The book tells about the World War II escape and evasion experiences of Dick Schafer and details how allied airmen who were shot down behind enemy lines managed to walk or evade their way back to safety. Dick Schafer recounts how, upon returning to England after escaping enemy territory, his commander instructed him to take a U.S. silver dollar to a silversmith to fashion a custom “Winged Boot” pin/emblem to commemorate walking out of enemy territory.