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Cover of Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die showing the silhouette of a soldier looking at the sun in an orange sky

What People are Saying

“David E. Grogan has written a wonderful book that explains what it means to serve, what it means to be a veteran, and what all of us can learn from their lives of service, both when these men and women wore the uniform and after they came back home to live among us.”
—Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.)

“David E. Grogan brings the storytelling craft he honed through writing his fiction thrillers to these real-life accounts that will stretch your imagination and stir your soul.”
—John G. Blumberg, National Speaker and Author of Return On Integrity

Learning to Live
from Those Willing to Die

by David E. Grogan

Using the engaging lives of twenty-six veterans whose service spans from World War II and the Vietnam War to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die explores what makes veterans successful in peacetime and in war.

For many, their time in the military was the defining event in their lives.

Military experience made some better and more confident leaders.
For others, it left scars they had to overcome.

Either way, their lives are rich with experiences you can learn from, with their stories offering a unique opportunity to help you lead a more fulfilling life.

Your purchase directly helps veterans—all Amazon author royalties from Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die are donated to America’s VetDogs, which provides guide and service dogs to veterans and first responders.

Learn More

The Steve Stilwell Thriller Series

Cover of The Hidden Key by David E. Grogan

Signed copies make great, inexpensive, unique gifts!

You can order signed copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion and The Siegel Dispositions directly from me and shipping anywhere in the U.S. is free! Just visit my online bookstore to place your order. You will be able to specify who you would like each book signed for.

Voices To Veterans

Check out Voices To Veterans for inspiring true-life stories about American veterans. From World War II to the present, Voices to Veterans honors the U.S. military, one veteran at a time. Based on my interviews with the veterans, a new story is added every month. The latest story is below, but you can check out all of the stories under the Voices to Veterans tab. All of the stories are free and each one takes only a few minutes to read.

A young man in his Merchant Marine uniform in during World War II

October 16, 2025

Radio Telegraph Operator Second Class Leon Schiff, U.S. Merchant Marine – A Will to Serve During World War II

After the United States entered World War II, the American public rallied behind the war effort. Everyone contributed by recycling metals, accepting shortages of consumer goods so war materials could be produced instead, and buying war bonds. Even more significant, millions of men volunteered to serve in the armed forces. Yet not all who wanted to serve in the military could. Some had crucial jobs in agriculture and industry, so they could not be released to serve. Others like Radio Telegraph Operator Second Class Leon Schiff faced different barriers. Leon was so nearsighted, the military would not allow him to volunteer. Undeterred and committed to doing his part to bring about the defeat of Germany and Japan, Leon volunteered in 1944 to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine—an underappreciated yet crucial component of the Allied victory in the war.

Book Clubs

Women in book club holding books by David E. Grogan

If your book club is interested in reading Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and/or The Siegel Dispositions, contact me at davidegrogan@gmail.com to purchase signed copies for all of your club’s members. Special book club pricing is available and we can also discuss having me FaceTime into your book club meeting when you discuss the book.