Custer Survivor, by John Koster. The story of Frank Finkel, who according to Koster may be survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn/Custer's Last Stand. Without dispute, an August Finckle served as a second sgt. in Tom Custer's Company C. Many years later a prosperous and highly-regarded farmer in Dayton, Washington claimed that he was Sgt. Finckle, and had kept quiet since he feared accusations of desertion in the face of the enemy. Five or six modern handwriting analysts believe that the signature on Sgt. Finckle's enlistment documents was a match to Frank Finkel's signature. The great Sioux warrior Rain-in-the-Face and other Sioux and Cheyenne witnesses claim that a trooper from Tom Custer's Company c in fact escaped alive.