Meet the Heroes of 'Remember Us'

In my new book, I introduce you to remarkable individuals whose lives are forever linked through courage, sacrifice, and gratitude. Their stories intertwine through an enduring promise — a forever promise — of remembrance. I wanted to share just a glimpse of some of the heroes whose lives unfold in these pages:

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole—Medal of Honor recipient—fights with bravery and sacrifice to help free a nation.

Sergeant Jeff Wiggins—a man who escapes the poverty and racism of Alabama by joining the army—nears the battlefront only to discover his new assignment: digging graves for his fallen comrades.

Bill Moore—a bomber pilot shot-down behind enemy lines, but safe in hiding with the help of the Dutch resistance.

Stephen Mosbacher—an American soldier and Jewish refugee, battles his way back into Nazi Germany to reclaim the freedom that was stolen from his family.

Bill Hughes—a man determined to rise above the limitations of his time, proving his worth as an equal on the battlefield.

James and Edward Norton—twin brothers, inseparable since birth, their destiny written together, in the clouds.

But the story isn’t only about American liberators. It’s also about the Dutch people who refused to lose hope.

Frieda van Schäik—a courageous Dutch teenage girl who finds love amid the chaos of war.

Emilie Michiels van Kessenich—a Dutch mother of eleven and wartime organizer—who helped turn grief into purpose.

Sometimes, the setting becomes a character too.

Margraten—a quiet Dutch village that became the final resting place for more than 8,000 American soldiers. For nearly 80 years, its people have lovingly cared for their graves, upholding a promise to never forget. Margraten is more than a place on a map; it is a living tribute to remembrance, and it holds a special place in my heart.

From the cockpit of a bomber and the cramped quarters of a tank, to the American and Dutch families who loved these men, and to the Netherlands American Cemetery—the final resting place for so many young soldiers—Remember Us reveals the true cost of freedom.