Ryszard Kuklinski died on February 11, 2004. Much has been written recently about his achievements. I will try to recall what kind of a person he was. It must have come as a surprise to the many people who have met Ryszard, that he was such a humble, kind, and personable human being. It is interesting how such an ordinary, emotional, and diminutive man achieved so many difficult and important things.

I remember our travels in Switzerland. Ryszard couldn’t come to Poland and as a result we would meet when he came to the lectures for officers in Europe. We would watch the landscapes and historical landmarks. He liked Lake Thun so much that he immediately started scouting a place to fish. While visiting the Museum of Art in Basil, he spent so much time studying the paintings and listening to the curator because art history was his passion. After visiting Fryburg Cathedral, we sat in the sweltering heat to have a cold beer and he told me then, “This Fryburg has such charm that I’m not surprised that you came to work here; one can stay here for years without feeling the passage of time”. In Lucerne, we ran along the wooden bridge, and afterwards we ate asparagus in a restaurant by the lake. When we arrived at the Polish Museum, behind Raperswil castle, Ryszard said to me, “I feel a part of Poland here”. He was intrigued by the memorabilia of Polish immigrants from the 19th century. In fact, he himself felt like an immigrant, although he was one against his will. The few meetings we spent there gave us the opportunity for long talks in the car, during walks, or simply in the garden. I realized how much Ryszard was interested in everything that was going on in Poland. He didn’t understand the convoluted politics of the government in Warsaw. He said to me: “If you return to the Ministry of Defense, then I will come to help you; we must do many things to modernize the army and make it compatible with the US army in Europe”. His knowledge of international affairs, both past and present, was impressive. I’m not surprised that for many years he was a military adviser. If you spoke with him, it became obvious that he knows a lot and that he understands the geopolitical situation very well. Without a doubt, the Polish government had no strategist of his caliber after 1989. The joyous mood was interrupted only once. It was during a trip up the Jungfrau Mountain. We were admiring the view, it was truly splendid. Suddenly, Ryszard became silent. After a moment he said: “My sons will never see this”. I remember how difficult it was to respond to that statement. There is no consolation for someone who was affected by such a tragedy. It isn’t surprising that a soldier sacrifices his life for his country. In Ryszard’s case, the victims were his own sons.

Many years later, in 1998, Ryszard could finally come to Poland. It isn’t worth recalling the attacks that Ryszard was met with for so many years. For Ryszard, the most important thing was the people’s reactions, which were fantastic. Nobody could imagine that someone who was attacked and out of the country for so many years could be greeted so enthusiastically. And not by hundreds, but by thousands of people full of warmth and sympathy for him. In Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk, the police had to close off streets and erect barriers to preserve order. In addition, he also appeared in parliament and spoke with the prime minister. He was very pleased with the meetings with representatives of NSZZ “Solidarność”. These were moments of great satisfaction for Ryszard, although they would never compensate for the injustice he received at the hands of the communists, as well as the authorities of the III Republic. The fact that after the colonel’s death, the Prime Minister gave public condolences to his family and friends, shows how important a figure Ryszard was for history.

Some people today appeal to the Polish government to decorate the Colonel. Once, this would have been approbation for his effort for independence. Today the Colonel is deceased, and he didn’t receive any distinction from his homeland during his lifetime. And as far as I know, he didn’t try for any. A handshake with the Pope was more important for him than any national distinction.

During his visits to Poland, Ryszard met with his old officer friends. He was pleased because he knew that they appreciated what he had done. I witnessed how enthusiastically he received words of praise from the soldiers of the Underground Home Army, the National Defense, and members of the Union of Death Penalty Recipients during the Communist period. He always felt a bond with these soldiers and was pleased that they showed him gratitude and respect.

On the day of his death, I told journalists that, “the colonel’s mission is over”. For him, his life was service to his country. A few months ago during a private conversation he said to me: “I don’t regret what I have done, and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing”.

Today, it is difficult to express the sadness felt as a result of his departure from this world. As the first non-communist minister of national defense, I will say this: “sleep well, my friend”.