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In fact, the 82-year-old U.S. Army veteran has befriended one of the German rivals and still keeps in touch with him to this day.

That story and others are part of a book written about the St. Clair Shores resident's Army experiences. Joseph Mazzara, author of "Liberty Ship Survivor," will participate in a book signing with Laenen 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Book Shelf, 359 West Nepessing St., in Lapeer.

Fifty years after battle, Laenen journeyed to Germany to meet and forgive the man who sunk the Liberty ship. "I had no animosity toward these Germans," Laenen said. "They were fighting for their country as I was fighting for mine."

Time went by and Laenen said the two German men replied to his letters warmly. The three were supposed to meet for a reunion a few times. "We proceeded to write letters," Laenen said. "The first of the two men died in Frankfort. I thought there goes my acquaintance, but I met another guy who was on the submarine. That's the one I'm still in contact with, Anton Kretchmann. But it was circumstance. I just wanted to meet Anton. To this day we're still in communication and have been doing so since 2000."

Laenen survived having his ship torpedoed — barely. "I jumped in the water and the ship was sinking. There were 35 men in two lifeboats that were tethered together," he said. "The first mate said, 'This is crazy. Let's split this up.' We tried to stay together and I told him 'We've been together since fifth grade.'"

The first mate, also known as Tom Tschirhart, has bee a close from of since they meet in grade school. Laenen said his separation form Tschirhart was the beginning of 22 harrowing days spent adrift in the Indian Ocean before he was rescued by a British escort carrier. Laenen lost 22 pounds, and hallucinated during the ordeal in the tiny boat.

Laenen said during his time in the service, he was separated from his boyhood friend Tschirhart a few times. The two were always reunited, as they were that time when fate brought them back together in an Australian hospital. "On the 10th day the bed next to mine had been vacated and I was feeling pretty good," Laenen said. "I recognized this person sitting on the side of the bed who was emaciated and looked Japanese. I recognized him. It was Tom — he had been picked up on the Northwest side of Australia in a lifeboat. Thank goodness. I couldn't believe it. It was a miracle."

To this day, the pair stay in touch. Tschirhart lives in Lansing.

Laenen's daughter, Carrie Pleva of Lapeer is pleased the book about her father's war experiences has become a reality. "It's a true story about friendship," she said. "Dad and Tom ended up in the same calvary and aboard the Liberty ship. Tom now lives in Lansing, but it's more than an exchange of Christmas cards. It's a wonderful story of his life.

"Dad's had so many things happen to him. He's told the story to schools and veterans 54 times over the years. His message is freedom is not free and don't take it for granted."

Laenen is proud of the book being written about him and called it an "easy" read. "I've told my story 55 times and the basis is there are so many who don't know much about World War II. I feel I'm accomplishing something," he said.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com