My granddad just had a book published about his brave, unique experience in WWII. It's nothing big, but it is quite entertaining and unbelievable. 2 movies were inspired directly from 2 distinct areas he was in (12 O'clock High, Gregory Peck's character was his squad leader. The Great Escape took place in his P.O.W. camp

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/9781452023007/?itm=1&USRI=dying+for+another+day#TABS

its worth a read, or even to look at ... the abbreviated version is at http://www.bobrohrer.com/there_i_was.html

to highlight:

Quote :

"A gripping, true account of a WWII airman and his plight to survive 77 days of solitary confinement in a Gestapo prison and Germany's most notorious prison camp, Stalag Luft III, site of The Great Escape. Pete Edris lived to tell his story, although he was officially declared "Killed in Action" on March 8, 1943."

Quote :

"1. I was one of 24 servicemen during World War II who were reported killed in action and later turned up alive. I was officially dead for approximately two months. I was also one of the few servicemen who had a medal taken away from him. I was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, and, approximately two months later, when I turned up alive, my mother had to give it back. 2. The day we were shot down, one of our waist gunners, "Mo" Moriarity, landed in his parachute about a mile from me, and he was back in England in 23 days. He wrote a book. It's quite a story! One last comment: I learned that a person can take a great deal more punishment than he thinks he can, and with no lasting ill effects. I wouldn't take a million dollars for the experience, but I wouldn't do it again for a million."

8/8/2010 10:03:59 PM