Secret Heroes: From Holocaust Survivors to Nazi Interrogators

Follow the winding path of a Jewish refugee turned US Army interrogator who ends up processing Nazi scientists during WWII. Fred Michel was a teenager when he escaped Nazi Germany with his family. When he was drafted, he trained at Camp Ritchie, a high level intelligence center, then was sent to an obscure fort along the Potomac River know only as P.O. Box 1142. There, he and fellow interrogators engaged in a battle of wits with captured Nazi U-boat captains, generals and scientists. Their masterful interrogations revealed vital information to help turn the tide of the war in the Atlantic, assist in the Manhattan Project, position the U.S. for the coming Cold War and lay the groundwork for the Space Race. The information they gathered on things like sonar, radar, microwave technology, stealth technology, various detonation devices, and rocketry helped position the United States in the development of weaponry and other technologies. They did all of this without the use of force, torture or violence of any kind.

For over sixty years Fred and his fellow veterans, then in their mid to upper eighties, never breathed a word of their accomplishments to their wives, families or friends . It wasn't until a National Park Ranger, who was researching information for wayside exhibits, happened to stumble upon declassified information that lead to Fred Michel.
Secret Heroes tells the story of how these veterans honorably served their country asking for nothing in return. The rangers of the National Park Service are the other heroes who recognized the contribution made by these men, found over seventy five of them and properly thanks them for their dedication and their service.

About the Author

Dianne Ogden is an Emmy, Telly, Pixie and Omni award-winning television writer-producer who loves nothing more than to tell a good story. In her very long television career, she has had extensive experience both in front of and behind the camera working in news, entertainment, advertising and marketing for all the major networks and various cable channels. She first published a short story in 1981 and went onto produce an independent short film, Dandelion Days, based on one of her short stories. As a history buff, she thought all stories about World War II had been told when the activities of her good friend’s father, Fred Michel came to light and needed to be chronicled. This is a story she was excited to tell not only to honor her friend’s father, but to honor all veterans who gave selflessly. Ms. Ogden is now retired and lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband of over 30 years.