The next morning, he found a gymnasium on West Fiftyseventh Street and paid a private instructor to do something about his, physical condition. For three months he worked every day on his weight and general fitness. He boxed, wrestled, ran, jumped, skipped, pressed weights and starved. When he was down to one hundred and fifty - five pounds, the instructor assured him he was never going to be much fitter or thinner. Abel returned to the first recruiting office and filled in the same form under the name of Wladek Koskiewicz. Another recruiting sergeant was a lot more hopeful this time, and themedical officer who gave him several tests finally accepted him as a reserve, waiting to be called up.
'But I want to go to war now,' said Abel. 'I want to fight the bastards!
'We'll be in touch with you, Mr. Koskiewicz,' said the sergeant. 'Please keep yourself fit and prepared. You can never be sure when we will need you.'
Abel left, furious as he watched younger, leaner Americans being readily accepted for active service, and as he barged through the door, not sure what his next ploy should be, he walked straight into a tall, gangling man wearing a uniform adorned with stars on the shoulders.
'I'm sorry, sir,' said Abel, looking up and backing away.
'Young man,' said the general.
Abel walked on, not thinking that the officer was addressing hirn, as no one had called him young man for ... he didn't want to think for how long, despite the fact that he was still only thirty - five.
The general tried again. Toung man,' he said a little more loudly.
This time Abel turned around. 'Me, sir?' he asked.
'Yes, you, sir.'
Abel walked over to the general.
Vill you come to my office please, Mr. RosnovskiF Darnn, thought Abel, this man knows who I am, and now nobody's going to let me fight in this war. The general's temporary office turned out to be at the back of the building, a small room with a desk, two wooden chairs, peeling green paint and an open door. Abel would not have allowed a junior member of his staff at a Baron to work in such surroundings.
'Mr. Rosnovski,' the general began, exuding energy, 'my name is Mark Clark and I command theU.S. Fifth Army. I'm over from Governors Island for the day on an inspection tour, so literally bumping into you is a pleasant surprise. I have for a long'time been an admirer. Your story is one to gladden the heart of any American. Now tell me what you are doing in this recruiting office.'
'What do you think?' said Abel, not thinking. 'I'm sorry, sir,' he corrected himself quickly. 'I didn't mean to be rude.' it's only that no one will let me get into this darnn war.'
'What do you want to do in this darnn warT asked the general.
'Sign up,' said Abel, 'and fight the Germans.'
'As a foot soldier?' enquired the incredulous general.
'Yes,' said Abel, 'don't you need every man you can get?'
Watux - ally,' said the general, 'but I can put your particular talents to a far better use than as a foot soldier!
'I'll do anything,' said Abel, 'anything.'
'Will you now?' said the gener4 'and if I asked you to place your New York hotel at my disposal as army headquarters here, how would you react to that? Because frankly, Mr. Rosnovskl, that would be of far more use to me than if you managed to kill a dozen Germans personally!
'Me Baron is yours~' said Abel. 'Now will you let me go to war?'
'You know yoxere mad, Don't you?' said General ClarL 'I'm Polisk' said Abel. ney both laughed. 'You must understand,'he continued in a more serious tone. 'I was born near Slonim. I saw my home taken over by the Germans, my sister raped by the Russian& I later escaped from a Russian labour camp and was lucky enough to reach America. rm not mad. This is the only country in the world where you can arrive with nothing and become a millionaire through damned hard work regardless of your background. Now those same bastards want another war. I'm not mad, GeneraL rm, human - '
Vell, if yoere so eager to join up, Air. Rosnovsk4 I could use you, but not in the way you imagine. General Denvers needs someone to take over responsibility as quartermaster for the Fifth Army while they are fightLng in the front lines. If you believe Napoleon was right when he said an army marches on its stomach, you could play a vital role. The job carries the rank of major. That is one way in which you could unquestionably help America to win this wax. What do you say?P 'I'll do it, General.'
qbank you, Mr. Rosnovski? The general pressed a buzzer on his desk and a very young lieutenant came in and nluted smartly.