About the author:
Michael Eberhardt is a former federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York where he served as the Deputy Chief of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Strike Force in the 1970s. Subsequently, he served in senior counsel positions with House of Representatives Assassination Committee and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. His service thereafter in a senior executive position at the DOD Office of Inspector General resulted in recognition from the Secretary of Defense with a Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service and the John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Service from the Attorney General.
Then, as a lawyer in private practice, he was a partner with a Washington, D.C. firm representing military contractors. He became General Counsel of a Fortune 500 defense contractor. Subsequently, for fifteen years he directed his own successful consulting company providing monitor and oversight services to government contractors.
He served six years in the Marine Corps reserves and is the co-author of several books and publications relating to his father’s WWII POW experiences at Stalag Luft III, the site of “The Great Escape.” He has been active in supporting WWII POW initiatives and events.
He is a member of several historical societies and has published various articles including some involving family members who were Tombstone – era figures of some prominence during the late 1800s.
His Medal of Honor research has resulted in the placement of historical plaques for over 90 Medal recipients in Texas, Arizona, Illinois and Indiana, and in January 2025 his research resulted in the issuance of Medals of Honor for two soldiers whose 1906 approvals for Medals had not been communicated by the War Department to the recipients and both died never knowing of the approvals. The Medals were presented to granddaughters of each recipient based on documents provided by Mr. Eberhardt to the Department of the Army.