Larry Laverty's uncle, World War II veteran Bernard R. Ross, was one of several inspirations for making the film. Capt. Bernard Ross, U.S. Army, was one of many heroes of the Battle of the Bulge and was decorated for risking his own life to save others.
Another inspiration for the film was Larry's family friend, John Cyrus McIntire. Lieutenant Commander McIntire, stationed aboard the battleship West Virginia, survived December 7th at Pearl Harbor and went on to serve as executive office aboard the destroyer Frankford- one of a handfull of destroyers that moved in under enemy fire and risked running aground to make the breakout possible from Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944, D-Day.