Amy Fuller

The Last Train Out Amy Fuller

This is the remarkable true story of a young German boy, born in Werschetz, Yugoslavia, who narrowly escaped capture by the Russians; his courageous fight for survival during and after WWII in a refugee school camp, and his incredible journey to freedom, immigration, and the opportunity to live the American Dream. With the Russian front closing in, the order they hoped would never come was given: Evacuate! Evacuate! On the morning of October 1, 1944, Rudy Seamayer, along with hundreds of other children ranging in age from eight to fourteen, accompanied by a few teachers, waved goodbye to their families and friends as the train slowly pulled out of the Werschetz station. Parents stayed behind willing to sacrifice their own lives to save the lives of their children. The train had only been gone a short time when relative calm turned to complete chaos and fear. With the deafening sound of the whistle and screeching brakes, the train finally came to a frightening abrupt stop just at the edge of the mighty Danube River. The Bridge! The Danube River Bridge near Belgrade had been destroyed. They were left with no other choice but to abandon the train with all their food and supplies onboard, and somehow, get across safely to the other side of the traitorous Danube. This was only a prelude to the many struggles for survival they'd face during and after the war. After the war, there was no food, no one knew where their parents or families were or even if they had survived and there was no one to turn to for help. That's when occupying US troops stepped in to save countless children from starvation and neglect. Rudy, at fourteen years old, made his mind up there and then he'd someday go to America and become a US soldier. Each step of his journey from then on; the search for his family, the continuation of his education and going through the long immigration process brought him closer to living his dream.