"On January 1, 1943, First Lieutenant Pete Edris was transferred to the 306th Bomb Group, 369th Bomb Squad, and served under Col. Armstrong (who was portrayed by Gregory Peck in the movie, 'Twelve O'clock High'). This is Pete's story. It's a story of a twenty-two year old boy whose B-17 bomber was blown out of the sky over Rennes, France, on March 8, 1943. It's a story about the people who befriended him. And it's a testimonial to his irrepressible desire to survive one of Nazi Germany's most notorious prison camps, Stalag Luft III, from where 'The Great Escape' was based. It's a story about living to see another day... and reuniting with Doris Cooke, his soul mate... and the love of his life. It's a truly remarkable story about a rare World War II statistic: An infinitesimal twenty-three American soldiers were declared dead in World War II... and lived to tell about it. Pete Edris was one of those soldiers. And this is his unforgettable story. " --Raymond Reid, Introduction, page v.