Twelve men were aboard the ill-fated Sea Surveyor when it sank in rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean 50 years ago. Walter “Wally” Banzhaf was the youngest of the 12 on this secret military mission and was one of the survivors. He will share his story over a two-part series that begins with this episode. It is a mesmerizing tale that you won’t soon forget.

A Connecticut man had a distinguished career in World War I as a member of the prestigious, 10-member motorcycle courier squad carrying top-secret documents on behalf of General John Pershing, head of U.S. forces in Europe. As the only non-professional motorcyclist on the squad, Carlton Stevens achieved notoriety when coming under gunfire while riding at top speeds in 1918 of 45 miles per hour. He was given an amazing task that set him apart in a dare-devil ride that held the fate of World War I in his satchel. The story is told by his grandson, Eric Stevens.

The man who is the #1 syndicated creator of word puzzles in the U.S. is a CT native. David L. Hoyt is the author behind Jumble, as well as two for USA Today: “Word Round-up” and “Up and Down Words.” His story of getting involved in the puzzle world is fascinating – including the fact that his life’s dream was much different when he was in CT.