Immigrant Soldier: The Story of a Ritchie Boy

On a cold November morning in 1938, Herman watches in horror as his cousin is arrested. As a Jew, he realizes it is past time to flee Germany, a decision that catapults him from one adventure to another, his life changed forever by the gathering storm of world events. Part coming-of-age historical fiction, part immigrant tale, part historical Jewish fiction, this Ritchie Boys book succeeds among WW2 historical fiction books because it reveals the contribution of Jewish soldiers to the Allied cause. Immigrant Soldier follows the true story of a German Jew drafted into the US Army and sent to Europe to serve at the headquarters of the legendary General George S. Patton. Of the many fiction Holocaust books, this one tells a little-known story, packed with true-to-life historical details that entertain and educate.

Born during World War II and raised in 1950's in Laguna Beach, California, Kathryn Slattery knew little of her father's family story other than his childhood in Germany and sudden emigration to the U.S. in the mid-1930s. As a child she enjoyed reading, drawing, and spending long days at the beach. Then, at the age of seventeen, she went to Europe with her family. The trip ignited her love for travel and sparked her interest in World War II and the Holocaust. She studied Art and English at U.C.L.A in the early 1960s. After graduation she continued her education in art and education at the University of the Americas in Mexico City. The years afterwards passed, filled with teaching art, English and cooking, traveling around the world, raising a family, and volunteering for the Girl Scouts of the USA. In between Kathryn read everything she could get her hands on about the Holocaust. Finally she returned to her early love of writing, concentrating first on creating stories and articles for young people. She has been published in several highly rated magazines for the youth market. Immigrant Soldier, based on her uncle's World War II experiences, is her first novel. Kathryn lives in Laguna Beach, California, only steps from her childhood home. Besides writing, her main interests are travel, cooking and painting.