Introduction

What would you do if you discovered the stories
told by your grandfather were lies?

That question launched a year-long journey of discovery for author Steven Leek. 
Elmer’s War: Uncovering a Hero’s Secret Life details that search, ultimately exposing
the dark secrets his grandfather spent his life hiding.  

“Originally, I planned on sharing what I’d discovered just with family members,” says Leek,
“But the experience was so intense, shocking, and eye-opening that I was determined to
turn it into a full-length book.”  

Part biography, part historical mystery, part psychological thriller, and part how-to for
family researchers, Elmer’s War is a fascinating journey down the dark and twisting
tunnel of one man’s complicated life.

“The details, the humor, the bit-by-bit revelations and ironies that Leek uncovers in his quest—
all make for a rich, family-saga detective tale."

— Ron Arias, senior writer, People Magazine; author of “Moving Target: A Memoir of Pursuit”