This is the compelling story of a young girl from Poland who escaped to Russia by retreating with the Soviet Army ahead of the German invasion during World War II and spent the war years in Central Asia in the Soviet Republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Her experiences growing up as a teenager in these difficult circumstances are vividly described. The story continues with her immigration to the United States and her perseverance to assimilate, learn to speak English, complete her education and become a Registered Nurse. The author goes on with a delightful account of how she met and married her husband while both were in school and relates amusing details on raising a family while following her husband, a Regular Army Medical Officer, from one assignment to another. The memoir concludes with the author eventually going back to school to obtain a Master's degree and develop her own career.