Sometimes a memento means more than a simple token of times past, and carries deeper meaning of a family’s history that can tell a story all its own.

Second-grader Tommy Haus was amazed by the ancient-looking footlocker that he found in his attic. It was filled to the brim with a tattered Prussian Army uniform, scattered gold buttons, papers and a military sword! 

Tommy couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was Caspar’s Sword. The sword in the old army trunk belonged to his great-grandfather, Captain Caspar Haus, who emigrated to Chicago from Germany years before, bringing the Haus family to a new life in America. 

With the help of a neighbor who is an amateur genealogist, Tommy and his family use the sword to discover keys to his ancestor’s past. 

What kind of life did Caspar live as a soldier and what sacrifices did he make to come to a new country? Tommy learns all about his roots and it all starts with Caspar’s sword. This indelible story will stay with readers and make them want to research into their own ancestry.   

About the Author

Author Denise Hirota grew up in Santa Ana, California. Her husband, Tom, joined the military in 1976, and they set out to see the world. Married 33 years, they live near Olympia, Washington, and have a 31-year-old daughter, Bethany. Ten years ago, the author began researching her relatives who came from Europe. The first was her great-grandfather, whose name was Caspar.