“Truman only allowed Operation Paperclip to proceed on the condition that no Nazi party members were included. But the skill these men have to offer us is so valuable. Even the junior Germans I’m working with are skilled far beyond any of the Americans on my team. One senior German scientist was deemed to be so important, a team of US soldiers was sent into Berlin to capture him before the dust settled on the German capitulation. American lives were put at risk to secure that man’s knowledge. I can easily imagine officials at the Office of the Army Secretary looking at someone like him and deciding to whitewash his history.”

“Christopher Newsome can’t be comfortable with this,” I said uneasily.

“He said he’s come around to see the logic in it. He believes that those who were mixed up in the Party were probably forced to join.”

“Forced,” I scoffed. “There’s no circumstance on earth that would have convinced you or me to join the Nazi party.”

Calvin gave me a helpless look.

“That’s exactly what I said.”

“Don’t you have a right to know who you are working with? These men could be murderers, Calvin,” I pressed.

“I’m frustrated and concerned, sure. But I guess I have to remind myself that these Germans are locked up on base and no threat to anyone at Fort Bliss. We can learn from them now, then ship them home to face trial later, if that’s what the situation calls for.”

But over the years, more and more German scientists were brought across the Atlantic. And as the size of the team expanded, their privileges expanded too, until the Germans lived and worked on base but were free to do as they pleased. Calvin protested this fiercely—but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

“So…will these men still face trial once they finish sharing their knowledge with you?” I asked Calvin one day.

“I thought that was the plan, but…it’s looking like they’ll be offered permanent jobs. Maybe even citizenship.”

“But you said…you said some were probably party members. Some might even have been SS officers!” I exclaimed furiously. “We can’t just let them become Americans. What happened to justice for their victims?”

“I’m not thrilled about it either, Lizzie. But these men really can change the world. Their skills and knowledge can be the foundation of a space program. Space! One of the senior scientists is convinced we can get a man to the moon, and you know what? I’m starting to believe him.”

“The moon?” I repeated, staring at him in disbelief.