This book is about one man's fortitude and individually in military life which lead to brilliant innovation in the field. As a platoon commander in the Royal 22e Regiment, Pope's memoir is filled with engaging accounts of battle. Pope was captured by the Germans while recovering wounded members of his platoon. After a stint in a prisoner of war camp, he escaped his captors and fought with Italian partisans behind enemy lines. Returning to his regiment, Pope was later wounded in battle and taken off the line. Pope again joined the "VanDoos" as a company commander in Korea. He believed the best military training was received in combat and balked at commanders who lead from behind the lines. Pope adapted and improvised with every new experience to become a better commander.

After retirement from the Canadian Forces, Pope became a noted economic professor. William Henry Pope's story is more than engaging, it is instructive of what the formidable human spirit can achieve in life.