THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

Starting on the 18th November 2019 - Q&A with Sherwin Gluck about his new book; "Private Good Luck".

Private Good Luck by Sherwin Gluck
Description:
Five months have passed since the start of World War II. German U-boats are hunting British passenger ships in the North Atlantic and daily life in a rural Hungarian village in what had recently been Czechoslovakia is increasingly restricted by anti-Jewish laws. Yet, with their father’s blessing, four siblings overcome two years of bureaucratic hurdles and flee to America in search of a better life. With only a dollar and a dime in his pocket, the youngest brother begins his pursuit of the American dream, only to have it interrupted by the war. Not yet a citizen, he’s inducted into the Army and chooses to serve in the infantry in order to defend his newfound American freedom, champion the honor of his people, and save the family he left behind. Throughout his service, small serendipities repeatedly safeguard him from almost certain death. From the battlefields of Monte Porchia and Anzio in Italy with the 6th Armored Infantry Division to occupied France and Germany with the 67th MP Company, his courage, kindness, and optimism are inspirational. Join him on his transformative journey and learn how his story will be forever linked with the triumph and tragedy of World War II.

I just wanted to share some of the early reviews that "Private Good Luck" has received...

- "I found the book so authentic. As a second generation survivor I’ve read other memoirs. Private Good Luck was the most detailed with documentation and photos. The book was a very easy quick read. I couldn’t put it down. I recommend the book highly.” ★★★★★

- "I enjoyed reading Private Good Luck very much. It’s such a heartfelt story that often brought tears to my eyes.” ★★★★★

- “Wow!”

- "This is an amazing story."

Regarding the collection from which Private Good Luck is based, a curator from the US Holocaust Museum in Washington wrote: "Thanks for sharing your family’s extraordinary trove of correspondence, documents, photos, and artifacts. It is amazing that all of this material has been saved and that it has been translated and organized so well...My colleagues and I are extremely excited about your collection. This is a remarkably comprehensive documentation of one family's experiences.”

It sounds like an excellent story Sherwin, so what was the motivation for you to write this book?

This was my Dad's true story. I've written it in his voice, and he approved it before his death 3 years ago. Growing up, he told me bits and pieces, but it wasn't until 2006 that I decided to formally interview him. One motivating factor was that I didn't want to be that person who says "Well, my Dad served somewhere, or he came from such and such village, but I don't know anything more because I didn't ask while he was alive." The book grew out of the series of interviews that I did with him, as well as my attempt to find out exactly what happened to his family back in Europe. Additionally, I was also fortunate to have encouraged him to translate our family's collection of letters from Hungarian to English. These include more than 1,100 letters and correspondence dating from the years 1938 through 1945, and later, from him and his family: my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, including children who expressed their desire to come to America but were instead murdered by the Nazis. Through these letters, I learned the small, but fascinating first hand details that I included in the story. Finally, despite the Nazi effort to destroy their own records, I was able to find original concentration camp documents that show my family's movement from Hungary to Auschwitz and to Mauthausen.

My mission was to combine all this information into a cohesive, compelling, factual narrative that would capture my children's attention, and hopefully educate others.

Sounds like a fascinating family history! Did your research take you overseas or anywhere interesting and did you uncover any information or material that you were not aware of before starting your research?

About 9 months after my Dad died, we went as a family to Italy to retrace, as much as we could, my Dad’s journey as a combat soldier. We took a guided tour of Anzio and Nettuno, and stood next to the "Pine Woods" where my Dad "lived" from January '44 until breakout, and then drove south past Monte Cassino to climb Monte Porchia. I write about this in the book's epilogue because of the many "surprises" along the way. Most importantly, I found the exact location where a particular photo of my Dad was taken. However, just being in these locations allowed me to describe them more faithfully than I could have, had I just based their descriptions on my Dad's explanations alone. The attack on Monte Porchia was described as "suicidal" and seeing it with my own eyes, gave a clear understanding why. Something as simple as driving on Highway 6, south from Rome to Cassino, clarified the highway's significance in the battle, as did seeing the proximity of Monte Cassino to Monte Trocchio and Monte Porchia.

That's a great story and I bet it meant a lot to walk and see the places your dad experienced.

It took me a while to finish the book because, frankly, I didn’t want it to end. The history, interspersed with the various letters that were sent between the family members and others, as well as the great volume of documents, allowed me to “see” even more of the history of those years and how the subject of the book was able to survive. It is a truly fascinating book and is a tremendous addition to all the books written so far about the Holocaust and how the Jews were either able to survive or unfortunately were murdered and driven out of their homes. It is a tremendous effort showing the spirit of the people who made every effort not only to remove themselves from the torture of those years but also to establish families and become viable members of society in America. This is a must read and would be an invaluable addition to anyone’s holocaust library.
Barry Mandel

It really was very meaningful to be in the same places that I knew my Dad had been 73 years earlier! Strange as it may sound, it felt as though my Dad, through his story, was our guide!

Exciting news! I just received word that after reviewing my book for accuracy, the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC has agreed to sell "Private Good Luck" in their book store!

Congratulations!

Excellent news Sherwin, well done!

Just received confirmation that “Private Good Luck” will be carried by the National Museum of American Jewish Military History in their museum shop.