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The Man Who Invented Friendship
Research into the story of Merle A. Potter started with one
photograph and a very brief citation stating that he was the first
American military governor in Bad Kissingen in the post war period.
There appeared to be very little information beyond this and I only
worked on the story off and on. Then, with a little bit of luck and
the assistance of a number of people in Germany, Minnesota and New
York, suddenly the story of this fascinating man began to come
together. Six thousand words later, a tribute to one American
soldier who came to the Kurstadt, Merle Addison Potter. He was a
citizen, a soldier, a showman and a man with vision. If you ever
participated in any of the social activates run by the German -
American Club - Kontact in either Bad Kissingen or the dozens of
other cities across Germany where club events invited servicemen and
Germans to join together in friendship, it all began with Potter, a
Prince and the ability to shake hands.
The early civilian career of a Minneapolis newspaper man turned
soldier starts at Part 1.
For Potter’s Army career in Bad Kissingen and Berlin, please start
at Part 2.
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