The author grew up in Indiana, then served in the US Army at an Army Security Agency Field Station on the East German border. After leaving active duty, he continued to serve in the Army Reserve, finally retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer Five in Military Intelligence. While serving in the Reserves, he pursued a highly successful career as a high school foreign language teacher, specializing in German, Russian, and Spanish. He still teaches at a prestigious high school in Central Ohio. He and his wife, Susan, have two children and four grandchildren. They enjoy traveling in the United States