Book Description
THIRTEEN IS MY LUCKY NUMBER is a vividly detailed memoir of a native Pole who was in high school when the Nazis invaded his country. Author Biega worked with the underground to harass the Germans, an activity that culminated in a 63-day uprising against the Nazi occupiers in 1944. It ultimately was crushed because the Soviets refused to help. He was wounded in a skirmish, & sent to a POW camp in eastern Germany. After the war ended, he walked three days to freedom. His language skills allowed him to work as a translator for the Americans & a liaison officer with the Polish army in exile in London. For four years he lived with his wartime bride through the scarcity of postwar London, working & waiting for a precious immigration visa to the United States. When it came, Biega joyfully became a part of a stream of immigrants that worked very hard to achieve success. The second part of this book is a portrait of a growing family in 1950s America, remembering their Polish roots but profoundly grateful for their American opportunity. It's a fascinating look at an aspect of World War II few Americans are familiar with, & a study of how hard work, optimism & luck can bring great rewards. To order Syrena Press, P.O. Box 490, Plainsboro, NJ 08536-9998 or Professional Press, 1- 800-277-8960, P.O. Box 4371, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4371.
