John T. Mitzel

Overdosing on TV classics like "Combat" and "The Rat Patrol" during his youth led the author to an obsession with all things related to World War II, whether under or on top of the water, or on land, or in the air.

What started as an inquiry into his father's activities during WW2 became an obsession as the gripping story of the 781st Tank Battalion and their overlooked contribution to winning the war came to light.

John T. Mitzel lives with his wife, Kim, on a farm in Southern New Hampshire with a lot of olive drab items. He is currently restoring a 1944 Ford Jeep because as he puts it: "I couldn't afford a halftrack, or a tank, or a destroyer, or a P40!"

"Duty Before Self" is his first book. Using data from the National Archives, US Army reports, "Duty Before Self" is liberally seasoned with personal, first-hand accounts from 781st veterans with many never-before-seen period photographs.