Louis LeBeau is born somewhere in France sometime during the first decade of the 20th century. His father owns a paint store. Other than his father, his only other known relative is his cousin, Emil, who is a big game hunter. LeBeau went through the French educational system, during which he learns to play the piano. He also learns how to cook, either learning it from his mother, or from a cooking school, or a combination of the two. Sometime before the start of World War II, LeBeau is going out with a girl whom he did or did not later marry. At some point, more than likely between the Munich Crisis of 1938 and the French declaration of war on Nazi Germany of September 3, 1939, LeBeau is drafted into the French military and after training, is posted to the French Air Force. Sometime after the declaration of war, he is posted to an air unit which spends the drôle de guerre period of 1939-40 preparing for the German attack. It is to be assumed that he is involved in the Battle of France and is captured by the Germans either during the campaign, or at some time after France's surrender of June 25, 1940 in the vicinity of Salon. He was placed in a German prisoner of war camp along with hundreds of his countrymen. Some time between then and his being sent to Stalag 13, he is strung up by his thumbs by the Gestapo while being interrogated for information. In 1942, LeBeau is transferred to Stalag 13. At some point after his transfer, LeBeau joins Hogan's Anti-Nazi organization to fight back at the Germans. LeBeau helps with the group's general work of spying and sabotage, including photography of secret German papers. He has also befriended the camp's guard dogs so that they would not raise the alarm on either him or his fellow prisoners. For entertainment, LeBeau joins the other prisoners in playing cards in the barracks, or volleyball, basketball or horseshoes during exercise period. "And I cooked that whole pot of chow mein... with sauerkraut." At times, he helps with the tailoring of the disguises that he and the other prisoners would wear for certain missions. LeBeau washes the clothes of the POWs when needed, using a special German detergent. He also has some skill with a razor. His cooking skills are not only used to keep the other prisoners reasonably healthy to conduct their missions, but also to help distract the German officers who come to the camp as Klink's guest with the best in either French or German cuisine. LeBeau also uses his cooking to make German foods such as strudel and potato pancakes; these are used to bribe the Germans. "Hogan's Heroes" tv series Robert Clary