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Combing the Internet, there are few books about the risk the men of USS Guadalcanal took or the loyalty the men of U-505 showed towards their country. It was a decision made after visiting the Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago (MSI) and seeing the great, gray beast that was U-505. It took months of research, contact with people everywhere from Chicago to Germany, to uncover the secrets of U-505.
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Here is a acknowledgement to all of the authors and researchers, agents and directors, employees and volunteers who helped me in this great journey. Here are their names:
Laurie Halse Anderson (assistant), Daniel Lazar, Kristin Nelson, Angie Thomas (assistant), Steve Rosengard, Anthony Doerr (assistant), Paula McLain, Jeff Shaara And a very special thank you to these people: Ruta Sepetys, Daniel Lancaster, the Think Tank of the MSI, Kai Steenbuck |
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Very honorable Mister Klaus Schmidt!
Au Flottillencheif I’ll fulfill my duty to write to you with really, a very heavy heart. Based on an announcement from the Commander of U-boats I will have to let you know that the boat under Command of the experience Oberleutnant zur See d.R. Lange with your son, Walther Schmidt as a member of the crew, is since July 13-1944 missing. |
It left in Mid March from an Atlantic base and was heard from last from Guinea (West Africa). In spite of several attempts to establish communications and a certain waiting period, it did not respond. What happened to the brave crew is unfortunately totally uncertain.
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Even if we do not know how the Boat was lost, we do not wish to give up the slim hope that the crew is safe. Perhaps they were able to leave the boat on the surface and were rescued by enemy vessels. Research to the possibility is underway with the help from the Red Cross. Since we know from past experience that our opponents are usually very slow in reporting these happenings, I would like to ask you my dear Mr. Schmidt to please be very patient...
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