Author of World War II nonfiction and biography
NEW RELEASE
MAN OF CONFIDENCE
Kenneth J. Kurtenbach–WWII’s Longest-Serving American POW Camp Leader
An inspiring biography of leadership, dignity, and survival behind barbed wire during World War II.
Man of Confidence offers a unique perspective on leadership under extreme duress and on how a 21-year-old airman fought for the rights of over 4,000 fellow POWs at Stalag 17B.
Shot down in December 1942 over Nazi-occupied France while flying with the Eighth Air Force, Kenneth J. Kurtenbach was captured and spent three years in German POW camps. Elected by his fellow prisoners as “Man of Confidence,” he defended their rights under the Geneva Convention, negotiating with their German captors and maintaining dignity and morale throughout captivity. He served in this role longer than any other American POW during World War II.
Drawing on archival sources and firsthand testimony, Kurtenbach’s story stands as a powerful testament to how trust, moral authority, and strong leadership sustained men through the harshest conditions of war.
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About Maureen
Maureen Buick is a nonfiction writer focused on uncovering and preserving untold stories from World War II. Her work explores leadership, resilience, and moral courage through meticulous archival research and narrative storytelling, with particular attention to airmen and prisoners of war.
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ALSO BY MAUREEN BUICK
FINDING BOMB BOOGIE
An award-winning story about a young American who flew bombing missions over the treacherous skies of Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II on a B-17 plane nicknamed “Bomb Boogie.”
Finding Bomb Boogie marked the start of my journey into World War II history. Through the story of my father being shot down and captured, the book shares my research process and details the sacrifices the Greatest Generation made so we can enjoy our freedoms today. That work laid the foundation for Man of Confidence, deepening my understanding of the experiences of those who endured captivity and often continued their struggles beyond the battlefield.