Take a vividly depicted journey back to World War II with Lucky Stars and Gold Bars author Karen Sladek and her father, California Lutheran University Professor Emeritus and WW II veteran, Lyle Sladek. Professor Sladek's 400 letters written during his tour of duty provide the content for this epic book.

On Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 1:30 pm Sladek will read some of his original letters and answer questions from the audience. Karen Sladek, will share her experience writing this very personal account of her father's life. This event will be held at the Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

Lucky Stars and Gold Bars is a heartwarming family saga set at the time America emerged from the great depression and into the throes of World War II-told through Lt. Sladek's letters to his parents back home on the farm as he circled the globe by land, sea, and air as a Cryptographic Security and Intelligence Officer in the Army Air Corps.

Sladek grew up a South Dakota farm boy who had no inkling his destiny was tied to Japan's conquest of China and Hitler's rampage in Europe. Just three months into college, his world was turned upside down by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Agonizing over his military service options, he was lured by travel and adventure and joined the Army Air Corps. He emerged from Yale Technical Training Command sporting the gold bars of a second lieutenant. While serving as a Cryptographic Security and Intelligence Officer in the China-Burma-India (CBI), European (ETO), and Mediterranean (MTO) theaters of war, he sent home some 400 letters from five continents. In these letters, compiled by his daughter Karen, he unwittingly captures the dreams and sacrifices of his family and brings the historical events of an epic era to life.

This event is open to the public and is free-of-charge, please call(805) 449-2660 x258, for more information or visit www.toaks.org/library.