peter s. beck

This story tracks the life of an immigrant German Jew who was able to escape the clutches of Nazi Germany, fleeing Berlin, with his family in 1939, shortly after the horrific events of “Kristallnacht” when the Nazi Party in Germany finally showed its’ true colors.

Left without a country and nowhere to go, the family manages to get to Genoa where transportation to Ecuador is arranged. Ecuador seemed to be the answer for this wandering family until a possibly terminal illness forced the family to attempt to get to the United States.

Arriving in New York City in pre-war 1940, the family begins to assimilate and become naturalized American citizens. From here on, this book is an interesting look at a New York City that no longer exists but that was both exciting and dynamic in the evolution of so many things which we yearn to repeat, but like the Brooklyn Dodgers or the New York Giants, will never be again.

Growing up in New York City, leads the author to college and a commission as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Originally a three year reservist, the author accepts a regular commission making him a career Marine. The remainder of the book chronicles the authors’ experiences as an “unrestricted” infantry officer from 1956 through his retirement in 1978.

The Marine Corps that the author shares with his readers also no longer exists. The basic principles of courage, honor and integrity never change, however, customs, courtesies, warfare strategies, troop compositions, organizational behavior, the war in Vietnam and methods of operation have all changed or completely disappeared since the author served on active duty.
This book gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for a young man in New York City in the 40’s and 50’s and what a career in the Marine Corps from 1956 through 1978 was for an immigrant Jew who had a strong desire to serve his Country.

Throughout this book, the author does not pull any punches, only changing some names of key characters to protect their identity. There are no hidden messages in this book, instead, it is a book about the exciting and interesting life of a man who crammed a lot of living into his life and who, as this book goes to print, continues to do so in Northern California.