Rags to riches would also have been an appropriate title for this book. Duke was born in a log cabin during the Great Depression but rose to the pinnacle of his profession. He saw poverty first hand as his family lost their farm and had to move to town to become the first Drapers to leave farm life. Duke's father was drafted and spent more than four years fighting in Europe during WWII. His mother provided for the family by scaling bark from heated logs in a local log mill. His sister lived with his grandparents. School, church and dating activities of the period are described. Because of numerous life threatening experiences, local townspeople doubted that Duke would live to adulthood. University life is described along with the experiences of a young paratrooper sent to Germany to become an occupation soldier in Nazi Germany. Army life is detailed in humorous and not so humorous details. Travel to many European countries with the funny incidents broadened his cultural outlook on life. Later he was to travel to 55 countries. Talks with a survivor of the Dachau Concentration Camp and a leader of the French Resistance who was tortured by the Nazis showed him the stark reality of life. Readers of this book will be able to discover: 1.Where babies are used to commit crimes.2.How gypsies rob tourists. 3.Which countries allow men to touch women on buses and trains. 4.Which country allows men to spit on females who enter their bars. 5.Where spotted dick is a food item. 6.Where chicken tenders are fried chicken feet. The book concludes with travel incidents, university graduation, marriage and family life. Above all, the Christian way of life and its values are placed in proper perspective. Duke knew his Guardian Angel had saved him many times.