HHF is happy to present an early Lunch & Learn Lecture! On Thursday, March 27th, William Geroux, an award-winning journalist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, will give a lecture on his most recently published book, “The Fifteen.”

Bring your own lunch or order one at the American Legion (desserts and drinks provided) and enjoy this special presentation! This event is free and open to the public.

Location: American Legion Post 146, 217 East City Point Road, Hopewell

Time: 12 - 1 PM

Lecture overview: Geroux will present the story of his just-published book "The Fifteen," a true story of murder, mayhem, and "hostage diplomacy" out of the vast network of German prisoner-of-war camps that spanned the United States during World War II. Nearly 400,000 captured German soldiers were held in hundreds of camps across America, where they provided a desperately needed source of labor to farms, industries, and businesses (including some in and around Hopewell). All seemed to be going well until hardcore Nazis in the camps started killing fellow prisoners who had turned away from Nazism. Fifteen German POWs were convicted of murder by secret U.S. military tribunals and sentenced to hang at Fort Leavenworth. When Nazi Germany learned of our plans to execute those men, it immediately rounded up fifteen American POWs, sentenced them to death for mostly minor offenses, and proposed a trade.