Many World War II veterans returned to the United States of America and wrote autobiographies and memoirs about their life adventures.

Gold Star children also wrote memories of their fathers, with some seeking to learn more about men who never returned home.

But children who were products of short-term affairs during this time often knew little about their fathers. This book describes Richard L. Hartness Sr.'s quest to learn more about his dad – as well as his mother's plan to reveal his father's name on her own timetable.

Growing up, the author felt that his mom's husband was not his father. When he asked her about his dad, she replied, "He went off to war and never came back." When he pressed her for more information, she'd say, "Someday, you'll know."

That day finally came for the author, and this memoir highlights his search for the truth along with his family's riveting history.