He joined the Prussian Army when he was 17 and later became an American military officer fighting for our freedom. He fought not only for Germany but also led countless outsourced military operations. The Prussian Army was feared around the world so a lot of military leaders from other countries liked to contract their services. Some of them were even hired by the Brits to fight against us during the war. Not Friedrich of course, he went all in with the colonists. Because he fought in all kinds of terrain and in all kinds of weather during his service overseas, Friedrich had tremendous insight especially into logistics (acquiring food, water, weapons, etc.), during a military campaign. This is what wins battles.
He served as Inspector General and a Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Both he and George Washington helped change the way soldiers fought. Some call what they came up with, guerilla warfare. Britain liked going through all the pomp and circumstances out in an open battlefield. It was always very beautifully choreographed. Instead, we were attacking out of nowhere and they didn't know what to do. They couldn't get a lot of their weapons into the forest or other areas our patriots were positioning themselves in. It was brilliant.
He was one of the fathers of the Continental Army in teaching them the essentials of military drills, tactics, and discipline. He wrote Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, the book that served as the Army's drill manual for decades. He served as General George Washington's chief of staff in the final years of the war.
Why do I mention the above, because he deserves it. I consider him one of the least heralded heroes during the American Revolution. Even West Point began teaching some of Friedrich's strategies and tactics after the war. Some of his ideas are still being implemented. Amazing! Thank you Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben!