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Holocaust survivor shares story with Team Kadena

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malia Jenkins
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  In honor of the Holocaust Remembrance Day, Viola Milne, a Holocaust survivor, spoke at Kadena's Chapel 1, April 19, about her experience in surviving the Holocaust..

At only five-years old, Milne was able to evade concentration camps by running and hiding as the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia. After the invasion her family crossed the border into Hungary and went their separate ways. For their safety no one other than her parents knew where the others were. This was done so that anyone captured and tortured could not give away their secret location.

"If they would have taken me to a concentration camp I would not be here today, believe me. I would be somewhere in that grave with my baby sister," said Milne.

The 79-year-old survivor told her story so people would not forget the horrors of a distant past.

"This event is so far in the past people are forgetting," said Chaplain (Capt.) Kevin Humphrey, a Kadena's Protestant chaplain. "We never want this event to happen again, [where a group of people] are targeted for destruction."

Milne's story helps put things in perspective for military members, said Humphrey. Her story helps to show why the Air Force's role in defending freedom and democracy is important.

Katherine Schultz, an Army veteran attended the event with her two kids. The Army veteran said the event was not only informational for her children, but a rare opportunity for them to meet someone who had lived through the Holocaust.

Schultz said the stories of those who have been through such tragic times let others know they are still needed and that the day-to-day job is helping in some way.

"Hearing her story and her sacrifices puts our own sacrifices into perspective," said Humphrey. "We as military members go through our own hardships. But, when we put these things into perspective and hear stories of these people who've gone before us, [and] fought so heroically."

After Milne's speech, the audience was led in a prayer called El Maleh Rachamim by Navy Rabbi (Lt. j.g.) Yonatan Warren who is assigned to Camp Foster. The prayer is a traditional Jewish memorial prayer for victims of the Holocaust.

Afterwards, the audience was given the chance to talk and take pictures with Milne in person.