London of course got the news with the morning edition. New York and the other major eastern United States cities wouldn't put out their papers for another five hours. The telegram and wireless were faster. It was just after three am that the first phone call woke up the household of Jonathon and Mary Hogan, in Cleveland, Ohio.

For most people, a phone ringing in the middle of the night is bad news. With several sons fighting in the war, the Hogan's were more aware of this than most.

John picked up the phone off the cabinet, "Hello?"

"Mr. Hogan, this is William Marsh, United Press International. I do have Mr. John Hogan, the father of General Robert Hogan, in Germany?"

"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number. My son Robert is a Colonel."

"Yes, yes, yes. That must be him! Your son was a prisoner of war, correct?"

"Son, I don't know what you're getting at, but my son is a Colonel. Yes, he's a prisoner, but he's not a General, and I don't know why you're calling me now at this hour."

"Sir, please don't hang up! It's news! Great news! Your son has done something amazing. The airwaves are full of it. Please sir, I only want to help you get up to speed and talk to the parents of such an amazing man. Can I come over? I know it's early, but this is breaking news, and everyone is going to be in a rush to talk to you."

"Do you know what time it is?" Was the incredulous reply.

Yes, sir. I'll stop at a bakery and bring some pastries, or donuts. And coffee, if I can find some. In the meantime, turn on the radio, and listen to the news. My name is William Marsh, with UPI, I live not too far away from you, I can be there in twenty minutes. Please sir, this may be the most important interview of the war. Cleveland has never been so proud. What do you say?"

John had been motioning Mary to warm up the radio. He felt exasperated, and confused. "Is this any type of bad news, is it going to bother my wife?"

"Oh no, sir! This is the best news of the war. You're going to be so proud. I will fill you in on anything you don't hear between now and when I can get there. I promise. I'll see you soon."

Marsh got off the phone and barked orders to two others staffers to get him pastries and coffee and bring them to the Hogan's home. He grabbed his notepad and ran out the door.

By the time he had made it to his car, the Hogan's phone had rung three more times, with each phone call being more confusing than the last. John was trying to listen to the radio. Finally, in exasperation, he laid the receiver next to the cradle so he wouldn't be bothered anymore. He joined his wife in the living room, to try and understand what the hubbub was about.

The radio was just as confusing as the phone calls were. Someone named General Robert Hogan had captured most of what was Southern Germany. It couldn't be their Robert, that was impossible. But as more and more of the story was re-told, it sounded more and more like their son. A prisoner of war, leading a bunch of prisoners to rescue downed airmen and smuggle them back to England. Even in the States, people had heard about Papa Bear, although most everyone thought he was another story made up for the press, and to sell war bonds. The Great Papa Bear, single-handedly holding off the Germans as they blew up bridges, captured Gestapo agents, and fought alone against the Axis. The only other mythical hero that could compare was the comic book version of Captain America.

The husband and wife clung to each other, both afraid for their son and proud at the same time. Both of their mouths were hanging open, in outright disbelief, or maybe denial. The top of the hour came by, and of course it was the lead story. The announcer gave the highest credibility to the story, that it came straight from Allied High Command, and was being reported all through Europe.

The were disturbed in their reflection by a rather loud knock on the door. John, still in his robe, went to the door. Opening the inside door, he looked out at a middle-aged man, in a rumpled suit and tie. Someone who looked as tired as his clothes portrayed, bound with an energy that sparkled in his eyes.

"Mr. Hogan, it is so nice to meet you," William started. As the men shook hands, John ushered the newsman into the house, and pointed to a chair in the living room. "Thank you for letting me come over and talk to you both. I certainly understand how early it is. I'm afraid your life is going to be topsy-turvy for the foreseeable future. If even half of what we are hearing is true, your son may be the greatest hero of the war."

"I can't believe, I mean, we can't believe what we're hearing. It sounds ridiculous that our Robert could be this Papa Bear," John said. Mary came into the room and stood behind his chair. She was nodding her head in acceptance of what her husband was saying.

"Well, I am here to tell you, and I hope you'll bear with me, because it's quite a story."

Both of the Hogan's nodded again.

"I got a telegram just after midnight, and reported to our office where I was instructed to be to get a radio call from our London branch. Obviously, the news broke there first." Over the next thirty minutes, William Marsh relayed the story in his notes of the exploits of Hogan's Heroes, as they were being called. The rescues, the sabotage, and finally the overall military takeover of almost a third of Germany. All while they were seemingly simple prisoners-of-war.

He was only stopped when another loud knock and a shout of acknowledgement about who the newcomer was. "I promised pastries and coffee," William said. "I've had some co-workers scouring Cleveland to find an open bakery or coffee shop." Two younger men were laying out a small breakfast buffet for the startled family. "I always try to keep my promises."

The Hogan's were both too shocked to even move. Finally, William put a Danish on a small plate for each of them, and poured them a small cup of coffee. "Please, you can't faint on me, I have too many questions."

"But this is ludicrous'" John snapped. "How could anyone get away with what you're saying our son did. If Patton hasn't gotten there yet, how could a bunch of POW's?"

"It appears as if your son was the infamous Papa Bear, rescuer of downed airmen, espionage agent extraordinaire, and working all the time right under the German's noses. The report we have is that he was running this operation right under the POW camp he was in."

The next two hours was filled with questions about Robert from his family, and about Robert from the reporter. At the end of it, John and Mary were as confused as they were at the beginning. Their Robert a master spy, espionage, and Papa Bear? They had gotten no news from anyone that he was this sort of hero. They were both very proud, scared too, and more than just a little bit angry for the risks he must have taken. But a Lieutenant General? And to have captured as much territory as the Allies? Ludicrous.

By the time William Morse left that morning, a few things had changed. UPI was sitting on the family of one of the biggest stories of the war, and they were not going to allow anything to interrupt that. Family members were there to help with all the interruptions, police were stationed outside to maintain some measure of calm. Morse's assistants had seen to that. Because the street was full of interested onlookers and dozens of reporters who only "wanted a quick word or two."

William Morse scored the biggest story of his life, one he intended to milk for weeks in a series of articles covering the heroes. He already had staff members in Detroit talking to the Kinchloe's and more out west looking for Sgt. Carter's family. The news was already trickling out with reports on Peter Newkirk and Louis Lebeau.

The public was insatiable for news about Hogan's Heroes as they were called in the press. Walter Hobson was finally able, with appropriate War Department clearance, to file his story. It only made page six. The stories were coming from hundreds of the men that Hogan and his crew had saved, and reports were even coming from some of the defectors that they had smuggled out.

The men closest to Hogan were elevated to mythical heroes. The public was lost in the sheer number of missions, and how much the men of Stalag 13 had affected the war. Crowds around the world were clamoring to meet the Heroes.

All this of course, got back to Berlin. Adolph Hitler screamed for over an hour. Arrest warrants were issued for anyone that could be found in the Luftwaffe chain of command. The High Command officers that were still in Berlin became very scarce. Hitler was ordering the arrest of almost anyone he could think of, or that was brought to his attention. He still had enough loyal troops in the capital to arrest and shoot anyone who displeased him.

Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, realized his name would soon come up. He made the mistake of trying to flee Germany at that point. His personal pilot, less briefed on the danger, flew south from Berlin toward what he thought was a safe route to Switzerland. The plane was intercepted and forced to land. Göring was added to the growing list of high German officials that had been captured by Hogan's forces.

He was simply transferred to another plane and flown directly to London. Of course, the news spread even before the plane landed. Another huge coup for Hogan and his men. The world went wild.

The Armies on both fronts raced toward Berlin.