World War II was before my time, but in the many years I was in school I studied about the conflict. The History Channel allows my husband, who is fascinated with this time period, a chance to continue learning more. I've read several fictional titles set during or after WWII.

 My most personal experience with that time, however, comes from the sharing of a story by an elderly man who had become like a father to me. Uncle Phil--though we were not related--lived next door to us when my sisters and I grew up in our grandfather's home. Uncle Phil and his wife, Jean, couldn't have children, so they pretty much adopted me. I spent more time with them than I did my real family.

Eventually we moved, but I always stayed in touch with Uncle Phil and Aunt Jean. When I began working at the local credit union, Uncle Phil's older brother, Fritz, was one of my customers. I thought it odd that his last name was spelled differently, so I asked Uncle Phil about it one day.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Phil, Fritz, and their oldest brother, Stanley, did what every red-blooded male did--they signed up. Fritz's last name was spelled incorrectly (they included an "i" instead of an "a") by whoever he registered with and he soon found himself being interrogated as a spy. Finally cleared, the boys all served their time and made it home safely. Fritz decided it would be much easier and safer to permanently change his name.

Who knew that just one little letter could cause such an issue?