“… an engaging portrait of two lives filled with human longing and the costs of being different.” —BlueInk Review A man and a boy whose lives unexpectedly connect are impacted in improbable ways. Private Hank Cummings didn’t ask for the fate that befell him during his service in WWII. Saving the lives of three men from the burning wreckage of a B-29 left him a hero, albeit scarred and disabled. But when his personal secret was revealed, he recoiled into a life of seclusion and solitude for much of his adulthood. Never losing his spirit and will to endure, he persevered through his hardships, finding the determination to live a full and prosperous life. His humility caused him to resist the hero’s legacy he so richly deserved and would posthumously receive. Thirty years after a chance meeting with an inquisitive thirteen-year-old boy, the two reunite in Hank’s final days, mending tragedy and suffering into self-discovery, peace, and purpose for both. “…an evolving friendship between a boy and a man… a sense of tragedy that morphs into heroism and love, at the end.” —Midwest Book Review "This wonderfully written work is thought-provoking on many issues, such as the cost of war, not just financially but also emotionally, and its impact on society." -- Frank Mutuma, Readers' Favorite "... a beautiful, well-written look at human relationships and the importance of what is in a person's heart, rather than any outward appearance. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it." --Grant Leishman, Readers' Favorite "... the characters take the reader's hand and lead them through the heartbreaking story of Hank and the fact that he was gay and how the army treated him after he had valiantly saved soldiers to the detriment of his safety." --Bernadette Longu, Readers' Favorite "...a deep story with a focus on respect and acceptance in the face of bias that will leave an indelible impression on all readers." --Essien Asian, Readers' Favorite "... an engaging portrait of two lives filled with human longing and the costs of being different." --BlueInk Review "From its early consideration of men-loving-men (even while married, back home) in the military to coping with PTSD nightmares and writing efforts and forming new relationships from a vastly revised personality and lifestyle, Private Cummings delves into the darker secrets of service aftermaths that are not usually given such revealing consideration. Pete McGinty's hard-hitting novel goes where few have gone before, and will likely prove both controversial and enlightening to readers anticipating a more staid, traditional view of military experience and its aftermath." --Midwest Book Review Blue Ink Review Author Pete McGinty's tough-talking but ultimately sweet novel dwells on the challenging life of a gay WWII hero and the young writer whose future he impacts. The first part of the book describes Henry "Hank" Cummings' experiences as a private in the Army who discovers love with a fellow soldier. After officers learn of his sexual orientation, Hank is stripped of the medals awarded for helping rescue crewmates when his bomber crash-landed in Guam. Scarred and humiliated, Hank retreats into writing short stories, then novels, until his wife finally ends their empty marriage. When his troubled mother commits suicide and his sister dies of cancer, Hank is alone in rural Ohio in 1973. The second section describes the summer of 1973 from the perspective of 13-year-old Jonny, whose intense interest in Hank, along with the intrusive curiosity of his friends, brings the two face-to-face in an exchange that will, in the book's third and final section, told from grown-up Jonathan's perspective, turn out to deeply shape the young man's life. Thirty years after their first meeting, Jonathan takes over Hank's literary estate and writes the life story of this man he so deeply respects. This shared story of a man who endures and another who dreams is told in clipped, easy prose that moves swiftly, even when the action seems static. Dialogue is vivid, distinct, and true to the vocabulary of young boys, as well as to the language of the time-period around disability and sexuality. The main characters are developed with vivid detail, like Hank's learning to type with a few remaining fingers (one of many injuries suffered in the bomber crash), or Jonny's knuckleball. McGinty is polished at scenes of interpersonal conflict and verbal sparring. The novel's larger arc leans heavily on a heroic summation of Hank's life that pushes readers toward conclusions, but overall, this is an engaging portrait of two lives filled with human longing and the costs of being different.