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Code Name Dagger: The Incredible True Story of a World War II Soldier, Spy, and Special Forces Legend
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Expected 2 Mar 27The true story of Major Jerry Sage, an O.S.S. agent during World War II, who inspired Steve McQueen’s character in The Great Escape.
Jerry Sage was a Canadian-born American soldier, special forces operator, spy, and prisoner of war during World War II. He was notable for over 15 prison escape attempts leading to 15 sentences in solitary confinement, earning him the name "Cooler King," until his final successful escape, making him the inspiration for Steve McQueen's character in The Great Escape.
Sage was recruited into an organization run by William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan called the Office of the Coordinator of Information, which was the precursor to the Office of Strategic Services. He was one the first men from the Special Operations Branch to attend a training camp set up by the British Special Operations Executive outside of Toronto, Canada called Camp X. There, he learned the British methods of sabotage, reconnaissance, guerrilla warfare, underwater and amphibious assault, trailing suspects, and managing networks. The British gave him the nickname "Dagger," which he carried for the rest of his career.
Code Name Dagger is the thrilling story of Sage's exploits, detailing his operations in North Africa and his capture by the Nazis after the battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943. With new information, author Kevin Maurer thrillingly tells of Sage's experiences in a POW camp in Germany, his role in the "Great Escape," and his continual escape attempts and harassment of the Nazis until the end of the war.
A legend forgotten in the mists of time, Jerry Sage's name will once again be counted among the greatest American soldiers ever.
Jerry Sage was a Canadian-born American soldier, special forces operator, spy, and prisoner of war during World War II. He was notable for over 15 prison escape attempts leading to 15 sentences in solitary confinement, earning him the name "Cooler King," until his final successful escape, making him the inspiration for Steve McQueen's character in The Great Escape.
Sage was recruited into an organization run by William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan called the Office of the Coordinator of Information, which was the precursor to the Office of Strategic Services. He was one the first men from the Special Operations Branch to attend a training camp set up by the British Special Operations Executive outside of Toronto, Canada called Camp X. There, he learned the British methods of sabotage, reconnaissance, guerrilla warfare, underwater and amphibious assault, trailing suspects, and managing networks. The British gave him the nickname "Dagger," which he carried for the rest of his career.
Code Name Dagger is the thrilling story of Sage's exploits, detailing his operations in North Africa and his capture by the Nazis after the battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943. With new information, author Kevin Maurer thrillingly tells of Sage's experiences in a POW camp in Germany, his role in the "Great Escape," and his continual escape attempts and harassment of the Nazis until the end of the war.
A legend forgotten in the mists of time, Jerry Sage's name will once again be counted among the greatest American soldiers ever.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 2, 2027
About the author
Kevin Maurer
39 books90 followersKEVIN MAURER is an award-winning journalist and the bestselling coauthor, with Mark Owen, of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden. He has covered special operations forces for a decade.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A rousing biography of Canadian-born American, Major Jerry M. Sage, whose WWII exploits were melded into the character of Virgil Hilts in The Great Escape, one of the better classic WWII movies (I’ve probably watched it a million times just for this character played by Steve McQueen - I was young, he was hot; I relive my youth LOL).
Sage was an Air Force pilot recruited by William Donovan, head of the fledging Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He attempted over fifteen escapes from prison-of-war camps, being assigned to the “cooler” fifteen times and earning him the title of @
The Cooler King.” He was captured in 1943 in North Africa after the battle of the Kasserine Passe (a victory for Rommel) and was even housed at Stalag Luft III where the movie was set. His numerous escapes are given detail and Sage was definitely brazen, fearless and a menace for the Germans guarding the Stalag. Sage went on to work during the Cold War though this isn’t given as much detail. I did like his involvement in the movies having been filmed at the start of his career in John Ford training films. Ford also invited him to the filming of They Were Expendable where he met Esther Williams (I only add that as I loved her movies, especially the ones she swam in).
This is a short biography and good read for the escape exploits. I appreciated learning about Major Sage less for his relationship to Virgil Hilts but more for keeping the memory of WWII alive today in our looming fascist world. We cannot forget our history. It’s too important. Bringing back to life the heroes of those times goes a long way to ensure this.
WWII readers or readers who enjoy escape exploits should consider this book. It delivers.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this ARC.
Sage was an Air Force pilot recruited by William Donovan, head of the fledging Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He attempted over fifteen escapes from prison-of-war camps, being assigned to the “cooler” fifteen times and earning him the title of @
The Cooler King.” He was captured in 1943 in North Africa after the battle of the Kasserine Passe (a victory for Rommel) and was even housed at Stalag Luft III where the movie was set. His numerous escapes are given detail and Sage was definitely brazen, fearless and a menace for the Germans guarding the Stalag. Sage went on to work during the Cold War though this isn’t given as much detail. I did like his involvement in the movies having been filmed at the start of his career in John Ford training films. Ford also invited him to the filming of They Were Expendable where he met Esther Williams (I only add that as I loved her movies, especially the ones she swam in).
This is a short biography and good read for the escape exploits. I appreciated learning about Major Sage less for his relationship to Virgil Hilts but more for keeping the memory of WWII alive today in our looming fascist world. We cannot forget our history. It’s too important. Bringing back to life the heroes of those times goes a long way to ensure this.
WWII readers or readers who enjoy escape exploits should consider this book. It delivers.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
World War II brought us innumerable stories of individual courage. More than eighty years after the end of hostilities, historians continue to uncover and write about men and women who sacrifice everything for the cause of freedom and victory against tyranny.
The latest entry comes from Kevin Maurer with his new book Code Name Dagger: The Incredible True Story of a World War II Soldier, Spy, and Special Forces Legend.
If you were looking to cast someone as an ally American war hero, you likely could not have done better than Major Jerry Sage, an OSS agent personally recruited by agency founder William "Will Bill" Donovan. Sage was captured and imprisoned numerous times during the war earning the nickname "The Cooler King". One of his prison terms was at Stalag Luft III, home of the Great Escape. Some of Dave's exploits were incorporated into Steve McQueen's character in the film The Great Escape.
But Lauren's book goes beyond these basic facts and draws an insightful portrait of the man himself and what drove him to overcome numerous obstacles in his ultimate bid for freedom.
This is a must read for anyone who is interested in World War II and military history. Thanks to Mayer's hard work, one of America's great heroes will not be soon forgotten.
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to ore he's this book. No consideration was received in exchange for this review apart from the advanced digital copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 Stars
There's a special joy in learning a beloved movie character was based on a real person, then finding out the real guy was even more unhinged. That's Code Name Dagger. Steve McQueen's Cooler King was cool and detached. The real Jerry Sage treated captivity as a personal insult and responded accordingly, over and over, against terrible odds.
Maurer leans into the sheer audacity of the man rather than psychoanalyzing him, and mostly it works. Sage in North Africa is a one man supply chain disruption. Sage in the POW camp is a menace to German morale in ways that read almost comedic, until you remember failure meant execution.
Where it loses a star is proportion. So much of Sage's life happens after the POW camp, the postwar chaos in Europe, the early shaping of American special forces and intelligence work, and all of that gets crammed into something like an epilogue. I wanted more time in that postwar mess, especially the tension with Soviet forces, since that's the part that says something about the world Sage helped build rather than just the war he survived.
Still, a strong introduction to a guy history mostly forgot despite inspiring a Steve McQueen role. Fans of WWII escape stories and Special Ops history will tear through this. Just know it's an appetizer for a bigger meal.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
There's a special joy in learning a beloved movie character was based on a real person, then finding out the real guy was even more unhinged. That's Code Name Dagger. Steve McQueen's Cooler King was cool and detached. The real Jerry Sage treated captivity as a personal insult and responded accordingly, over and over, against terrible odds.
Maurer leans into the sheer audacity of the man rather than psychoanalyzing him, and mostly it works. Sage in North Africa is a one man supply chain disruption. Sage in the POW camp is a menace to German morale in ways that read almost comedic, until you remember failure meant execution.
Where it loses a star is proportion. So much of Sage's life happens after the POW camp, the postwar chaos in Europe, the early shaping of American special forces and intelligence work, and all of that gets crammed into something like an epilogue. I wanted more time in that postwar mess, especially the tension with Soviet forces, since that's the part that says something about the world Sage helped build rather than just the war he survived.
Still, a strong introduction to a guy history mostly forgot despite inspiring a Steve McQueen role. Fans of WWII escape stories and Special Ops history will tear through this. Just know it's an appetizer for a bigger meal.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.3. A really interesting nonfiction book on Jerry Sage, an OSS officer who was sent to Europe during WWII to conduct surveillance and counterespionage. The Steve McQueen character in the 1960s movie, The Great Escape, was modeled on Sage. As he was imprisoned at a few POW camps, he became known as the “Cooler King”. What was most interesting to me is my father was a POW at the camp in Saga, Germany (primarily for Air Force prisoners) where the great escape occurred , but after the escape. Sage was there both before and after. The description of the camp actually gave me more information than I heard from my father on the conditions and treatment of the POWs. The book also documented the long march that the POWs were forced to undertake by the Germans to avoid the Russians in very cold and harsh conditions, which my father also was part of. Sage was an interesting character motivated by his desire to beat the Nazis. His observations of the Russian takeover of parts of Germany was particularly enlightening and helpful to the OSS. Sage was an impressive person: an athlete, intelligent, good leader, resourceful, but ruthless when needed I had never heard of him before. A very good read. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With great anticipation, I dove into this thrilling, cinematic biography of Major Jerry Sage, one of World War II’s most remarkable yet overlooked American heroes.
Born in Canada, Major Sage was a soldier, special forces operator, POW, and a trailblazer for the OSS, the precursor to the CIA and today’s US Special Forces. Known as “Dagger” for his unparalleled combat prowess, he executed daring missions in North Africa before being captured by Nazi forces.
Major Sage’s indomitable spirit made him a legendary escape artist, attempting to break free from captivity over fifteen times. His daring exploits earned him the nickname “Cooler King” and served as the direct inspiration for Steve McQueen’s unforgettable film character in The Great Escape.
Drawing on newly uncovered OSS archives, personal writings, and family stories, Kevin Maurer delivers a fast paced tribute to courage, ingenuity, and resilience. This inspiring read is a must for enthusiasts of WWII history and Special Ops.
**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#CodeNameDagger
Born in Canada, Major Sage was a soldier, special forces operator, POW, and a trailblazer for the OSS, the precursor to the CIA and today’s US Special Forces. Known as “Dagger” for his unparalleled combat prowess, he executed daring missions in North Africa before being captured by Nazi forces.
Major Sage’s indomitable spirit made him a legendary escape artist, attempting to break free from captivity over fifteen times. His daring exploits earned him the nickname “Cooler King” and served as the direct inspiration for Steve McQueen’s unforgettable film character in The Great Escape.
Drawing on newly uncovered OSS archives, personal writings, and family stories, Kevin Maurer delivers a fast paced tribute to courage, ingenuity, and resilience. This inspiring read is a must for enthusiasts of WWII history and Special Ops.
**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#CodeNameDagger
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Code Name Dagger by Kevin Maurer is a fascinating account of one man's journey through World War II that reads more like an adventure story than a historical account, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. The book focuses primarily on Sage's time as a prisoner in a German POW camp, which forms the emotional and dramatic core of the narrative. Intriguingly, the final chapter hints at an entirely separate book's worth of material , Sage's postwar contributions to special forces and intelligence services are touched on only briefly, leaving you wanting considerably more. The book also stops short of exploring his personal life and family in any meaningful way, which would have given the narrative greater depth and emotional resonance. Overall this is a gripping and well told piece of historical nonfiction. I would recommend it to anyone interested in World War II, the experience of POWs in German camps, and the turbulent aftermath of the war in Eastern Europe as the Russians advanced into Poland.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the team at Macmillan for this advanced readers copy.
In a tale that reads more like an action adventure novel than a standard historical, author Kevin Maurer takes us on the wild ride that explores the many (mis)adventures of Jerry "Dagger" Sage.
An OSS Operative, POW and man of indomitable spirit, who refused to give up, Jerry Sage is a Special Ops legend and the inspiration for Steve McQueen's character in the epic film The Great Escape.
This was such a fun and interesting read and I got through it so fast. It reminded me of Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre - the same kind of outrageous characters that are hard to believe were real men. From causing havoc for German supply lines in North Africa to being a menace in POW camps and the insane things attempted in the name of freedom, there's not a dull moment in this book.
My only quibble is that it ended too soon! The end of his time with the OSS and his career in military intelligence where touched on only briefly towards the end, and I would have loved to have had more about that .... Perhaps there will be another book, or maybe Code Name Dagger will get the Rouge Heros treatment and we'll see Jerry Sage on screen.
#netgalley #arc #codenamedagger #KevinMaurer
In a tale that reads more like an action adventure novel than a standard historical, author Kevin Maurer takes us on the wild ride that explores the many (mis)adventures of Jerry "Dagger" Sage.
An OSS Operative, POW and man of indomitable spirit, who refused to give up, Jerry Sage is a Special Ops legend and the inspiration for Steve McQueen's character in the epic film The Great Escape.
This was such a fun and interesting read and I got through it so fast. It reminded me of Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre - the same kind of outrageous characters that are hard to believe were real men. From causing havoc for German supply lines in North Africa to being a menace in POW camps and the insane things attempted in the name of freedom, there's not a dull moment in this book.
My only quibble is that it ended too soon! The end of his time with the OSS and his career in military intelligence where touched on only briefly towards the end, and I would have loved to have had more about that .... Perhaps there will be another book, or maybe Code Name Dagger will get the Rouge Heros treatment and we'll see Jerry Sage on screen.
#netgalley #arc #codenamedagger #KevinMaurer
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Really three different books in one.
First a thrilling swashbuckler following the exploits of OSS operative Jerry Sage. He's handsome, resourceful, charismatic and anti-Nazi to his core.
Second we follow his arduous journey through post-war Europe. His encounters with the Red Army are unsettling to say the least. He fights for basic necessities for refugees and the remaining Allied troops. I would have liked more time spent on this part of his story - his impressions of the coming Cold War were eye-opening.
Third is a superficial account of the dissolution of the OSS followed by a recruitment essay for the military.
I'm glad I read it. He's a fascinating guy with a unique military history and perspective. But I was disappointed by the weight given to the adventure story when there was clearly so much more depth to draw on.
First a thrilling swashbuckler following the exploits of OSS operative Jerry Sage. He's handsome, resourceful, charismatic and anti-Nazi to his core.
Second we follow his arduous journey through post-war Europe. His encounters with the Red Army are unsettling to say the least. He fights for basic necessities for refugees and the remaining Allied troops. I would have liked more time spent on this part of his story - his impressions of the coming Cold War were eye-opening.
Third is a superficial account of the dissolution of the OSS followed by a recruitment essay for the military.
I'm glad I read it. He's a fascinating guy with a unique military history and perspective. But I was disappointed by the weight given to the adventure story when there was clearly so much more depth to draw on.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Code Name Dagger” was a fascinating book. I was unfamiliar with Jerry Sage and his impact on OSS and later the Special Forces. I enjoyed reading about the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Jerry Sage and his fellow OSS operatives, as well as fellow prisoners of war during his time as a POW. I appreciated that Sage made the effort to learn about the people around him, including seeking to learn foreign languages. In large part this was strategic, as knowing foreign words and phrases and showing an interest in others was a way to gather intelligence that could help him and others survive. However, I also got the sense that he was genuinely interested in others. I am glad there are men and women willing to do what he did.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a truly amazing account of Jerry Sage's career as an OSS agent and special forces operator during World War II.
Highlights include:
How he was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to serve as an agent and special forces operator.
His training for that role.
Remarkably detailed descriptions of the prisoner-of-war camps, contrasted with the concentration camps the Germans operated elsewhere. Some of the most striking details concern the camp commandant, and the worms in the soup that served as an unlikely source of protein.
The true highlight of the book, however, is his multiple prison escape attempts — which earned him the nickname "Cooler King."
Highlights include:
How he was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to serve as an agent and special forces operator.
His training for that role.
Remarkably detailed descriptions of the prisoner-of-war camps, contrasted with the concentration camps the Germans operated elsewhere. Some of the most striking details concern the camp commandant, and the worms in the soup that served as an unlikely source of protein.
The true highlight of the book, however, is his multiple prison escape attempts — which earned him the nickname "Cooler King."
July 6, 2026
"The Great Escape" has always been one of my favorite movies but I never knew that the character Steve McQueen played was an actual person. This isn't a dense history book but one that puts you in the middle of the action. I liked the perspective of this biography being told in third person with the occasional historical background provided. I'm only giving it 4 stars as I had trouble following some parts of the story since I listened to the audio version but perhaps I would have understood better reading the physical copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The narrative reads like a fast-paced novel. Readers will become fans of Jerry Sage, the hero of the story. The book, though focused on Sage's famous exploits, weaves a history of World War II with a fair representsation of both sides. In spite of many years between the events and the writing the story is still relevant.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Code Name Dagger is a cinematic look at the life of Major Jerry Sage. Thrilling, but also with great attention to detail Kevin Mauer brings this incredible story to life. The book is exiting and adventurous but still shows the harsh realities these brave men faced during the war. A true pleasure to read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read Code Name Dagger. This is the amazing story of Jerry Sage. This was a man that wanted to take down the Nazis. His story of OSS Agent to prisoner of war to Special Forces is incredible. Jerry Sage was an absolute Legend and this story is one every history lover needs to read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an excellent retelling of the adventures and exploits during WWII of Jerry Sage, a founding member of the OSS which became the CIA. The story is always captivating and makes you want to find out more of the history around his history after the world war.
Highly Recommended!
Highly Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews