On February 15, 1946, the life of US Army Technician Fifth Grade Floyd O. Hudson Jr. was cut short by fellow soldiers–all over a thrown beer bottle while still on active duty. Private Hudson’s life had such promise. He and his brothers, who lived an idyllic life growing up at the Llangollen estate in Upperville, Virginia, were a successful music trio that had caught the eye and ear of Gene Autry, who was prepared to mentor them in the music industry. Unfortunately, those dreams suddenly ended for the Hudson brothers that awful night in Asperg, Germany.

Unfriendly Fire provides details of that night, gleaned from actual trial transcripts, which resulted in the conviction of three soldiers, who were sentenced to be hanged. It also includes a mysterious attempt by high-level politicians to commute the death sentences to hard labor. Due to a successful FOIA request on the eventual fate of these soldiers, we now know if that attempt succeeded.

But Unfriendly Fire also serves as a repository of a young soldier’s musings on life and love, through dozens of letters written to his mother back home. Included in this book are images heretofore unpublished, which help tell the story–photos, newspaper clippings, Nazi memorabilia, and other period images.