Also, a special thank-you to Dan Haacker of the Milton Historical Society for helping me track down all things related to the Powells—birth records, marriage certificates, obituaries, real estate records, and newspaper clippings. Confirming many of the Powell family’s biographical details couldn’t have been done without his help.

This book also took me to Fort Huachuca, in Arizona. It was my first time on a military base and I had no idea where to go and how to search for archives. Thank you to Ret. General Julius Parker for answering my email and putting me in touch with Charles Hancock and Harlan Bradford, two veterans and members of the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Huachuca decades ago, and who took me on a tour of the installation. Thank you also to Dr. Kate Schmidli of the Fort Huachuca Museum.

Another base I visited was Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, which houses an impressive number of records of military nurses. Thank you to Col. Elizabeth Vane and archivist Carlos Alvarez for helping me sort through the material at the AMEDD Center of History and Heritage at Fort Sam Houston.

I relied on a number of books and papers written by various academics and historians. In some cases, I was able to interview the authors or exchange emails. I’d like to thank the following people in those categories: Professor Matthias Reiss of the University of Exeter; Steve Hoza, a military historian based in Arizona; Professor Charissa Threat of Spelman College; Professor Emeritus Arnold Krammer of Texas A&M; Professor Richard F. Wetzell, research fellow at the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C.; Professor Heide Fehrenbach of Northern Illinois University; Professor Marvin Dulaney of the University of Texas at Arlington; Barbara Schmitter Heisler, professor emerita of Gettysburg College; Professor David Imhoof of Susquehanna University; and Barbara Brooks Tomblin, author of G.I. Nightingales: The Army Nurse Corps in World War II. And thank you to Sarah Huebinger, who translated and transcribed many of my interviews.

Thank you to Diego Ribadeneira and the New York Times for publishing my article about Elinor and Frederick back in 2013. I’m convinced that having a byline in the Times is what a journalist dreams of.

I also want to thank Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. As an alum, as well as a current adjunct, I know I’m a better reporter and writer for having walked through those prestigious doors as a student many years ago. Before Columbia, I went to the University of Virginia for a graduate program in government. It was rigorous and challenging and helped prepare me for the research process for this book.

I also had the great fortune to attend wonderful schools growing up in Dallas, Texas. Thank you to the Lamplighter School and the Greenhill School—two very special places that made getting an education an extraordinary experience. I truly cherish those years.