Herman during desert training in California

This book, though it closely follows a true story, is a work of fiction.  The novel was based on hours and hours of conversation with my uncle, Herman Lang, between the years 1991 and 2006. All these interviews were recorded and transcribed. He loved telling humorous stories from his life and chuckled at his memories. He also shared with me his many albums of photos and news clippings. But when it came to details, Herman’s memory often failed. In order to bring time and place details to the story, I usually had to look elsewhere.  This led me down a long path of research. I traveled to London to interview Herman’s older sister, Edith, and to Chicago to talk with Herman’s cousin, Leonora.  Through e-mail, telephone, and personal interviews I also was able to talk to other Ritchie Boys who lived through similar experiences.

The events in this book, as they pertain to Herman’s life, are totally based on his memories.  In the process of writing the novel, I have often needed to extract a short comment from Herman’s interviews and create from that snippet, a dramatic scene with conversation. I have also used the memories of other Ritchie Boys and historical research to inspire details.

General Patton

Because the historical background and how it affects Herman’s life is so important to this story, I have endeavored to make all historical data, whether it is the small details or the larger events, accurate and true. The events in Herman’s life are basically as they actually happened. His friends, associates, and family are drawn from his memory or my own personal knowledge.  A few minor characters are composites based on other Ritchie Boys or are entirely fabricated by me.  When necessary, I have changed names slightly to protect the privacy of my sources. Historic personalities, such as General George Patton, Colonel Robert S. Allen, and the German, Richard Schulze, are in the book because their association with Herman actually occurred. These men are portrayed as accurately as I know how.

Herman and Richard Schulze

Where real-life or historical figures appear, the scenes they participate in and dialogue they speak are products of the author’s imagination.  However, some of the public speeches made by historical figures in the novel (General Patton, Franklin D. Roosevelt) are taken from the public record and were actually spoken by them.

With the help of my sources, I endeavored to make the novel as true as possible. However any errors or inaccuracies are entirely my own.

Herman with prisoner

Katie Lang-Slattery is pleased to offer presentations to a variety of organizations, including Friends of the Library, regional libraries, VFW, American Legion, book groups, war and military museums, and professional organizations.

In addition to standard readings and book signing, the author will provide the following talks on request.

• • Discovering the Ritchie Boys of WWII
    An overview of Camp Ritchie and the Ritchie Boys, the contributions to the WWII effort made by these men, and profiles of a few of the men the author has interviewed or researched. Kathryn will provide a short list of notable Ritchie Boys.
    
  • More Than Simply “Based On:” The Evolution of Immigrant Soldier from Fact to Fiction
    A brief synopsis of the origins of Immigrant Soldier followed by how the author slowly moved the story from non-fiction to fiction and the difficulties encountered along the way. The author will include several comparisons between the primary resource material and the finished novel.

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Immigrant Soldier is dedicated to all those who, through premonition or foresight, determination and luck, were able to escape Nazi Germany before the trap was fully closed.  Their lives were uprooted and changed forever.  And, most especially, I dedicate it to those immigrant Ritchie Boys who returned to Europe and used their knowledge, experience, and training to help bring an end to the Nazi terror.  Each day, fewer of these men are here to share their stories.  Finally, but not least, I dedicate this book to the memory of Herman Lang and his wife, Marge. They welcomed me into their home, shared their stories, and encouraged me to write this book.