Thank you. Welcome back everyone to one thousand one heroes, legends, histories, and mysteries

podcast. This is your host, John Haggardorn, and it's great to be with you today.

I've read a lot of World War II books for business and pleasure,

and the book we're taking a look at today is one of the best and most enjoyable World War II histories

I've ever had the good luck to come across.

It's called The Last of the 357th infantry, Harold Frank's

World War II story of faith and courage by Mark Hager. What differs this story from most is the way

he shares the story with the reader. We're able to join Harold Frank as he grows up poor during the

depression, learning the values, faith in God, and survival skills he would

need to survive the bloody shores of Normandy as a B.A.R. Gunner, as well as captivity in a German

prison camp. It's a compelling story, made all the better from hours of interviews with Harold Frank,

who truly was the last survivor of the war-torn 357th infantry.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout, and I highly recommend it.

Mark Hager, thank you for joining us today.

Well, thank you, John, for having me on, and it's just a sheer coincidence that I even got to meet, Harold, and even more stunning that I didn't know more about him, being that, you know, where I work and the museum operation that I have, I felt I should have known him for years.

And it was just an amazing feat.

He's an amazing man. And I think everyone that's reading this will feel the same way. If you don't mind, would you share a little bit of your background

and then tell us what inspired you to write Harold Frank's story? Well, let me see. I'm from North

Carolina, of course. I was actually a U.S. Army veteran.

I was a field artillery surveyor and went to Basic of Fort Seale, Oklahoma.

And then actually, my first duty station, I was sent to Germany in the mid-late 1980s before the wall came down.

So I got to see the effect of communism up front and close in front of me.

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