Many people around the world have contributed to this book’s creation. Not least my New York City literary agent, Richard Curtis; my supportive publisher at St. Martin’s Press, Karen Wolny; and Karen’s assistant, Laura Apperson.
In Poland, I am especially grateful to Mariusz Winiecki, who was born in Szubin and is a passionate researcher of Oflag XXI-B and Oflag 64 history and author of The Oflag 64 Record blog. Thank you, also, to German historian Peter Domes, who was born just outside Hammelburg, for detailed information about Task Force Baum from the German perspective.
In the United States, I received enormous help from relatives of Schubin prisoners, starting with Elodie Caldwell, daughter of Reid Ellsworth, who also helped in the illustration search and facilitated my contact with many other members of the Oflag 64 Association. Among those members, I want particularly to thank Marjory Holder, daughter of H. Randolph “Boomer” Holder; Ed Ward, Jr., son of Ed Ward; Brian Rose, grandson of Robert J. Rose; Mary Shular Hopper, daughter of William A. Shular, Jr.; Linda Krueger, daughter of Alfred C. Nelson; and Mary Meacham, daughter of Merle A. Meacham, for sharing their relatives’ memories and mementos.
My sincere thanks, also, go to the very helpful Fania Khan Mohammad of the International Council of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland; Allie Baker of the Ernest Hemingway Project; and Laurie Austin at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to my dear wife, Louise, my ever-supportive partner in life’s adventures.