Outstanding among the many outpourings of generous relief for the victims of the hurricane Katrina disaster was the anonymous gift made by a Holocaust survivor.

A 90-year old man walked into a U.S. diplomatic office, presented an envelope containing 1,000 Euros (about $1,240) and declared that he was contributing this to the U.S. for hurricane relief as a way of repaying his debt to the Americans for liberating him from a concentration camp.

"This is a selfless act by somebody who is repaying what was a deeply felt debt of gratitude to the Unites Sates," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "This is a person who is not seeking any publicity for this act, which in the time we live makes it even more extraordinary."