“If you really want to learn the whole story, learn about Franz Stigler first,” Charlie said. “He’s still alive. Find out how he was raised and how he became the man he was when we met over Europe. Better yet, go visit him. He and his wife are living up in Vancouver, Canada. When you have his story, come visit me and I’ll tell you mine.” I was about to make excuses and tell Charlie I had little interest in a German fighter pilot’s perspective, when he said something that shut me up. “In this story,” Charlie said, “I’m just a character—Franz Stigler is the real hero.”
