and I were ready for me to get my induction notice but it never came. They could see it in my eyes that I had to do this. So I signed up and here I am.


4. Where did you go for training?
I went to Camp Polk in Louisiana for my basic and advance Infantry training. Then I was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for my first assignment. Because I speak Spanish, I was there to help the instructors with some of our Spanish speaking soldiers and allies. When I got promoted to Corporal I got orders to come to Berlin. When I arrived the Blockade started about a month later.

5. How did you feel when you first found out that you were going to Berlin?
I was excited and confused. I was excited because this is where the action was. This is where everyone wanted to get to during the war. Well, here and Tokyo. I was confused because the Army was using me to translate English to Spanish and Spanish to English so why send me to Germany? Then I figured it out, in a hurry, the Army has its reasons and you don't question it.

6. When you arrived in Berlin what surprised you the most?
The devastation. The people and how they lived in the ruins. I mean, these people are unique in that I know I could not live in this mess. But you see them walking around not like defeated people but as people that were given a second chance. A chance to make it better than the nonsense they were living with for so long. They are very resilient and want to make their world better. If I had to pick one thing it is the women. No! Not like that.

Don't get me wrong there are many pretty women in Berlin but what I am talking about is the women that work in the rubble, the Trümmerfrauen. They are the groups of women you see all over the city. They have been working since 1945, trying to clean up the city and get it ready for reconstruction. They do this everyday, rain or shine. They are definitely going to make a difference in the future of Berlin.


7. Tell us your perspective regarding the Blockade of Berlin and the Berlin Airlift.
What's there to tell? We worked hard to win the war. We, as in the U.S., the Brits, the French and the Russians. So when it cam time to divvy up the prize those Reds wanted it all. I understand that they suffered the most but the way I see it, if it wasn't for the rest of us they, the Russians, would still be fighting the Nazi's. So, what's fair is fair.

After all, the Soviets did agree to split Germany and Berlin into four parts. Now, they want it all. I guess they weren't expecting us to step up the way we did and make this Airlift happen. It might just work out. If we can keep it up we can certainly break their resolve.


8. What do think about the whole division of Germany and Russians who were our allies are now our adversaries?
Were we ever really friends? Sure, I understand the whole 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend thing' but isn't Communism just another form of National Socialism? Isn't it? Like I said, these guys agreed to the deal that helped all of us win the war. Now, that their true intentions are known, we need to do everything that we can to stop them right here in Berlin. To stop them from expanding their form of communism to the rest of Europe and the rest of the world.


9. What is the one thing you will remember the most after you leave Berlin?
If I was to leave Berlin right now, I would say that I would miss and remember the most is the people of this city. They have been dragged through the mud by their own leaders, then the US and Brits with the bombings, then the Russians when they came in to the city. Now, they are trying to rebuild their lives and the Russians do it to them again. I have never seen people that are this flexible. Yep, I will miss them and this city but the people I will miss the most.

10. What's the plan for you after you leave the military?
First, go back to Texas. Finish school and then settle down and start a family. Then maybe if the Russians are not in charge, I would like to come back to Berlin and see how things are going. First, I think we just need to do what we can to be successful with the Big Lift.

-----
Starting on May 12, 2014 you can read more about Cpl. Tony Henriquez and his adventures during the Berlin Airlift in the book "AIR BRIDGE BERLIN" by David G. Guerra.

You can pre-order a signed copy of AIR BRIDGE BERLIN: http://mkt.com/david-g-guerra/air-bridge-berlin-signed

------

Click here to order your copy for the Kindle Device or App: DOUGHBOY CITY: Tales from Freedom's Outpost / Occupied Berlin series (Volume 1) $2.99

Click here to order your copy of the Doughboy City: Tales from Freedom's Outpost / Occupied Berlin series (Volume 1) in paperback. $8.99 at Amazon.com

Click here to order your SIGNED copy of Doughboy City: Tales from Freedom's Outpost / Occupied Berlin series (Volume 1) in paperback $8.00 at my website.

DOUGHBOY CITY is the first work of fiction for author, David G. Guerra. He has previously published "The Walking Leader" and is working on the next book in his Walking Leader trilogy of books, "Great To Follow" with "We, The Team" as the last book.