In full flight from the advancing Russian army; Nazi legions pour into Kamien-Koszyrski; Poland; in November 1943. The Nazi troops invade the town in a frenzy; routing townspeople from their homes and loading them onto horse-drawn wagons – the first step in what will become a nightmare journey to a German labor camp. Ten-year-old Tadeusz Gaweda; his parents; and seven brothers and sisters pile into a wagon with blankets; the clothes on their backs; and a few personal items. Fierce Ukrainian partisans twice ambush the convoy; killing indiscriminately. The Gaweda family and other survivors are jammed into unheated railroad boxcars for the final leg of their hellish trip. At the work camp; Tadeusz and his little sister survive yet another attempt on their lives. They only pretend to swallow the “medicine†handed out by guards – little red pills that are actually poison. Tadeusz and his family are rescued by advancing American GIs who liberated the camp. The soldier saviors become Tadeusz’s heroes; and by the time he emigrates to the United States in 1949; his dream is to join the United States Army. He tries to enlist but is turned away because of his age. After working in Polish bakeries in Brooklyn and Chicago; he realizes his dream in 1953 and embarks on a thirty-five-year career in the United States Army – four tours in Korea; two in Vietnam; and combat in the Dominican Republic and Grenada. As he rises rapidly in rank; medals; citations; badges; and other decorations cover the front of his uniform. In 1984 Gaweda reaches the pinnacle of his career when he becomes command sergeant major of the XVIII Airborne Corps; the top enlisted man among 84;000 soldiers. This also is a continuing love story. Gaweda’s wife; Edith; whose family was forced to leave Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland after the end of World War II; met her future husband after fleeing from communist East Germany through the Berlin subway system.
#561331 in Books Schocken 2002-03-05 2002-03-05Format: Deckle EdgeOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.54 x 1.46 x 6.62l; #File Name: 0805241884480 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. And a gift it is; to have a digital searchable edition of this reference bookBy Richard MalmedI have bought many copies of this book as gifts.And a gift it is; to have a digital searchable edition of this reference book.There are so many questions that Jewish People ask themselves or are asked by others.Martin Gilbert gives clear and concise answers.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. THANK YOU MARTIN GILBERT.By Joy Glunt; aka Arielle A. AaronThis book is wonderful in telling the story of The Jewish People. And it is so well written I can hardly believe I am reading a history book. Martin Gilbert was a wonderful writer; He was Winston Churchill's Official Biographer; and now we know why. Gilbert was a great historian; writer and author of over 80 books. He let me use some of his maps in one of my books and gave me some advice on being a writer that I will always cherish.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Letters to a Jewish soulBy P. JacobsonThis is a wonderful history of the Jews; not at all a dry historical text. I enjoyed it tremendously; and gained more than a few insights into my culture and history.
