Grandma's House

I was reading today's obituaries, and came across one for a man I would have liked to know, named Frank Grey:

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Frank Grey, who was held in Stalag 17 by the Germans in World War II and known for his ability to avoid detection and escape, died Sunday of heart failure, his family said. He was 90.

Grey served 20 years in the Air Force and was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.

He was a tail gunner on a B-17 based in England during World War II when his plane was shot down and he was captured. His exploits at Stalag 17 were detailed in a 2004 book, "The Flame Keepers," by Ned Handy.

According to the book, Grey hid among 4,000 POWs as soon as he arrived at the infamous compound. After a three-day search by German guards and the Gestapo, they became convinced Grey had escaped.

Grey made his way into an adjoining POW compound, from which he would escape and make his way back to England, according to the book. He became known as the "grey ghost."

Grey received the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Purple Heart and the POW Medal.

What a cool guy!