Secret Soldiers

They were Eisenhower's secret weapon-an elite troupe of artists, actors, electronics wizards, designers, and writers. These men created dazzling theatrical battlefield ruses, fooling the German high command into attacking the wrong place, defending the wrong bridgeheads, even retreating from phantom attackers.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. helped pioneer the tactics of this unlikely band of heroes, which included future fashion king Bill Blass, abstract painter Ellsworth Kelly, and artist Hal Laynor.

Drawing on recently declassified records, interviews, diaries, and letters, Secret Soldiers provides a fascinating and long-overdue tribute to these uniquely talented soldiers.