Walt Gragg is an attorney and former state prosecutor. Prior to law school, he spent a number of years in the military. He is a Vietnam veteran and has had many interesting assignments, including a tour with Special Forces (Green Berets). Of special significance, he served at the United States European Headquarters in Germany, where the idea for The Red Line took shape. Being privy to the actual American plan for the conduct of the defense of Germany and having participated in a number of war games while in Germany gave Gragg the knowledge and experience to lend authenticity to many of the novel's events.