While Japanese and American forces fight mercilessly for control of the Philippines in 1945, two men, a Japanese infantry officer and an American P-51 fighter pilot, meet in a fearsome battle that leaves the Japanese officer dead. Half a century later, the fighter pilot’s son, author Frederick E. LaCroix, inherits the officer’s bloodied, Kanji-inscribed Imperial battle flag, which was given to the father as a memento of his victory. The flag, coupled with his father’s wartime correspondence, propels LaCroix on a six year journey across eastern Asia to find the dead officer’s family and return the flag.

The Sky Rained Heroes details the emotional true stories of two soldiers from vastly different cultures, their families, and the diverse paths that led them to their fatal meeting. Drawing from their actual wartime experiences, the book is a unique and powerful narrative that brings the dramatic events of World War II to life and honors those who fought so bravely.