As a high school student the author helped support his family through the difficult times of the late 1930's. Upon graduation from high school he was forced to support not only his parents but four siblings as well. When he was finally able to attend college, World War II broke out and he was drafted two weeks prior to graduation. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School, he was sent to Europe first as an infantry platoon leader. His story is drawn from letters home, diaries and his own memories which he recorded before he died.