The year is 1956 and Hungary is up to their second unsuccessful revolt. This photo is of one of the torchlight protests held in Zurich by students for Hungarians. Eventually about 50.000 would be adopted by Switzerland, many more by other European countries. Super cool, I never knew this piece of history before.
However, this is a MYSTERY photograph. Why? Well, can you see the man in the lower center section of this photo in a light colored overcoat? He is looking directly into the camera.
This is my father! In reality, he was stationed in Iceland in 1956, damaged his eyes in an explosion in February and had to wear glasses for the rest of his life. I have done a very careful blow up of this photo, only to find that it is indeed my father in American Military glasses! The photo's time frame only adds to the authentication. So no mistaking the American military type in the crowd!
So, what was father doing in Zurich, in 1956?
As an interesting side note to history, this is also when several Soviet nuclear types defected through Hungary to the west.
1 + 1 = ?????
Perhaps now I am beginning to understand how father got his three Bronze Stars. And maybe those rants of being a spy really where not so far from the truth, instead of dementia.....
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