. >>> but we start tonight with frederick von stuben. he was born in 1730 in the kingdom of prussia, an area that is now modern day germany. at 17, he joined the prussian army and fought in the seven years war. it was one of the most sophisticated and powerful armies in the world. he had a distinguished military career, eventually becoming a top aide to frederick the great. he's also believed to have been an openly gay man, which is no small thing in the 1700s in prussia. in 1763, he was abruptly dismissed from the prussian army. it was rumored at the time he was let go because he was gay. so with no job and nowhere to go, he went to america. he arrived in the states in the throes of the revolutionary war, in 1777. the continental army was losing. they had just suffered through a bitter winter at valley forge. the troops were demoralized. they were living in filth. they were untrained. george washington needed someone to whip his men into shape, to teach them how to properly fight a war. and it was right around that time that george wash