Ziggy

Ziggy is a Pole who has fought for two years in the Polish Army, for two years in the German. He is also probably the only prisoner taken in Normandy who ended up as a privileged guest. When paratroopers of the 82nd U.S. Airborne Division captured Ziggy, their close-cropped heads were beginning to grow shaggy after three weeks in the front line. Almost the only technicians who had not jumped with the paratroopers were barbers: that was where Ziggy, who had been a barber back in Warsaw, came in. He borrowed a pair of shears and went to work.

Day after day, sitting back of headquarters' tent, he gave haircuts to all comers, generals and privates alike. When business grew slack he brewed coffee for anybody who wanted it. Though he spoke only Polish, Ziggy managed to convey the fact that he was a cheerful, eager guy who liked to work.

At first Major Fred McColum of the Military Police kept a sharp eye on Ziggy; he finally eased up. Ziggy had the run of headquarters, unguarded.

Every evening he strolled back to the prisoners' stockade, locked himself in. Every morning he turned up at the cook tent, where he would cheerfully sputter the few English phrases he had learned, most of them unprintable.

The troopers wanted to take Ziggy wherever they went, but finally the time came when they could no longer stay together. Ziggy wept when he heard that his days as a guest were over. Then he smiled, after a Polish-speaking soldier read a letter to him and gave it to him to carry.

When last seen, Ziggy, wearing knife-pressed G.I. pants and brilliantly polished German boots, was driving away with a captain as his escort. In his pocket was the letter. It said: "The bearer of this letter, Private First Class Sigmund Simkowski, is the best damn barber you ever saw and the most useful man around a kitchen. Treat him right."

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